Most agents compare packages by two things: the price and the list of what’s included. I get it. But after more than 12 years of shooting listings across the Phoenix Valley, I can tell you that knowing what comes in a real estate photography package is only half the job. The other half is knowing what each item does for your marketing and your seller.
This post breaks it down line by line. You’ll see what a standard package covers, which edits cost extra, how licensing works, and where Phoenix conditions change what you should ask for. I’ll also share the mistake I see busy agents make most often.
The Short Answer: What Comes in a Real Estate Photography Package
A standard real estate photography package usually includes a set number of edited listing photos, basic editing like sky replacement and color correction, and online delivery. Better packages also add a 2D floor plan and an MLS data report. Extras like virtual staging, item removal, drone, and twilight photos are usually sold separately.
That’s the short answer. However, the details inside each item are where packages really differ. This post skips pricing and focuses on what you actually get.
The Photos: Count, Editing, and What Costs Extra
Our standard real estate photography package comes with 25 edited photos. That number stays the same no matter how big the home is. If a listing needs more, agents can add images in bundles of 10. For most homes, though, 25 strong photos tell the story better than 60 average ones.
Here’s how the editing breaks down in every real estate photography package we deliver:
- Included: color correction and sky replacement on every photo. That matters in Phoenix, where a gray monsoon sky or a hazy afternoon can make a great home look flat.
- On request: greener grass, which helps when a lawn is struggling through the summer heat.
- Extra: virtual staging and item removal. Item removal covers things like trash cans, cars, or clutter the seller didn’t move before the shoot.
If you know a home will need staging or item removal, ask about it when you book. That way it’s in the plan, not a surprise on the invoice.
Floor Plans and the MLS Data Report
A 2D floor plan comes in our real estate photography package, in two versions. One shows room measurements and one doesn’t. You also get the square footage of each room, which makes entering your listing in the MLS much faster.
Here’s what I hear from agents who use it well. They add the floor plan to their MLS listing so buyers can see the layout before they ever tour the home. As a result, the buyers who do book a showing already know the home fits their needs. That means fewer wasted showings and more qualified ones.
That lines up with what buyers say. In a Rightmove survey of home buyers, over a third said they were less likely to ask about a property without a floor plan. In fact, one floor plan ends up working in three places:
- The MLS listing, so buyers see the layout before they tour
- The back of your printed flyers
- Your listing brochures
The Licensing That Comes With a Real Estate Photography Package
Licensing is the part of what comes in a real estate photography package that agents read the least, and it matters. When you buy a package, you get a license to use the photos to market that listing. You don’t get ownership. Our licensing terms spell it out: the license belongs to you, it can’t be transferred to a buyer or another agent, and it covers marketing the property while it’s for sale.
A few other points are worth knowing:
- Your download link stays active for one year, so save your files.
- You can resize and crop photos to fit a website or MLS, but you can’t alter or merge them.
- The terms stay with you even if you move to a new brokerage.
Photography Package vs. Listing Marketing Package
What comes in a real estate photography package is mainly photos and a floor plan. A listing marketing package goes further. Our Pro Listing Package, for example, adds:
- A single property website with its own QR code
- Social media posts and reels
- Print-ready flyers
- A call or text info number
- A Zillow 3D tour
- Weekly seller reports showing traffic
The Tools Agents Pay For and Never Use
Here’s something most photographers won’t tell you. A lot of agents buy the bigger package and then never use half of it. Sometimes they don’t understand what the tools can do. Other times they buy it mainly to show a seller what they offer. These are the items left on the table most often:
- Floor plans
- Single property sites
- Social media posts and reels
- Printed flyers
How One Agent Used Them to Protect Their Commission
On the other hand, one agent I work with started using the tools. They began using the QR code that links to the single property site, and they share the weekly traffic reports with their sellers. Because they can show sellers exactly how the home is marketed and how many people are looking, they’ve been able to keep a higher commission. Their marketing proves its own value.
Phoenix Conditions That Change What You Should Ask For
Most photographers schedule twilight and daytime photos in the same visit so they don’t have to come back. It saves them a drive. The problem is that the afternoon sun pours through the windows and leaves harsh, unpleasant light inside the home. We book separate appointments whenever we can. That way the interior photos get soft, even light, and the twilight shots get their own time.
We’ve also learned that midday works better for video, especially in the fall. The sun sits low in the sky that time of year. If you shoot video in the late afternoon, you often end up filming straight into it. A photographer who is new to the Valley usually learns this the hard way.
Why High-Volume Agents Should Pick One Package and Stick With It
If you list three or more homes a month, consistency matters more than any single add-on. I’ve watched this play out with one agent. They ordered photos and a floor plan for one listing. Then they ordered our full listing package for another home because it sat on a golf course, adding twilights, drone, and a single property site.
Then the owners of the first home noticed. They asked their agent why their home didn’t get the same treatment. The agent called us right after to upgrade the first listing.
So my advice is simple. Decide what comes in your real estate photography package once, then use it on every listing. Your sellers talk to each other, and they look at your other listings. Uneven marketing makes you look bad, even when your reasons are good.
Getting the Most From What Comes in Your Real Estate Photography Package
Knowing what comes in a real estate photography package helps you compare options. Using every piece of it is what helps you win listings. Choose one package for every home, put the floor plan and property site to work, and show your sellers the results. At Listing Marketing Pros, we shoot listings across Phoenix, Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, Goodyear, Buckeye, and the rest of the Valley, and we’re happy to walk you through what fits your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many photos come in a real estate photography package?
Most standard packages in Phoenix include 25 to 35 photos. Ours includes 25 edited photos regardless of home size. If you need more, you can add photos in bundles of 10.
Does drone photography come in a basic real estate photography package?
Usually not. Drone is most often an add-on or part of a larger listing package. In Phoenix, make sure your photographer holds an FAA Part 107 certificate before they fly.
Who owns the photos from a real estate photography package?
In most cases, the photographer keeps ownership and you get a license. That license lets you market the listing while it’s for sale. It usually can’t be passed to the buyer or another agent.
Does a floor plan come in a real estate photography package?
It depends on the photographer. Ours includes a 2D floor plan with every package. Photos show how a home looks, but a floor plan shows how it flows, which leads to fewer wasted showings.
Should twilight and daytime photos be shot on the same day?
It’s cheaper for the photographer, but it’s not always better for you. Late sun through the windows can ruin interior shots. Twilight usually doesn’t come in a basic real estate photography package anyway, so it’s worth its own visit. Booking separate times gives you cleaner daytime photos and stronger twilight shots.