Real estate photography in San Diego
San Diego County
The City of San Diego covers a lot of ground, from gated golf communities in the north to older neighborhoods around downtown, Balboa Park and the bay. This page covers the city outside La Jolla and Carmel Valley, which have their own pages.
Homes in San Diego
The city’s northern communities, Santaluz, Black Mountain Ranch, Del Sur and Torrey Highlands, have newer homes on larger lots. Santaluz is gated around a private golf club, and Del Sur is built around parks, trails and a community ranch house. Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch are established neighborhoods with mature trees. Across these northern neighborhoods, aerial photos explain the setting: the lot, the open space around it and the hills beyond.
Closer to the center, North Park and Kensington have Craftsman bungalows and Spanish revival homes, and Mission Hills has larger historic homes along its canyons. Point Loma’s hillsides look out over the bay, downtown and the ocean. Lots are small, and buyers care about character: original woodwork, tile, windows and gardens. Where the FAA approves a flight, usually a low one this close to the airport, the drone places the home in relation to Balboa Park, the bay or Sunset Cliffs.
- Santaluz
- Black Mountain Ranch
- Del Sur
- Torrey Highlands
- Rancho Bernardo
- Scripps Ranch
- North Park
- Kensington
- Mission Hills
- Point Loma
Recent work in and around San Diego
All work
Planning a shoot in San Diego
Airspace over central San Diego
Mission Hills, Point Loma and other central neighborhoods sit in controlled airspace around San Diego International Airport and Naval Air Station North Island, and parts of the inland city sit in controlled airspace around MCAS Miramar and Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Every address gets an airspace lookup when you book, and the drone goes up only after the FAA authorization comes through.
Gates in Santaluz and the north
Send the gate code or put us on the visitor list before we arrive. Some associations in the northern communities also want notice of a drone flight.
Alleys, street parking and canyon lots
In North Park, Kensington and Mission Hills, many homes have street parking only or a garage off the alley. Move cars away from the front of the home, tell us where we can park, and mention any canyon edge or steep yard so we can plan the angles.
Listing packages
Starting prices for homes up to 1,999 square feet. The booking portal calculates the price for the home's size.
- SpotlightFrom $900
Photos and drone photos, with a short reel for social media.
- ProfessionalFrom $1,200
Adds a cinematic listing video and a floor plan or 3D tour.
- LuxuryFrom $2,000
A longer video, twilight photos and an on-camera introduction from the agent.
Questions about shoots in San Diego
Can you fly a drone near downtown or Point Loma?
Sometimes. Near downtown and in Mission Hills the FAA may approve only a low flight. Across most of Point Loma its map allows no flight at all without a manual review, which can take weeks and may be denied. If the drone can’t fly, we photograph the exterior from the ground, from upper floors or from a roof deck.
What should I prepare at a Craftsman or Spanish revival home?
Clear the front porch and the walk, open the curtains on original windows and turn on period light fixtures. Point out anything original you want featured, such as a fireplace, built-ins or old tile, and we will give it its own photo.
What matters most in a Rancho Bernardo or Scripps Ranch listing?
Often the yard, the trees and the setting, since many homes back onto open space or look over the hills. We photograph the updates inside, and the drone shows the street, the greenery and the nearby trails. Scripps Ranch sits under MCAS Miramar’s controlled airspace, so a flight there waits for FAA authorization.
Planning a shoot in San Diego?
Book online in a few minutes, or call us to talk through the listing.