Shooting homes for nearly 20 years in the Florida Keys means you learn to expect the unexpected, especially from the skies. Some of the local bird life, particularly ospreys, do not appreciate drones invading their airspace. They come after them like it’s personal. The best move? Go straight up, fast. That quick vertical ascent usually convinces them you are not another bird, but once you are on their radar, it is smart to cut the flight short rather than risk injuring them.
Big Pine Key brings its own set of characters. The Key deer roam freely and tend to stroll right into the frame like they are part of the shoot. You get used to it, or at least you stop flinching as much.
And then there are the iguanas. These nonnative squatters lounge on docks, dig up landscaping, and occasionally drop in from rooftops or tree limbs. In Marathon, pilots landing at the airport refer to them as “Komodo dragons” because they actually pose a hazard during takeoffs and landings. Real estate photography doesn’t usually come with an FAA wildlife advisory, but here we are.
Real estate photography down here is not just about clean lines and good lighting. It is about staying alert, adjusting on the fly, and sometimes negotiating with wildlife just to wrap up a shoot. There is no such thing as a routine day in the Keys.