As we step into 2025, the real estate photography industry is evolving rapidly. New technologies, changing buyer behaviors, and emerging real estate photography trends are driving innovations, offering photographers and real estate professionals unique ways to market properties effectively.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 key trends shaping real estate photography this year. We’ll also cover a solution that can help you stay up to date with these trends and grow your business.
Let’s dive in!
Top 10 Real Estate Photography Trends in 2025
Here are the 10 key trends you need to know to stay ahead of the competition in 2025:
1. AI-Powered Editing Tools
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing photo editing, allowing real estate photographers to enhance images faster and more accurately.
AI tools like AgentUp AI Editing can perform tasks like sky replacement, virtual staging, and HDR blending with just a few clicks, streamlining workflows and saving time.
Why It Matters:
- Faster turnaround times for edited photos
- Consistent, high-quality results
- Easier access to advanced editing for photographers of all skill levels
Agents are already utilizing AI tools to help them make their everyday work easier, so don’t be left behind. Recent studies show that 85% of real estate agents now report using AI regularly in their business.
2. Virtual Staging and Augmented Reality (AR)
Virtual staging continues to gain traction, offering cost-effective and flexible ways to showcase empty properties.
Augmented reality is also emerging as a powerful tool, enabling buyers to visualize furniture placement and design elements in real time.
Key Benefits:
- Increased buyer engagement – buyers can imagine themselves living in the home
- Enhanced property appeal for online listings
- Reduced staging costs – virtual staging is up to 97% cheaper than traditional staging
Virtual staging is a fantastic tool to help potential buyers see the home’s full potential while also saving money on staging.
3. Aerial Photography and Videography
Drones remain a game-changer for real estate photography. Recent studies show that aerial photos help sell properties up to 68% faster.
Aerial shots and videos provide a unique perspective of properties, showcasing lot sizes, neighborhood features, and landscaping.
Why It’s Trending:
- Ideal for luxury and large properties
- Captures details that traditional photography cannot
- Creates dramatic and visually appealing content – drone photography can increase engagement by 83%
In 2025, drone technology is becoming more affordable and accessible and is something any real estate photographer should add to their toolkit.
4. Day-to-Dusk Conversions
Day-to-dusk or twilight editing is gaining popularity as a cost-effective way to create stunning twilight shots without scheduling an actual twilight shoot.
Using a twilight image as the listing’s main photo averaged 76% more views than listings without the use of twilight images.
Benefits Include:
- Increased online listing clicks and engagement
- Enhanced property aesthetics
- Greater flexibility for photographers since they don’t have to depend on weather conditions or time of day for the photoshoot
Overall, twilight images highlight a property’s ambiance and lighting features, attracting more online viewers.
5. Interactive Virtual Tours
Interactive virtual tours are becoming a staple in real estate marketing. By 2025, virtual tours and 360-degree imagery will become the industry standard, giving buyers a chance to explore properties remotely.
With advancements in 3D camera technology, creating immersive tours has never been easier. Buyers can explore properties remotely, boosting convenience and engagement.
In fact, listings with virtual tours close 31% faster than those not using a tour. Virtual tours can even help to sell a listing sight unseen.
What’s New:
- Higher-quality 3D imagery
- Integration with AR for enhanced experiences
- Broader adoption by smaller agencies and independent sellers
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6. Sustainability in Photography
As sustainability becomes a priority across industries, real estate photographers are adopting eco-friendly practices.
From energy-efficient lighting to digital-only workflows, the focus is on reducing environmental impact.
How Photographers Are Adapting:
- Using rechargeable batteries and LED lighting
- Transitioning to paperless contracts and invoicing
- Leveraging cloud storage to reduce physical waste
- Relying more on online portfolios rather than booklets
7. Mobile Photography With Pro-Level Tools
Smartphone cameras are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling photographers to capture professional-quality images on the go.
Paired with portable AI editing apps, mobile photography is a viable option for quick shoots and smaller projects.
Advantages:
- Greater accessibility for agents and small businesses
- Reduced equipment costs
- Faster photo delivery
8. Personalized Branding in Real Estate Photography Builds Trust
Real estate photographers are increasingly focusing on branding their services to stand out in a competitive market.
Customized watermarks, branded social media posts, and personalized marketing strategies are becoming essential.
Why It Matters:
- Builds trust and recognition
- Helps photographers differentiate themselves
- Attracts long-term clients
9. Focus on Human-Centric Storytelling
Rather than just highlighting the property’s features, photographers are emphasizing storytelling.
Capturing lifestyle elements—like cozy reading nooks or bustling kitchens—helps buyers emotionally connect with the property.
An increasingly popular tool for storytelling is single property websites, where agents can upload anything from comprehensive property descriptions and digital flyers to images, walkthrough videos, and 360 tours. They can also brand themselves with a profile photo and contact information.
Impact:
- Creates a stronger emotional appeal
- Highlights the property’s potential as a home
- Aligns with modern marketing trends
- Increases website traffic and views
10. Outsourcing Real Estate Photo Editing
With increasing demand for high-quality visuals, outsourcing real estate photo editing is becoming more common.
Services like PhotoUp offer fast, affordable, and professional editing solutions, allowing photographers to focus on capturing the perfect shots.
Benefits:
- Saves time and resources you can use on shooting more properties
- Ensures professional-grade results all the time
- Boosts your brand as a photographer
- Scales with business growth
With a dedicated photo editor who learns your unique style, you will get maximum image consistency and faster turnaround times. Depending on your editing style and batch, prices can go as low as $0.50 per image.
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Final Thoughts
In summary, the real estate photography landscape in 2025 is defined by innovation and adaptability.
By embracing these trends, photographers and real estate professionals can stay ahead of the curve, attract more buyers, and close deals faster.
Whether it’s leveraging AI tools, adopting sustainable practices, or exploring new ways to tell a property’s story, staying updated is key to success in this dynamic industry.
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Need Help With Real Estate Photo Editing & Marketing?
If you need help with real estate photo editing or marketing, PhotoUp has got you covered!
PhotoUp is a trusted brand in the real estate photo editing industry that has been featured on some of the most well-respected real estate photography blogs/podcasts like the PFRE and Shooting Spaces.
We offer professional real estate photo editing and other marketing services to help photographers and agents sell more listings.
When it comes to editing, our expert team can assist with the following:
- HDR blending
- Twilight and day-to-dusk conversions
- Advanced object removal and decluttering
- Perspective correction
- Sky replacements
- Brightness and color correction
- Noise reduction and image sharpening
- Lawn enhancements
- Pano stitching
- And much more!
Our talented team can handle any editing need—big or small, simple or complex.
Plus, our affordable pricing starts at just $1.50 per image for on-demand editing, with bulk discounts available. Dedicated editing can go as low as $0.50 per image depending on your style and editing batch.
A Complete Real Estate Marketing Partner
In addition to photo editing, we also provide powerful real estate marketing tools such as:
- Virtual staging
- Virtual house tours
- Single property websites
- Real estate photographer websites
- Property flyers
- Floor plans
- House portraits
- And Virtual Assistants
You can find everything you need to enhance and market real estate photography in one user-friendly software.
How to Get Started
Getting started with PhotoUp is super easy! This is how to do it:
Step 1. Sign up for a free PhotoUp account.
Step 2. Upload your photos to our easy-to-use software.
Step 3. Choose the level of editing that you need and provide instructions (optional).
Step 4. Wait for PhotoUp professional editors to edit and return the photos in less than 24 hours (48 hours for virtual staging).
Step 5. Download and start using your beautifully edited photos.
PhotoUp Real Estate Photo Editing Uploader Demo
Watch how easy it is to get started with PhotoUp in our real estate photo editing uploader demo:
As simple as that!
So what are you waiting for?
Sign up for a free PhotoUp account today and start growing your business at record speed with us!
Plus, when you sign up for an account, you’ll receive a bonus of 10 free credits to use however you please.
We hope this blog gave you insights into the new real estate photography trends for 2025. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following resources:
