University Park Real Estate Photography

Plano real estate photography - home exterior

Hi, I'm Trey. I run Bywaters Media out of Plano, and I'm the one who shows up with the camera on every University Park listing. I also do the edits and answer the phone.

University Park grew up around SMU. The homes started as houses for faculty and staff near the new campus, and the city incorporated in 1924. Today you'll see homes from very different eras on the same street, plus estates in the Volk Estates area along Turtle Creek south of Lovers Lane. That mix shapes how I shoot. A new build on a standard UP lot usually sits close to the houses on either side. Getting a clean, straight-on front elevation takes some planning, and so does keeping the neighbors' cars and trash bins out of frame. Under the mature trees, I watch the light carefully so a white brick or limestone facade doesn't blow out in the sun while the porch stays in shade.

Buyers here are buying the lifestyle as much as the house. Snider Plaza at Hillcrest and Lovers Lane opened in 1927 as the city's original commercial district. With the SMU campus right there too, a quick lifestyle shot or a drone frame showing how close a home is to these spots is often worth more than another bedroom photo. University Park is also served by Highland Park ISD, and I show the home and its location and let you, the agent, speak to the schools.

What I shoot in University Park

HDR listing photos, MLS-ready, with a branded or unbranded property website
Schematic floor plans with every package
Twilight photography (real or virtual), my top add-on for tree-covered streets
Cinematic video tours and vertical reels for social media
FAA-authorized drone photos and video
Matterport 3D tours
Virtual staging, sky and grass replacement

Turnaround

Photos and floor plans: next day
Video: 24–48 hours
Matterport: 2–3 days

Drone rules near SMU and Love Field

University Park sits inside the Dallas–Fort Worth Class B airspace. In the FAA's drone grids for UP, that airspace is tied to DFW, but Love Field is just to the west. So every flight needs FAA authorization, and the altitude ceiling changes across town. When I checked, grids near SMU and Snider Plaza allowed up to 400 feet, and a grid on the west side near the Tollway allowed only 150 feet. I'm FAA Part 107 certified and get LAANC authorization for your exact address before I fly, so you'll know what the aerials will look like before shoot day.

Packages for University Park listings

For most UP homes, I recommend Gold (from $450). You get drone photos to show the lot and the location, plus a cinematic video for marketing. Silver (from $275) is a solid choice for smaller homes, townhomes and condos, and it still includes the aerials. For a big new build, Platinum (from $650) is the next step up. It adds a 1-minute video and a 30-second vertical video for social media to everything in Gold, plus 2 virtual twilight photos. For University Park estates over 5,000 sq ft, Custom Luxury Photos ($1,500) is the full luxury launch: a real twilight shoot, 40–60 retouched images, 10 aerials, a 60–90 second cinematic film, a hosted Matterport tour, and an interactive property website, branded or unbranded. Photos come the next day, and the video comes in 24–48 hours. Bronze (from $200) is also available. Twilight and Matterport can be added to any package. See all of it on my Residential Packages page.

New to Bywaters Media? Your first order includes 5 free aerial stills.

University Park real estate photography FAQs

Can you shoot drone photos near SMU?

Usually, yes, with FAA authorization. University Park is inside DFW Class B airspace, so I request LAANC approval for each address and stay below the approved ceiling. Ceilings are lower on the west side, closer to Love Field. If your lot has a low limit, I'll tell you what's possible before the shoot.

The lot is tight and the neighbors are close. Can you still get a good exterior?

Yes. Tight lots are normal in UP. I pick lens and angle to keep the facade straight and the neighbors' houses to a minimum. A low drone shot can also show the whole front of the house and the yard in one frame.

Should I book twilight for a University Park listing?

For new builds and homes with good landscape lighting, I usually recommend it. On streets with a lot of trees, the daytime front photo can come out flat, and twilight fixes that. If the timing doesn't work, virtual twilight is another option.

How fast do I get everything back?

Next day for photos and floor plans, 24–48 hours for video, and 2–3 days for Matterport. You get a download link with MLS-sized files.

What should the seller do before I arrive?

Lights on, fans and TVs off, cars out of the driveway and off the street in front of the house if possible, and counters cleared. Turn on the landscape lighting for twilight. The full checklist is on my Preparation Guide.

How do I book?

Book online. Pick your package and add-ons, choose a date, and pay in one place. Or call or text me at 512-619-3178.

Pricing

Silver from $275 · Gold from $450 · Platinum from $650 (exact price by square footage) · Custom Luxury Photos $1,500 (homes over 5,000 sq ft) · Bronze from $200 · Matterport-only tours from $199. Full details on my Residential Packages page. Prices don't include sales tax.