Photo vs. Video for Commercial Listings: What Actually Helps a Space Lease
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Every broker asks some version of this: do I need video for this listing, or are good photos enough? The answer depends on the property, not on what’s trendy. Here’s how we think about it after shooting commercial photography and videography across Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Lake Tahoe.
What photos do for a commercial listing
Photos are the first thing anyone sees on LoopNet, Crexi, your brokerage site or an email blast. Their job is to stop the scroll and answer the basic questions fast: what does the building look like, is it clean and current, and is the space bright and usable?
Photos are great at
- Thumbnails and listing-site galleries
- Showing finish level, light and condition
- Flyers, offering memorandums and print
- Quick, 24-hour turnaround
Photos struggle with
- How rooms connect to each other
- Ceiling height and true scale
- Parking, loading and site access
- What’s around the property
What a full property video does
A full property video walks a tenant through the space the way a showing would. Our commercial videos run 1–2 minutes and combine ground footage of the interior and exterior with aerial footage of the building, the lot and the surrounding area. That combination is the point: the ground footage shows the space, and the aerial footage shows where it sits.
Video answers the questions that cause wasted showings
How big does the warehouse floor actually feel? Where do trucks come in? How far is the freeway on-ramp? Is there visible signage from the road? When a prospect can see those things before they call, the showings you do book are with people who already know the space fits.
Which listings need video?
Here’s the rule of thumb we give brokers. It isn’t about price point. It’s about how much of the property’s value a still image can show.
| Property type | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single office suite | Photos | Floor plan plus clean interiors tell most of the story. |
| Multi-tenant office or medical building | Photo + video | Common areas, entries and how suites connect matter. |
| Retail center or pad site | Photo + video | Visibility, traffic, co-tenants and parking sell retail. Aerial shows all four. |
| Industrial / flex / warehouse | Photo + video | Clear height, loading, yard space and truck access are hard to judge from stills. |
| Land and development sites | Video (aerial heavy) | Boundaries, access and surroundings are the product. |
| Small retail bay in a known center | Photos | The center is already familiar. Show the space clean and bright. |
A real example: 99 Miles Road, Mound House
An independent commercial Realtor brought us in to shoot a newly built industrial flex building at 99 Miles Road in Mound House, just east of Carson City. We delivered both: aerial and ground photography for the listing gallery, and a property video to show the building and site the way a tour would.
What the photos did
Gave the listing a sharp, brand-new first impression: clean exteriors for the thumbnail and gallery, and an aerial that shows the whole building and lot in one frame.
What the video added
Context a gallery can’t give: how you get onto the site, how the lot lays out around the building, and where it sits in Mound House, all before a prospect makes the drive.
That’s the combination we recommend for industrial and flex listings, and it’s what the $999 bundle covers. See the full 99 Miles Road case study.
What it costs
We keep commercial pricing simple. Full details are in our Reno real estate photography pricing guide.
Photo + Video Bundle: $999
- 5–10 aerial photos
- Full interior and exterior photo coverage
- 1–2 minute full property video (aerial + ground)
- The package we recommend first
Or book them separately
- Photos only: $450 (aerial + interior/exterior)
- Full property video only: $750 (aerial + ground)
- One building per property; ask about bulk rates for portfolios
Booking both separately runs $1,200, so if a listing needs video at all, the bundle is the better deal.
How to get the most out of video on a listing
- Put it at the top of the listing. LoopNet and Crexi both let you add video. Don’t bury it below 40 photos.
- Use it in the email blast. A video thumbnail gives people a reason to click through instead of skimming past another photo.
- Cut a short version for social. A 15–30 second clip from the full video works on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
- Reuse it for the next vacancy. Exterior and aerial footage stays useful when another suite in the same building comes up.
- Send it before the showing. Prospects who’ve watched the video come in with better questions and fewer surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I get the photos and video?
Photos are delivered within 24 hours. Video is delivered in 2–4 business days.
Is the video just a drone clip?
No. Our full property video combines ground footage of the interior and exterior with aerial footage, edited into a 1–2 minute walkthrough of the property.
Can I use the video on LoopNet and Crexi?
Yes. You’ll get files sized for listing sites, your website and social media.
Do you shoot outside Reno?
Yes. We cover Reno, Sparks, Carson City and the Lake Tahoe area.
What if I have several properties to list?
Each package covers one building per property. Bulk rates may apply for multiple buildings or portfolios. Ask us for a quote.
See more of our work on our commercial real estate photography and videography page, see the 99 Miles Road case study, or browse the rest of our portfolio.
Listing a commercial property?
Tell us about the space and we’ll recommend photos, video or both, with no pressure either way.
Get My Free Quote!Or call 775-305-9518
Joe Sorenson is the owner of Flyer Visions, a commercial photography and videography company serving Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Lake Tahoe. He shoots interior, exterior and aerial photo and video for commercial real estate, builders and local businesses. Reach him at Joe@flyervisions.com or 775-305-9518.
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