The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is one of those events that reminds you just how incredible this city can look when the streets come alive. From the crowds lining the course to the riders pushing through the neighborhoods, Philadelphia put on a pretty amazing show, and from above, the city looked absolutely beautiful for the rest of the world to see.
I’ll get back to the more “business-like” posts soon, but these last two posts were really just about me getting out there, flying the drone, enjoying the view, and practicing my craft. Sometimes it’s good to forget about the job for a little while and simply enjoy creating images.
While on vacation in beautiful Stone Harbor, New Jersey, sometimes you just have to take a minute, put the drone in the air, and enjoy the view. This is a little different from my usual posts, there’s no business angle, no assignment, and no client involved. It’s simply about having some fun with the camera and capturing the incredible beauty of the South Jersey Shore from above. From Stone Harbor, looking north you can see Avalon, while looking south the coastline stretches toward North Wildwood, New Jersey. The beaches, waterways, homes, and endless Atlantic coastline take on an entirely different look from the sky. Sometimes photography doesn’t need a purpose beyond enjoying the moment and sharing a few beautiful images. Enjoy the pics and a little piece of summer at the Jersey Shore!
Thanks for stopping by… I can’t say enough about this DJI MAVIC 4PRO Drone. Simply incredible.
At Tour Design Media, our goal is simple: deliver professional real estate photography fast, without sacrificing quality. Once we complete your photo shoot, we transfer the images directly from the property to our professional editing team, allowing them to begin working before we even leave the location. After editing and our final quality review, your completed high-resolution images are delivered the very same day. Every shoot also includes a professionally prepared digital floor plan, which is completed separately and delivered the following morning. From the moment we arrive at the property to the moment your finished images hit your inbox, our entire process is designed around quality, efficiency, and getting your listing to market faster.
Don’t get me wrong, I could have happily continued flying my DJI Mini drones. They’re outstanding aircraft that have produced thousands of incredible images. But the moment I put the Mavic 4 Pro in the air, I knew this was an entirely different league. The image quality is nothing short of breathtaking, and if there’s a way to deliver sharper, richer, and more dramatic aerial photography, I’m all in.
Today, every real estate listing, construction progress shoot, roof inspection, commercial project, and aerial assignment I photograph benefits from this incredible technology.
If I ever build my own palace, and I mean a real palace, this would be it.
I had the opportunity to photograph this incredible home Saturday morning in beautiful New Hope, Pennsylvania, and from the moment I walked through the front door, I was hooked. Every room seemed to top the last. The craftsmanship, the attention to detail, and the sheer elegance of the home were exactly what I’ve always imagined creating if the cards ever fell my way.
It’s one of those homes that makes you stop, look around, and think, “Yep… I could definitely live here.”
This stunning property is now on the market. If you’re looking for a home that’s truly in a class of its own, reach out to Tom Sherwood at tsherwoodhomes@gmail.com for more information.
Until then, enjoy a few images of what I can only describe as one spectacular Pennsylvania estate.
I have the privilege of photographing homes for an outstanding group of real estate professionals, and every now and then I get a pleasant surprise. Sometimes the agent isn’t just selling the home, they’re the one who transformed it from the ground up.
That was the case with this incredible property. While photographing it for Dee Gresko of Iron Valley Real Estate, I learned that her construction company, Gresko Builders, had completely renovated the home. After walking through every room, it was easy to see the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and pride that went into every inch of the project. The finished result is nothing short of stunning.
Take a look through the images and be sure to experience the immersive virtual tour. If you’ve been searching for a beautifully rebuilt home that’s move-in ready, this one deserves a closer look.
Every now and then a day behind the camera turns into a story you’ll be telling for years. A few days ago, while photographing a beautiful property here in Pennsylvania, I was flying my trusty DJI Mini 3 to capture the exterior aerials. It’s a drone that has never let me down, but this time the problem wasn’t the drone, it was me. I had charged my batteries the night before, but the battery I had installed hadn’t fully charged, it was the battery from the day before. Halfway through photographing the front of the property, the drone warned me that it was returning home due to low battery. Unfortunately, with the power level dropping, it also lost its obstacle avoidance and clipped the top of a tree that had to be at least sixty feet tall. After several anxious minutes searching through a sea of green leaves, I finally spotted a tiny patch of gray tucked high in the branches.
The homeowner couldn’t have been more helpful. I asked if he happened to have an extension pole, and sure enough, he did, but even the longest one in his garage wasn’t nearly long enough. Then he smiled and disappeared for a moment before returning with what looked like a cross between a slingshot and a crossbow. It was actually a professional tree-line launcher designed to fire a weighted line over high branches so they can be pulled down. After a handful of attempts, he perfectly looped the branch holding my drone, gave it a tug, and down came my Mini 3.
The landing wasn’t exactly graceful. The front-right arm had separated from the body, and at first glance I figured the drone’s flying days were over. But later that evening, after a careful inspection, I realized the damage was surprisingly minor. A small plastic mechanism inside the arm had broken away, and it appeared to be designed as a replaceable component rather than forcing owners to replace the entire drone. A quick search on Amazon for DJI Mini 3 replacement parts confirmed it, the exact arm assembly was readily available. The repair was straightforward, the replacement fit perfectly, and before long my little Mini 3 was back in the air doing what it does best.
Looking back, I probably should have stopped to photograph the whole rescue operation because it would’ve made for some great behind-the-scenes content. But at the time, I was more concerned with getting the drone down than asking even more of the homeowner, who had already gone above and beyond to help. In the end, it was a valuable reminder to always double-check your batteries before takeoff… and that sometimes a good homeowner with an incredible tree slingshot can save the day.
If this happens to you, don’t panic, the $15 dollar part below saved the day & it was very easy to install, plus, it came with the tools. Can’t beat that…
Virtual Staging is a simple and affordable way to help buyers visualize the true potential of a home. After we deliver your professionally edited real estate photos as usual, just let us know which rooms you’d like virtually staged. Whether it’s a living room, dining room, finished basement, bedroom, home office, or any other space, we’ll digitally add stylish, realistic furniture and décor to create a warm, inviting look. Best of all, this service is only $15.00 per room. It’s an easy way to showcase a property’s possibilities, save you valuable time, and help your listing make an incredible first impression. As always, thank you for choosing Tour Design Media, we’re here to help your listings stand out from the competition!
Our ideas & Pricing can individual to the job, so let us send you a quote based on your needs & we can guarantee to you that it will work. EMAIL US at tourdesignmedia@gmail.com or call / text 610-636-5848. I will ALWAYS get back to you within minutes.
We love being able to give back to the clients who keep us busy doing what we enjoy. Every property you trust us to photograph gets logged—and when you reach shoot number 10, the next one is on us. No gimmicks. No fine print. Just our way of saying thank you. And the best part? It keeps going… every 10th property earns you another free shoot.
Using a drone for real estate photography in winter can produce stunning, unique visuals—clear air, snow-covered landscapes, and crisp lighting can make properties look magical. However, cold temperatures introduce challenges that require extra planning and care to ensure safe and effective flights. One of the biggest concerns is battery performance: lithium-polymer (LiPo) drone batteries drain faster in cold weather, which means shorter flight times and a higher risk of sudden power loss. Pilots should keep batteries warm before flight—using an inside pocket, thermal bag, or a battery heater—and avoid taking off with batteries that are below their optimal operating temperature.
Winter conditions also affect the drone’s aerodynamics and sensors. Snow, ice, and condensation can interfere with obstacle-avoidance cameras and compass accuracy, so it’s important to perform thorough pre-flight checks and ensure the drone is dry and clear of debris. The denser cold air can actually improve lift, but wind gusts are often stronger in winter, meaning you’ll need to monitor weather forecasts closely and keep manual control skills sharp. If flying near a property with trees, rooftop edges, or power lines, give yourself extra buffer space since depth perception can be trickier against snowy, low-contrast backgrounds.
For real estate photography specifically, winter brings both aesthetic advantages and creative considerations. Snow can brighten scenes and provide clean lines that make architecture stand out, but it can also confuse the drone’s metering system, leading to overexposed images. Using manual exposure settings or bracketing can help capture detail in both the snow and the property. Low winter sun also creates dramatic shadows, so planning shoots around the best light—often midday rather than golden hour—can ensure the home is presented clearly and attractively.
Finally, think about safety and practical workflow. Keep your hands warm so you maintain precise control, bring a landing pad to avoid snow ingestion in the motors, and plan shorter, controlled flights rather than long exploratory ones. With the right preparation, winter drone operations can elevate real estate listings with breathtaking visuals while keeping your equipment—and your fingers—safe.
Thanks for stopping by and please let me know if we can help in any way. Drones have become an important tool in our camera bags, from homes to properties, golf courses to roof & gutter inspections, and last construction progress images. No matter the season, our drones will fly.
Cheers. Jack McIntyre
SAME DAY IMAGE EDITING, launch your listing right away! Servicing Eastern PA, NJ, and DE since 1998.
Jack McIntyre Photography 