How Often Should You Schedule Aerial Construction Progress Photos?
Most construction projects benefit from monthly aerial progress photos as a baseline, with more frequent flights — weekly or biweekly — during fast-moving phases like site grading, foundation work, or structural steel. The right frequency depends on your project’s pace and who needs to see the updates.
- A Reasonable Baseline Schedule
- What Should Change the Frequency
- Who Uses This Documentation
- Frequently Asked Questions
A Reasonable Baseline Schedule
For most residential and commercial builds, a monthly flight provides a clear, easy-to-follow visual timeline without excessive cost. This cadence is usually enough to show meaningful change between visits while keeping the total number of flights manageable over a multi-month project.
What Should Change the Frequency
Certain phases move fast enough that monthly flights miss important changes. Site grading, foundation pours, and structural framing often benefit from biweekly or even weekly flights, since a lot can change in just a few days. Once a project reaches finishing stages, monthly or even one-time flights are often sufficient again.
Who Uses This Documentation
Aerial progress photography is commonly used by developers for internal reporting, by lenders reviewing draw requests, and by marketing teams preparing materials ahead of a project’s completion. Having dated, consistent imagery on file supports all three uses without needing to schedule separate shoots for each purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flight frequency change mid-project?
Yes, most recurring coverage agreements allow adjusting frequency as the project’s pace changes.
Do lenders require a specific schedule?
Requirements vary by lender, so it’s worth confirming any specific documentation schedule with your lender directly.
Is a single baseline flight enough for smaller projects?
For very short projects, a baseline and completion flight may be sufficient, though most multi-month builds benefit from at least monthly coverage.
Set Up a Progress Photography Schedule
Tell us about your project timeline and we’ll recommend a flight schedule that fits.