House from above

Your own house and its property in an aerial photo

A house from above shows more than the roof. A long garden, a side driveway or an outbuilding can explain how the property is used in everyday life. Anyone planning an aerial photo for the family or for accommodation should first determine which of these contexts the photo should contain.

The right view for a house

In a family home, the same driveway can evoke two completely different memories. When selecting images, it is worth asking residents about the view from which they first recognize their home.

An exterior shot can show the house from its familiar street side or open up the view from the garden side. Which direction makes sense depends on the property that is to be explained. A long access road needs space in the section, a terrace gains through its transition to the residential building. When making your selection, it is helpful to briefly write down both tasks and look for exactly these relationships in the pictures. The series consists of noticeably different views of the same property.

An example of the view of the property

In the case of a long house with a garden behind the building, the depth of the property remains unclear from the street. An oblique view from the garden side can show the terrace and house in a shared perspective. However, if the access is the most important feature, it is worth looking at it from the other side. A simple sketch and the question of which of the two views would actually hang on the wall at home are often sufficient for a preliminary discussion.

A housewarming photo can emphasize different details than a photo of your grandparents' house. When you move in, the new entrance or the young garden may be the most interesting thing. A souvenir picture often includes a long-familiar tree, an outbuilding or the path across the yard. Such wishes are easy to overlook if you only focus on the most representative facade. A short explanation from the residents is therefore part of the preparation.

Gardens, paths and open spaces

In gardens, humanly placed forms meet freely growing vegetation. From above, a line of trees can mark a path, even if it is mostly in the shade. When selecting images, the transitions between paved ground, lawn and dense vegetation are interesting. They explain the division of the area. This is particularly helpful when publishing a view of buildings, because the connection between the house, entrance and garden can be seen from the course of the paths.

Set a view before the photo shoot

A short briefing can capture in just a few sentences what the finished photo should show. The address, the desired viewing side and the future intended use are useful. If you include a reference image with a clear marking, it will be easier to agree on the main motif. A second desired view is worthwhile if it answers a different spatial question. Before taking the picture, you can also clarify which parts of the environment are important for understanding and how much of them should be visible in the image.

What helps the aerial photographer before the appointment

Describe the side of the garden you want, the most important parts of the building and the future image format. If the motif is to be framed as a gift, the size of the free wall is helpful information. If it's going to go into a family album, two smaller aerial photos taken from different directions can tell more than a single panorama. When making a selection, what counts is whether the views complement each other and whether the residents recognize their home in both.

If you are looking for related motifs, you can start with Aerial photo of your own house. For an aerial photo of your own home, the best angle is often the one that the family recognizes. It's worth taking a second look at Aerial photos when selling a house. When selling a house, prospective buyers usually see the property first on the screen.