As we head into 2025, real estate photography continues to play a critical role in the property market, with trends and innovations shaping how buyers and sellers engage with listings.
High-quality visuals, virtual tours, aerial imagery, and AI-driven editing are becoming essential tools for capturing attention in a competitive market. From faster sales to increased engagement, the data highlights how impactful professional photography is in real estate marketing.
In this article, we have gathered all key real estate photography statistics for 2025 that you need to know to keep up with emerging trends.
Let’s start with a 2025 outlook!
2025 Outlook: What It Means for Real Estate Photographers
As the market evolves, real estate photographers who invest in advanced tools, skills, and technologies will thrive.
Trends such as:
- Virtual tours
- Virtual staging
- Drone imagery
- AI-enhanced editing
- And video marketing—are no longer optional—they’re essential for staying competitive.
Whether you’re targeting local markets or luxury real estate, visual storytelling through photography will be key to success in 2025.
By embracing these trends, real estate professionals and photographers can cater to changing buyer behaviors and expectations, creating visually compelling listings that stand out.
With this in mind, let’s move on to our list of 90+ real estate statistics that will shape 2025.
90+ Key Real Estate Photography Statistics
The growing demand for high-quality visuals, immersive experiences, and advanced tools is setting new standards in the industry. Here are the key statistics and trends to watch in 2025.
The Impact of High-Quality Photography to Attract Buyers and Sell More Listings
Professional real estate photography is crucial because listings with high-quality photos attract significantly more attention, with homes receiving 118% more online views compared to those with lower-quality images.
Additionally, professional visuals can help homes sell 32% faster and at higher prices, as buyers are more likely to be drawn to listings that showcase properties in the best possible light.
Here are some compelling statistics highlighting the importance of high-quality visuals to sell listings:
- According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 100% of home buyers begin their search online, and listings with clear, professional photos attract more clicks and views, boosting engagement and inquiries
- Only 35% of agents employ professional photographers
- 85% of homebuyers consider photos the most critical factor when evaluating a property online. The listing photos are the most important factor in deciding which homes to view
- Listings with professional photos sell 32% faster than those without
- Listings with professional photos spend 89 days on market compared to 123 days for other homes
- Listings with pro-quality listing images close between $934 and $116,076 higher than comparable listings with low-quality photography
- Real estate listings with high-quality images receive up to 61% more views compared to those with amateur photos
- Listings that use high-resolution images can make a home appear 33% larger, helping to attract more potential buyers
- Quality photography can enhance a property’s perceived value by as much as 39%, influencing buyer perceptions
- Homes with professional photography have an 84% higher chance of being sold within the listing period compared to homes with amateur photography
- 72.2% of Realtors report that high-quality photography helps them win more listings
- The impact of professional photography is evident in online engagement, with listings receiving 118% more online views
- 63% of real estate agents acknowledge that high-quality photography is essential to their success and the sale of properties
- Twilight photography, which captures properties during the golden hour, increases showings by 3x times
- Using a Twilight image as the listing’s main photo averaged 76% more views than listings without the use of Twilight images
- The impact of professional photography extends to price per square foot, with a 47% increase for homes with high-quality images
- Sales agents who use professional photographers earn twice as much commission compared to others
- Overall, viewers spend 60% of the time checking images and only 20% read the listing description
- Listings with professional photos earn a 1,200% increase in social media shares
- 52.02% of Realtors who use professional photography believe that professional photography increases sales prices
The Steady Rise of Virtual Tours
Virtual house tours have significantly impacted real estate sales by enhancing buyer engagement and improving decision-making.
With virtual tours becoming an industry standard, properties without them risk losing over 50% of potential buyers, who now expect immersive visuals to assess homes before in-person visits.
This shift makes virtual tours a crucial tool for competitive real estate marketing strategies. Here are some interesting statistics to consider:
- 90% of home buyers are more likely to view a property when it includes a virtual tour
- 50% of home buyers preferred virtual tours over photography alone when searching for homes for sale
- Listings with virtual tours receive 87% more views compared to those with only photos, as they provide an interactive experience that allows buyers to explore properties remotely
- 95% of home buyers are more likely to call about these properties
- 75% of potential buyers consider virtual tours a major factor in their purchasing decisions, making them an effective tool for driving interest and accelerating sales
- 67% of home buyers said they want a virtual tour when looking at a listing
- Homes with 3D tours can sell up to 31% faster and are viewed more favorably by sellers
- By 2025, virtual tours and 360-degree imagery will become industry standard, giving buyers a chance to explore properties remotely
- According to a University of Iowa study, virtual tours sold about 6% faster and sold for 3% more compared to similar listings without virtual tours
- 63% of people who bought a home in 2020 made an offer for a property based on a virtual tour
- 99% of sellers believe a 3D tour can give their listing a competitive edge and 82% of sellers said they’d switch to an agent who offers 3D tours
- According to a recent Redfin study, monthly views of 3D walkthroughs on Redfin.com have increased 563% since February
- Virtual tours also increase website visitor retention, keeping users engaged 5-10 times longer than static listings, which can lead to a higher return on investment within weeks
Drone and Aerial Photography Adoption
Drone usage is a growing trend in the real estate industry. By 2025, drone photography will see widespread adoption, particularly for luxury homes and expansive properties
Utilizing drones in real estate marketing offers a dynamic perspective of the property, showcasing unique angles that highlight the home, roof, yard, and surrounding area.
This aerial view provides potential buyers with a comprehensive understanding of the property’s layout, nearby amenities, and scenic views. That said, here are some cool statistics to consider:
- About 80% of active listing agents use drone photography and videography to market their listings and listings that use drone photography sell, on average, 68% faster than those without
- 61% of Realtors use drones to market listings
- According to NAR, 43% of agents who use drones hire a pro to operate them
- Drone services for real estate are now more affordable, ranging from $100–$250 depending on the region
- Homes with aerial images can see a price increase of up to 10%, as these photos provide a unique and appealing perspective
- More than 20% of commercial drone shoots are now done for or related to a real estate goal
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The Power of AI Photo Editing
AI is transforming real estate photography workflows. With the use of AI photo editing, real estate photographers and agents can edit their photos in seconds and save valuable time and money.
AI tools streamline editing processes with features like sky replacement, virtual staging, and color correction, enhancing image quality quickly and cost-effectively.
Here are some statistics to consider:
- Nearly 90% of professional photographers believe AI will significantly impact the photography industry
- AI-powered image editing tools can reduce editing time by up to 90%
- 60% of photographers use AI tools to enhance their creative process
- AI-driven retouching tools can reduce editing time by up to 70% and increase workflow efficiency by up to 50%
- According to a Pincel survey, 58% are already using AI in photo editing
- 68% of photographers believe AI can help them discover new creative techniques and styles
- 82% of photographers use AI tools for image enhancement and editing
- Properties marketed with AI-driven tools experienced a 22% rise in sales, showcasing AI’s transformative impact on efficiency and growth
- The number of images created with Adobe Firefly has reached 1 billion just 3 months after launch
- In total, more than 15 billion AI-created images have been generated using Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, and DALLE-2
Virtual Staging Demand Is Rapidly Growing
The virtual staging trend in real estate is rapidly growing as it provides a cost-effective and time-efficient way to present properties to buyers, especially in today’s digital-first market.
Unlike traditional staging, virtual staging allows real estate professionals to digitally furnish and style vacant homes at a fraction of the cost.
Here are some interesting virtual staging statistics to consider:
- According to the NAR, 82% of buyer’s agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home
- 41% of buyers are more willing to tour a home in person after viewing staged photos online
- 40% of buyers arrange to look at the home they have seen staged online
- Virtual staging can reduce time on the market by up to 50%, while saving sellers thousands of dollars compared to physical staging
- Virtual staging can reduce the cost of staging by up to 97%
- More than 7 in 10 agents find videos, virtual staging, and virtual tours more important since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Over 85% of staged homes sell for their asking price or above
- Staging can increase the sale price by up to 20% on average
- Homeowners see a 5-15% return on investment when they choose to professionally stage their homes before they sell them on the market
HDR Photography Is Here to Stay
HDR (High Dynamic Range) remains a preferred technique for interior and exterior photos, especially for balancing lighting challenges.
With HDR blending, real estate photographers can capture the full detail of the scene, both in the dark and light areas and create a beautifully balanced image.
Even though HDR statistics are limited, they show the immense power in attracting views and selling homes faster:
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, which enhances the lighting and color in images, can boost buyer interest and help sell a property 50% faster
- HDR photography increases online views by 118%
Video Content and Short-Form Media Are Booming in 2025
Video content is set to dominate real estate marketing also in 2025. From immersive property walk-throughs to compelling buyer testimonials, high-quality videos are becoming indispensable for standing out in a competitive market and staying ahead of evolving industry trends.
Short-form media, such as Instagram Reels and TikToks featuring real estate tours, is becoming a crucial tool for reaching younger buyers.
Here are some statistics showcasing the engaging power of video marketing:
- Only 10% of recent home sellers reported that their agents effectively used video to market their property
- 80% of consumers watch videos online each week, and half of those users have been influenced by a video to make a purchase
- According to Statista, there are more than 650 million unique video viewers watching videos of real estate properties across multiple platforms such as Google Sites (which includes YouTube), Yahoo, Microsoft Sites, Amazon Sites, Universal Music Group, and more
- 403% more inquiries are driven from listings with video
- About 1 in 10 home tour requests to Redfin agents are for a remote video tour
- 54% watch videos to obtain general real estate information
- According to NAR research, 73% of homeowners say they are more likely to list with an agent who uses video than one who doesn’t
- Social media videos generate 1200% more shares compared with images and text combined
- 58% of buyers want and expect to see a video of a home they’re looking at online
- 78% of real estate professionals surveyed by The Close say that video is important to stand out on social media
- According to PicoVico, people who are looking to purchase a property and watch the video of the property are 174% more likely to purchase than those who don’t
- The same study discovered that 70% of buyers want to watch videos to get a better glimpse of the inside of the home
- 51% of homebuyers use YouTube as their number one destination for a search
- According to Wyzowl, 79% of people have watched a testimonial video and 37% believe they’re more authentic than a business’ own pitch
Floor Plans Will Be Expected for Listings
Floor plans for real estate offer an appealing and informative visualization of a property’s room sizes, space flow, and distinctive features.
Floor plans serve as a valuable tool for buyers, providing context to listing photos and helping them assess the suitability of a property.
Here are some statistics on real estate floor plans’ importance in selling homes:
- 93% of buyers say they will spend more time looking at property listings if there are floor plans
- 64% of home buyers want to see floor plans on a listing, with many stating they would be less likely to consider a property without one
- 68% of buyers believe floor plans are more important than staging, a virtual tour, or open houses
- According to Zillow, floor plans are the 2nd most important feature on a listing and correlate highly with capturing potential leads
- Floor plans on listings are viewed 7.5 times more frequently than maps
- 51% of buyers say that floor plans were helpful in their decision-making process
- Listings with 3D floor plans, on average, spend 50% less time on market
- Real estate floor plans can increase click-through rates by up to 52%
- Around 1 in 5 buyers may completely ignore a listing without a floor plan
- 1 in 10 buyers won’t schedule a viewing if there isn’t a floor plan available
- 81% of sellers think a floor plan will help sell their home faster
And there you have 90+ key real estate statistics that will shape 2025. To keep up with these expectations and trends, we have the perfect solution for you – partner with PhotoUp!
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Whether you’re a busy real estate photographer or a growing agency, PhotoUp’s services are designed to boost your efficiency and enhance your brand image.
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We hope this blog post provided you with many interesting real estate photography statistics. Before you go, you may also want to check out some related resources:
