In the age where over half of the world’s population watches online videos every day, adding visual elements to better market your property has become a vital part of standing out among the competition. Listing videos have become the new standard.

In the land brokerage industry, specifically, video is extremely important for a variety of reasons. Video takes the beautiful property you are selling and turns it into a cinematic piece of art that more people are likely to view. It allows land buyers to get an initial and exclusive look at the property they are interested in without having to actually step foot on it.

When shooting video for property listing videos, there are three main rules to go by. First, make sure to highlight your subject. If you’ve got an old farmhouse, a beautiful creek that runs through the property or even trophy size deer hanging out at the river bottom – make sure to showcase it.

To make your subject stand out, use the rule of thirds. This makes your shot aesthetically pleasing to the eye. When filming, try to shoot from many different angles, including a lower angle shot, which makes the subject appear grand.

And the most important rule of all it to film with good lighting. Always make sure your subject is properly lit to achieve a stunning image. Harsh light or shadows can cause the shot to look unflattering or distorted.

These three key strategies will ensure you get great footage. But here are a few more tips to remember while shooting to get the best possible result:

1. Spend time on the property, and get to know its key features before shooting video.
2. Get plenty of footage from all different angles so there is a lot to choose from when it comes time to edit.
3. Give your shots movement. Whether you are shooting on a smartphone, a DSLR or a drone, give the camera some slight movement. But be sure that your movements are SLOW and steady. Movement helps give your image a cinematic feel.
4. Don’t be afraid to put the drone at eye level and fly it slowly through buildings on the property such as barns or houses.
5. Shoot at the “magic hour,” which is an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. Not only do those specific times have soft diffused light, but it also makes for beautiful shots.

When flying drones for video footage, remember that in order to operate a drone for commercial use you need to get your Part 107 Certificate. This is especially important because you want to follow all FAA regulations.

Recently, I received my FAA certification to fly a drone. Studying and preparing for the FAA Part 107 Certification has given me the knowledge to be a better and more responsible drone pilot. Through the drone courses, I learned a great deal about not only how drones work and different safe flying techniques, but also about how to get impressive cinematic shots using drone cameras.

Whether you only have an iPhone or you own a drone and have received your FAA certification, you can shoot great footage for eye-catching listing videos and get your property to sell fast.