Buy it from your photographer if you list occasionally and value the time. Produce in-house if you list regularly, need same-day turnaround, or want multiple cuts per property.
Side by side
You build the video yourself from the photos your photographer delivered.
Your photographer delivers video alongside the stills as a package upgrade.
| Criterion | Producing it in-house | Buying the photographer's add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal cost per listing | Effectively zero after the subscription | A per-shoot add-on fee |
| Your time | Fifteen to thirty minutes per listing | None |
| Turnaround | Same day, whenever you want it | Delivered with the photo set |
| Multiple cuts per property | Easy, and useful for a week of social posts | Usually one deliverable unless you pay for more |
| Rights clarity | Depends on confirming your photo license covers derivatives | Handled by the photographer's agreement |
| Consistency | Whatever you establish | Professional and consistent by default |
Which to choose
Choose producing it in-house when
- You list frequently enough that per-shoot fees add up
- You want several social cuts from one property
- You need something the same day photos land
Choose buying the photographer's add-on when
- You list occasionally and your time is the scarce resource
- You want the rights question handled contractually
- You would rather not add a tool to your workflow
Questions
Will my photographer be annoyed if I make video from their photos?
Some sell video themselves and reserve those rights, which is legitimate. Ask directly whether your license covers video derivatives. Most say yes, since the video markets the listing they were hired to help sell.
Does in-house video look worse?
It starts from the same photographs, so the ceiling is similar. The difference is judgment about selection and pacing, which is learnable and mostly comes down to cutting weak frames.
Can I do both?
Commonly yes. Buy the photographer's polished deliverable for the listing page, and produce your own additional social cuts from the same photo set through the listing period.