Understanding Copyright and Licensing in Residential Real Estate Photography

At Bird Real Estate Media, we believe in transparency, and that includes how copyrights and licensing work for your Listing and Vacation Rental photos.

What Copyright Means in Photography

By law, the photographer owns the copyright to every image the moment it is captured. This means Bird Real Estate Media legally owns the photos we create, even when they appear on MLS, social media, or property sites. Others cannot legally use, share, or sell these images without permission.

What Is a License to Use?

A license to use is legal permission to use images in specific ways under specific conditions.

For residential real estate photography, your goal is to market and sell or rent the property. Once the property is sold, the images will no longer be used for marketing purposes. We keep licensing simple:

• We charge a one-time, flat fee for an Album with the license included.

• You receive a royalty-free, non-exclusive license for the duration of your Listing/Rental

• No ongoing royalties or hidden usage fees while marketing the active listing.

What You Can Do with Your Images

• Use the images on MLS, your website, booking websites, social media, flyers, and ads to market your current listing/Rental

What You Cannot Do with Your Images

• Give or sell the images to another agent if the listing changes agents or transfers the rental to the other owner.

• Use the images for a new property or future listings.

• Share the images with another agent for their marketing without a new license.

If your listing expires, you change brokerages, or another professional needs to use the images, a new license must be issued.

Aerial and Amenities Images

Aerial and community amenities images are often helpful for multiple agents or property managers in the same community. These images are licensed separately under a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to each purchasing agent or business. Sharing these images without permission is not allowed, even if another agent lists in the same area.

Vacation Rentals Are Commercial, Not Residential

Vacation rentals are not the same as residential homes. Under U.S. law, they operate as commercial businesses, just like hotels, and technically require commercial photography licensing. That usually means a creative fee + per-image licensing, with vacation rental albums priced 2–3 times higher than standard residential shoots nationwide.

At Bird Real Estate Media, we take a different approach. We’re locals, and we believe in building long-term relationships with owners and managers. That’s why we keep vacation rentals under the same umbrella as residential sales and FSBOs — with clear upfront pricing and a perpetual license included on every album. No ongoing royalties. No inflated “commercial” premiums. Just professional marketing that helps you showcase your rental, book more nights, and protect your business.

Why Licensing Matters

Licensing protects your business from copyright claims and ensures images are used legally and ethically. It supports your business reputation while respecting the work of professionals who help market your listings.

In Summary

At Bird Real Estate Media, your license is already included in the price of your album — something almost unheard of in this industry. No hidden licensing fees. No surprise add-ons. Just one flat price that covers it all.

For residential real estate listings (for sale or long-term rent) and vacation rentals, you get:

• A full album with a built-in perpetual license — included in the price

• No ongoing royalties or recurring usage fees

• High-quality, legally protected images ready for MLS, Airbnb, VRBO, or your marketing channels

• Transparent pricing under the same umbrella as FSBOs and residential sales

Nationwide, vacation rental photography is typically treated as commercial, with albums priced 2–3x higher than residential shoots — plus extra licensing fees on top. We don’t do that. As locals, we believe in long-term relationships, so we give vacation rental owners the same straightforward, fair structure as residential listings.

For true commercial properties (hotels, resorts, retail, office, medical, etc.), we follow standard commercial licensing with a creative fee + per-image usage, since those projects often extend far beyond listing or booking use.

If you have questions about licensing for residential, vacation rentals, or commercial properties, we’re here to guide you.

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Ready to showcase your property with professional photography?

Contact Bird Real Estate Media today for expert vacation rental, commercial, and architectural photography across Florida.

📞 Call us: 941-217-9139

📧 Email: sales@bird-solutions.com

🌐 Visit: www.bird-solutions.com

We’re here to help — reach out with any questions or to get a custom quote.