How much to charge for drone photography
Rates reviewed June 2026
Drone photography is priced per shoot by use case, and your FAA Part 107 license and insurance are what let you charge a professional rate. Editing is a separate deliverable, and many would-be competitors cannot legally fly for hire.
You should charge
$445
per shoot · typical $200–$1,200
Why this number. Charge for the license and insurance that let you fly commercially, because most hobbyists legally cannot. The Part 107 credential is your moat, so price the professionalism, and bill editing as its own deliverable.
Typical drone photography prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Real estate aerials | $200 – $500 |
| Event / promo video | $500 – $1,500 |
| Mapping / inspection | $400 – $2,000 |
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the drone photography pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting drone photography in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Early access to the paid Pricing Toolkit
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What changes the price
- Photo vs. video
- Editing included
- Part 107 license and insurance
- Industry (real estate, construction, events)
The pricing move most people miss
Charge for the license and insurance that let you fly commercially, because most hobbyists legally cannot. The Part 107 credential is your moat, so price the professionalism, and bill editing as its own deliverable.
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Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for drone photography?+
Most drone photography is priced $200–$1,200 per shoot, with a typical rate around $450 per shoot. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to photo vs. video and editing included. Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge per job or by the hour for drone photography?+
Most drone photography is priced per job, and that is the stronger model. It pays you for the result rather than the clock, and clients far prefer one fixed number they can plan around. Estimate the hours a job takes, multiply by the hourly rate you want, then add a 15-25% buffer for the jobs that run long.
How much should I charge for drone photography as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $200 to $450 per shoot. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $1,200.
What affects how much drone photography costs?+
The biggest factors are photo vs. video; editing included; part 107 license and insurance; industry (real estate, construction, events). Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote drone photography so the client says yes?+
Charge for the license and insurance that let you fly commercially, because most hobbyists legally cannot. The Part 107 credential is your moat, so price the professionalism, and bill editing as its own deliverable. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.