At ZM Media, we pride ourselves on being architectural chameleons. We adapt our lighting, composition, and shooting style to suit the specific narrative of your property. Whether you are an agent in Tunbridge Wells competing for prime instructions or a developer launching a site in Ashford, we provide the visual ammunition you need to command higher asking prices.

The Kent Market: Selling “The Good Life”

Since the “race for space” began, Kent has seen an influx of London buyers trading zones for postcodes. These buyers are looking for character. They want to see the exposed beams, the inglenook fireplaces, and the sash windows.
However, they also want modern convenience. Our job is to bridge that gap visually. We photograph period properties in a way that feels bright, airy, and clean—dispelling the myth that “old” means “dark and damp.” By balancing natural window light with subtle flash fill, we make 400-year-old rooms feel fresh and ready for modern living.

The Commuter Elite (Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells): Affluent professionals with London jobs. They want heritage, space, privacy, and proven value. Ground-level photography isn’t enough; we use drones and elevated perspectives to showcase the scale of their properties.

The Coastal Creative (Margate, Whitstable): Young professionals, artists, remote workers. They want character, community, and authenticity. They don’t want sanitised; they want real.

The Rural Retreat (Canterbury Villages, Goudhurst): Downsizers, retirees, and families seeking “proper” country living. They want to see fields, forests, and peace. Context is everything.

The Investor Market (Medway Towns, Ashford): Buy-to-let investors seeking yield. They want clarity, space, and growth potential. Our photography must communicate “solid investment” rather than “lifestyle.”

Hero Shots for Heritage Properties & Oast Houses

Kent’s iconic Oast houses and barn conversions present a unique challenge: round rooms and double-height vaulted ceilings. Standard cameras struggle here, often distorting the curves or leaving the ceiling lost in shadow.

We use specialist tilt-shift lenses that allow us to capture the full height of a vaulted barn without the “falling over” effect you get with cheaper gear. We know that the cowl of an Oast house is its signature; we ensure our exterior angles always highlight these unique silhouettes against the sky.

Coastal Marketing for Whitstable, Margate & Folkestone

The Kent coast has become a brand in itself. Selling here is about selling the view and the light.
For our coastal clients, we time our shoots carefully. We check tide times and sun positions to ensure sea-view properties are shot when the water looks best. We also focus heavily on “balcony lifestyle” shots—staging a table with a coffee or a glass of wine to help the viewer imagine the sunset. If the view is the main asset, we use “window pull” editing techniques to ensure the view outside is perfectly exposed, even when shooting from inside a darker room.

High-Speed Commuter Marketing

For towns like Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, and Ashford (with the High Speed 1 link), the target market is the hybrid worker. They need to know they can be at St Pancras in 38 minutes.

We include “connectivity context” in our packages. This might mean a drone shot showing the property’s proximity to the station, or interior shots that specifically highlight the potential for a home office. We help you market the viability of the commute.

Sevenoaks & Tunbridge Wells: The Sophisticated Approach

These areas are defined by Georgian estates, period conversions, and substantial detached homes set in multi-acre grounds.
Our approach here is essentially estate management photography. We arrive early, scout the property with great care, and plan our shots over 2-3 hours. We use multiple angles—approaching the house from the driveway, from the garden’s furthest point, from above (drone). We capture the relationship between the main house, any outbuildings, and the surrounding landscape. For properties with architectural significance (original gates, historic walls), we ensure these are prominent in our compositions.

The Coast (Margate, Whitstable): The Authentic Approach

These towns don’t want to look “polished.” They want to look real. The buyers here are buying character, community, and distance from corporate culture.
We photograph coastal properties with an editorial eye—emphasising original features, quirky details, and the genuine character of the space. We use slightly warmer colour grades that feel nostalgic and authentic. We don’t remove the worn charm; we celebrate it. For properties with sea views, we time shoots for optimal light on the water—often golden hour or even blue hour (just after sunset) for the most dramatic results.

Canterbury & the Villages: The Heritage Approach

Canterbury is dominated by the Cathedral and its history. Properties here trade on their historical significance.
We frame exterior shots to include Cathedral views where possible. We photograph period features with scholarly appreciation—timber framing, original plaster, medieval details. We ensure the sense of history permeates the imagery without making the property feel like a museum.

Medway Towns & Ashford: The Value Approach

These areas are driven by rental yield and investor interest. Clarity and space are the selling points.
Our photography here is clean and efficient. Wide-angle compositions show room size clearly. We provide room dimensions in captions. Editing is bright and modern, emphasising the “move-in ready” nature of properties. We include context shots showing amenities (high street, parks, transport links) that appeal to tenants and investors alike.

Common Questions from Kent Estate Agents

Can you photograph Grade II listed buildings without making them look gloomy?
Yes, this is a speciality of ours. Older buildings often have small windows. We use a technique called “bracketing,” where we take 5-7 different exposures of the same room and blend them. This allows us to pull detail out of the darkest corners (like timber beams) while keeping the windows from blowing out to white.

Question: How do you photograph Oast houses and barn conversions without distortion?
Oast houses present a unique challenge: their cylindrical shape and internal vaulted ceilings. We use tilt-shift lenses that allow us to capture full-height interiors without the “falling over” perspective distortion you get with standard wide-angle lenses. Exterior angles are carefully planned to highlight the iconic Oast silhouette.

Question: Can you handle aerial shots in restricted airspace near airports or shipping lanes?
Kent has several restricted zones (Dover, Ashford, various airfields). Our drone pilots use NATS airspace checking software in real-time. For properties in restricted zones, we carry 10-15 metre masts that can capture elevated perspectives safely and legally from the ground.

Question: How do you approach coastal properties where the view might look grey?
With perfect timing and technique. We check tide times, sun positions, and weather forecasts before coastal shoots. We aim to shoot when the sea is calm and reflective, not choppy and grey. We use “High Dynamic Range” editing to ensure the water looks inviting, not murky. If the weather is genuinely poor, we offer virtual sky replacement and water enhancement—ethical edits that make the view beautiful without being deceptive.

Question: Do you work with holiday let owners?
Yes, extensively. Kent’s coast has a booming holiday let market. We create “aspirational” lifestyle photography that helps holiday let owners justify premium nightly rates. We include b-roll of beach access, local restaurants, and community spaces.

Do you cover the Isle of Sheppey and Thanet?

We cover the entirety of Kent. From the Dartford Crossing down to Dungeness. We factor travel into our daily schedules so we can be on the coast for the best light.

How do you handle aerial shots in restricted zones?

Kent has several restricted airspaces (like near Dover or small airfields). Our drone pilots are fully licensed and use NATS apps to check flight restrictions instantly. If we cannot fly a drone legally, we carry 10-metre telescopic poles to get that elevated “hero shot” safely and legally from the ground.

Let’s get your property sold.

Contact ZM Media today on 020 3950 8880 or send us a message to book your next shoot in Bedfordshire.