so anyway i finally got paid for a shoot last weekend. local realtor found me through a friend of a friend, nothing fancy, just a residential listing in a quiet suburb. i've flown that area a dozen times for fun and know it pretty well so i figured it would be easy money.

and it wasnt hard exactly but there was this whole different energy to it. like when im just flying for myself if i mess up a shot i just do it again, no pressure. but having someone standing there waiting and expecting specific angles of the house, the pool, the street approach shot... i definitely got a little in my head about it. ended up with good footage but i was way more stressed than i expected. also completely blanked on what to charge and just said a number that felt low in hindsight. the realtor didnt even blink so yeah, left money on the table probably.

anyone else go through this kind of adjustment when they first started doing paid work? and how do you figure out what to actually charge for real estate shoots because i have no clue if i undercut myself badly

the pricing thing is something everyone figures out the hard way at least once lol. for residential real estate in most markets you can realistically charge anywhere from $150 to $350 for a standard exterior shoot depending on your area and what youre delivering ? edited photos, video, how many finals, turnaround time etc. if they didnt blink you probably went under $150 which yeah, next time bump it up and see what happens. most realtors have a budget for this stuff and the good ones know what fair pricing looks like.

the nerves are totally normal by the way. it goes away after maybe your 5th or 6th paid job. after that it just feels like work in a good way

the pressure thing is real and dont let anyone tell you it isnt. i remember my first commercial job was for a small construction company and i over-thought every single battery swap. but that stress is actually useful early on because it makes you more deliberate about your shots and your safety checks. the pilots i worry about are the ones who never feel any pressure at all tbh