Welcome to the ultimate real estate photography gear breakdown. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling to six figures, here’s a look inside my $17,000 camera bag setup that powers my photo and video business in 2025.
📦 Gear list links:
➡️ Full Kit on Kit.co
➡️ Free Gear Checklist + Budget Options (via Podia)
🎥 Camera Bodies
Sony A7S III — My Primary Video Camera
- Price: ~$3,500
- Why I love it: Shoots 4K 120fps. Unreal in low light (aka “Night Vision”).
- Paired Lens: Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master
Sony A7 III — My Photo Workhorse
- Price: ~$2,000
- Why I use it: Reliable, sharp, and it’s handled 90% of my real estate photo work over the past 3+ years.
- Paired Lens: Sony 12-24mm f/4 — great for wide interior shots.
📸 Lenses
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master
- Price: ~$2,300
- Why: The ultimate hybrid lens for interiors, portraits, and video.
Sony 12-24mm f/4
- Price: ~$1,600
- Why: Ultra-wide, perfect for real estate interiors.
🚁 DJI Mini 4 Pro (Drone)
- Price: ~$759
- Why: Under 249g = no FAA registration for personal use. Lightweight but fully capable.
🎒 NOMATIC x Peter McKinnon Everyday Camera Bag (25L)
- Price: ~$299
- Why I chose it: Perfect size, fits everything I need for daily shoots, looks sleek, and I love the orange interior.
🖐️ Gimbals & Stabilizers
DJI RS4 Pro
- Price: ~$900
- Why: The best gimbal I’ve used — smooth, strong, and built for high-end work.
Manfrotto Tripod w/ Ballhead Gimbal
- Price: ~$250
- Why: Steady, easy to use, essential for pro-level tripod shots.
Heipi Travel Tripod
- Price: ~$230
- Why: Lightweight travel-friendly tripod for quick setups.
🎥 Compact & Mobile Video Tools
DJI Osmo Pocket 4
- Price: ~$519
- Why: 4K camera + gimbal in your palm. Great for BTS, quick b-roll, or backup shots.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6
- Price: ~$149
- Why: For smooth iPhone clips and quick verticals — perfect for social content.
🔊 Audio Gear
Rode VideoMic Pro+ (On-Camera Mic)
- Price: ~$299
- Why: My go-to for years. Clean audio, especially for vlogging or agent intros.
DJI Mic 2 (Wireless Lav Kit)
- Price: ~$350
- Why: Clean, compact wireless audio. Great for interviews or distance.
⚡ Lighting & Flash
Godox AD200 Pro + Sony Trigger
- Price: ~$350 (flash) + $100 (trigger)
- Why: My go-to flash for interiors and lighting consistency.
Aputure MC RGBWW Light
- Price: ~$90
- Why: Pocket RGB light with adjustable hue/brightness. Great for intros or moody lighting.
💻 Editing & Power
MacBook Pro M3
- Price: ~$2,500
- Why: Handles video + photo editing like a beast. Battery life = 🔥
INIU 100W Power Bank
- Price: ~$70
- Why: Fast charge laptops, cameras, and more. Digital display, 100W output.
External Drives
- Price: ~$100 each
- Extras: Hard drive mount sticker on my MacBook keeps things secure on the go.
🧰 Accessories & Essentials
- SD Card/Battery Case
- Allure Camera Cleaning Kit
- Headphones w/ Jack
- Mini Toolkit for Gear Fixes
- Cords: USB-C, Micro USB, Lightning
🎯 Final Thoughts
You don’t need $17,000 in gear to build a successful real estate photo/video business — but this is what’s worked for me. Every piece of gear here was an investment, paid for slowly over time. Sometimes through loans. Sometimes on a credit card. But always strategically.
📦 Want the full list + cheaper alternatives?
➡️ View the Kit.co version here
➡️ Download the full gear checklist (FREE)
Whether you’re just getting started or scaling to six figures, I hope this gear guide gives you some real insight. Let me know if you have questions — and feel free to share what gear you’ve built your kit with!
Stay creative,
Cole
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