The visual presentation is an important aspect of real estate marketing. It allows you to bring a property closer to potential buyers and showcase it from various angles. Professional real estate photos and videos help you present the property in the best possible light.
In the context of real estate photography, still interior and exterior shots of properties are taken. The captured photos are edited and can subsequently be used on real estate portals, websites, or social media platforms.
Real estate videos, on the other hand, focus on moving images. Traditional videos or short reels are produced, which are used on social media or real estate agent websites. With the help of drones, both photos and short videos of properties can be captured from an aerial perspective.
When it comes to deciding between real estate photography vs. real estate videos, the question arises as to which option offers more advantages. To make your choice easier, this article provides a detailed comparison of the two alternatives.
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Overview.
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Richness of detail and quality
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Costs and effort
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Flexibility and applications
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Impact on potential buyers
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: The overall winner
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Overview.
| criterion | Real estate photography | Real estate videos |
| Format | Still images of the property’s interior and exterior or drone footage, professionally retouched. | Moving images, e.g. traditional real estate videos, reels, drone footage. |
| Creation time. | Shorter, depending on the services and property size, starting at 1 hour. | Longer, depending on the video length, services, and property size, starting at 2 hours. |
| Costs | Ab CHF 299 | Starting at CHF 349 for traditional videos, reels starting at CHF 249. |
| Flexibility. | Higher, due to the possibility of retouching and the use of modern technologies (e.g., virtual furnishing). | Lower, limited editing capabilities and weather dependency. |
| Applications. | Versatile, for example on real estate portals, websites, and social media. | Specific, primarily suitable for social media and one’s own website. |
The biggest difference between real estate photography and real estate videos lies in the format of the captured footage. Which option is “better” depends primarily on its intended use. In particular, reels are an excellent way to capture attention and engage potential buyers on social media. On the other hand, they are less versatile than photos, which can be utilized across any channel.
One of the most significant aspects in the comparison is the impact on potential buyers. Unlike photos, videos are more effective at creating a specific mood and evoking emotions in viewers. But what is ultimately better: real estate photos or real estate videos? In the following, we will go through the individual categories before revealing our overall conclusion to you.
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Richness of detail and quality.
With the help of real estate videos, it is easier to provide viewers with an overview of a property. In contrast, details are better conveyed through photos – allowing potential buyers to take their time to closely examine the image and notice subtle elements that might have been overlooked in a video.
Drone footage can create an overall view of the property through both photos and videos. It can capture the surrounding landscape and neighborhood, which may influence the purchase decision. While photos from a bird’s-eye view are a nice addition, drone videos tend to be even more effective: aerial videos allow your potential buyers to truly immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the property.
When it comes to quality, both options are on par – provided that high-quality technology is used. At Visualista, for example, the employed HDR technology ensures recordings with exceptionally high quality and vivid details.
In terms of richness of detail and quality, real estate videos are the narrow winners in our view – primarily due to their ability to convey the atmosphere of properties so effectively.
The winner: real estate videos
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Costs and effort
Fundamentally, producing a real estate video is somewhat more demanding than taking photos – this usually goes hand in hand with higher production costs.
It also depends on which services are desired. For example, if drone footage is to be included, it lengthens the shooting process and consequently also increases the price.
At Visualista, the pricing structures are as follows:
Real estate photos with 20–40 professionally edited images.
- Apartment: CHF 299.
- House: CHF 399.
Traditional real estate videos (1:30–2:30 minutes) in landscape format.
- Apartment: CHF 349 (with drone footage: CHF 499)
- House: CHF 449 (with drone footage: CHF 599)
60-second reel in portrait format.
- Apartment: CHF 249 (with drone footage: CHF 399)
- House: CHF 299 (with drone footage: CHF 449)
Additionally, we offer packages that combine multiple services – for an optimal price-performance ratio:
- Standard package (photos + drone footage or 360° virtual reality tour) starting at CHF 499.
- Gold package (photos + drone footage + 360° virtual reality tour) starting at CHF 699.
- Premium package (photos + drone footage + 360° virtual reality tour + reel) starting at CHF 1099.
A normal photoshoot is completed in one hour; with videos or the use of a drone, it can take up to three hours. After the session, there is extensive editing of the photos, while editing videos often takes a bit longer. At Visualista, fast processing is always a priority: you receive your real estate photos within a maximum of 48 hours after the shoot—often as soon as the next business day. For videos, our turnaround time is even a maximum of 36 hours.
The decision here is very subjective, as each individual has different priorities. However, due to the lower entry-level prices, we award this point to photography.
The winner: real estate photography.
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: flexibility and applications.
Photos are a versatile tool in real estate marketing. Their applications range from property portals to websites and various social media platforms. In contrast, real estate videos are somewhat more limited. For example, reels are primarily suited for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. While traditional videos can be uploaded on some property websites, the focus there remains predominantly on photos. On the other hand, moving images are ideal if you run a YouTube channel or wish to present a property in a presentation.
Regarding compatibility, it is noticeable that videos perform better on larger screens. With photos, this point is not as significant – often, a smaller screen is sufficient to see everything necessary.
Furthermore, real estate photos offer extensive editing possibilities. With retouching, entire rooms can even be virtually renovated or furnished. Additionally, subsequent updates are easier with photos: if something changes in the property, re-shooting and uploading a single image is more straightforward than modifying a video.
Basically, both photos and videos are suitable for all types of properties. Detached houses and properties with beautiful grounds, however, particularly benefit from moving images: a lovely environment or a spacious garden is best showcased in this way.
Due to their versatile range of applications and greater flexibility in editing, real estate photos can score more points in this category.
The winner: real estate photography.
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: Impact on potential buyers.
Videos are the better choice when it comes to evoking emotions. Reels in particular offer a trendy alternative for presenting properties on social media. With appropriate musical accompaniment, a unique atmosphere can be created. While photos can also evoke emotions, they tend to appear more classic and less dynamic.
Moreover, with real estate videos it is possible for the room layout to be immediately apparent, for example when the video guides the viewer from room to room. In contrast, when viewing photos, the floor plan of the property is often not immediately obvious.
Real estate videos are an exciting way to capture the attention of potential buyers. Especially when used on social media, they can boost your reach and help you connect with new customer groups: on Instagram, reels are regarded as the most effective type of content for increasing visibility.
Real estate videos clearly take the lead for us when it comes to evoking atmosphere and emotions. Both reels and traditional videos of your properties are excellent for sharing on websites, YouTube, and social media.
The winner: real estate videos
Real estate photography vs. real estate videos: The overall winner.
| Category. | Real estate photography | Real estate videos |
| Richness of detail and quality [20 points] | 17 | 18 |
| Costs and effort [20 points] | 19 | 18 |
| Flexibility and application possibilities [20 points] | 20 | 17 |
| Impact on potential buyers [20 points] | 16 | 20 |
| Overall ranking [80 points] | 72 | 73 |
When it comes to comparing real estate photography versus real estate videos, we are looking at a close result. Here is a summary of the individual categories:
- Richness of detail and quality: This was a close race. While details might be more easily recognizable in photos, videos win this category since they better convey the overall atmosphere of a property and both options are equally matched in terms of quality.
- Costs and effort: Videos are a bit more labor-intensive in production – however, there’s no difference for you in terms of the effort since you don’t necessarily have to be on site during your appointment with Visualista. Our photos are completed within a maximum of 48 hours, while videos take at most 36 hours – often we’re even faster, and you receive the finished products as soon as the next business day. Real estate photography narrowly won here only because you receive up to 40 professionally edited photos starting at CHF 299 – although we already offer reels starting at CHF 249, traditional real estate videos begin at CHF 349, which makes them a little more expensive than photos.
- Flexibility and applications: In this category, real estate photography excels in every aspect – photos are easier to edit and can be flexibly used on a wide range of platforms. Once a video is shot, the editing possibilities are limited. In particular, with reels it is evident that they are primarily suited for social media, but less so for real estate portals.
- Impact on potential buyers: Here, real estate videos clearly come out ahead because they evoke more emotions and attract attention. They not only help increase your reach on social media but also actively influence purchasing decisions. Of course, real estate photos also have a positive effect – however, it is somewhat more challenging for them to evoke emotions.
Because the result was so close, it becomes clear: You can benefit from both real estate photos and real estate videos. Both options are excellent for real estate marketing – depending on the situation, one alternative may be better suited to your needs. In our lookbook, you get a glimpse into our work across the various categories.
We at Visualista are convinced that with the help of real estate videos, you can present the unique features of your properties for sale or rent in a distinctive way. With traditional videos and reels, you set yourself apart from the crowd and make your property the star – not only on Instagram but also in the real estate market.
The overall winner: real estate videos.
