At ZM Media, we understand that Surrey buyers are exacting. They have often travelled the world, lived in premium properties, and have refined taste. A competent property photograph is not enough; we deliver editorial-standard imagery that matches the calibre of the homes we are photographing.

The Surrey Market Reality

Surrey is not uniformly expensive, but it is uniformly quality-conscious. Guildford and Woking are more “commuter towns” with diverse demographics. Epsom and Ewell are family-focused. But move into the private estates (St George’s Hill, Wentworth, Virginia Water) or the Surrey Hills, and you are in genuinely premium territory.

Our pricing and approach scale accordingly. A shoot in Guildford differs significantly from a shoot on a private estate.

Service Approach for Surrey

The Private Estate & Large Estate Shoots

Properties on private estates or with substantial grounds (2+ acres) demand extended time and sophisticated technique.
We allocate 3-4 hours per shoot. We use drones to show the relationship between the house, the grounds, and the wider landscape. We use ground-based elevated photography (masts) to achieve perspectives that would be impossible otherwise. We use extensive golden-hour photography to ensure the properties look warm and inviting. For security-conscious vendors, we work discretely—unbranded vehicles, careful angle planning to avoid capturing sensitive details.

The Commuter Town Shoots (Guildford, Woking, Epsom)

For the broader Guildford and Woking market, we balance speed with quality.
We arrive, assess the light, plan our shoot efficiently, and deliver gallery-quality results in 2-3 hours. Our editing is crisp and modern, appealing to the professional demographic. We include context shots (proximity to the station, the high street) that appeal to commuters.

The Luxury Apartment Market

Surrey has a growing luxury apartment market, particularly in Guildford’s town centre and new developments like The Carolean in Tadworth.
Our approach here is architectural and contemporary. We emphasise clean lines, finishes, and views. We use precise composition and lighting to make these spaces look aspirational. We include lifestyle imagery (a coffee on a balcony overlooking the Surrey landscape, for example) that communicates the lifestyle potential.

Why Surrey Agents Need a Specialist Visual Partner

The “Surrey shires” market is unique. Unlike the fast-paced churn of inner London, Surrey buyers are buying a dream. They are often moving out of the capital for more space, meaning they are scrutinising your listings for specific features: the size of the garden, the privacy of the driveway, and the flow of the open-plan kitchen.

We have tailored our service to capture these specific selling points.

Privacy is Paramount: For our clients in Elmbridge and the Surrey Hills, we know that privacy is often the listing’s biggest asset. Our photographers are trained to find angles that showcase the property’s seclusion without revealing security vulnerabilities—a crucial balance for high-net-worth vendors.

The “Green” Factor: Surrey is defined by its trees. Ground-level shots often fail to convey the lushness of a plot. We use elevated pole photography and drones to ensure the greenery frames the house, rather than obscuring it.

Visual Solutions for the Surrey Property Stock

Mastering the “Stockbroker Tudor” and Arts & Crafts Style
Surrey is famous for its distinct architectural styles, particularly the Arts & Crafts movement and 1920s “Tudor” revivals found in towns like Esher and Godalming. These properties can be notoriously difficult to photograph; their deep eaves and leaded windows often create dark interiors.
We counter this using advanced off-camera flash lighting. We bounce light into the shadows to reveal the beautiful timber detailing and inglenook fireplaces without washing out the natural ambience. The result is a bright, welcoming image that retains the character warmth buyers love.

Aerial Media for Large Plots

In areas like Virginia Water or Farnham, a house often sits on a substantial plot that is impossible to view from the street. A standard eye-level photo simply doesn’t tell the story.
Our CAA-licensed drone pilots fly specific patterns to showcase the relationship between the main house, outbuildings (like annexes or pool houses), and the boundary lines. For properties near the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), we capture the wider context, showing just how close the rolling countryside is to the back door.

Lifestyle Videography for the Commuter Belt

For towns like Woking and Redhill, the story is about connectivity. Our video tours for these areas are fast-paced and lifestyle-focused. We don’t just walk through the rooms; we transition quickly between the home office (essential for the hybrid commuter) and the garden entertaining space. We can even include location b-roll showing the proximity to the station, helping London buyers visualise their new, easier commute.

Guildford & Godalming:
Here, the market is a mix of historic town-centre cottages and sprawling rural piles. For the town centre, we focus on “cosiness”—making smaller rooms feel inviting rather than cramped. For the outskirts, we switch to wide landscape lenses that can capture a house sitting comfortably in its grounds.

Woking & Weybridge:
This is prime commuter territory. The buyers here are time-poor professionals. They want to see clean lines, modern finishes, and low-maintenance gardens. Our editing style for these listings is crisp and modern, emphasising the “turn-key” nature of the properties.

Epsom & Ewell:
A family-focused market driven by school catchments. Our photography here highlights practicality: the width of the hallway for buggies, the sightlines from the kitchen to the garden, and the storage solutions. We help families see the functionality of the home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do you photograph substantial estates with multiple buildings (main house, guest house, pool house)?
With a plan. We arrive early and assess all structures. We use multiple elevations and angles for each building. We use drone photography to show the relationship between buildings and the broader site. We often create “site maps” showing the property’s layout and multiple buildings to help remote buyers understand the space.

Question: Can you handle “twilight” shoots for premium properties?
Yes. Twilight shoots (taken at dusk) are increasingly requested for premium Surrey properties. We offer these as an add-on. The warm light of dusk combined with soft interior lighting creates a magical, luxurious aesthetic that photographs beautifully for high-end listings.

Question: How do you work with agents marketing to international buyers?
We are familiar with international marketing requirements. We can provide images suitable for international property portals. We can create “property brochure” PDFs combining photography, descriptions, and key facts. We can provide video tours with voiceover in English designed for remote viewing.

Question: Do you handle renovation properties or “before and after” shoots?
Yes. We can photograph a property during renovation and then again post-completion, creating before-and-after documentation that helps buyers understand the transformation and the quality of the work.

Do you cover the private estates like St George’s Hill?
Yes, frequently. We are familiar with the security protocols and access requirements for Surrey’s private estates. Our vehicles are unbranded if discretion is required, and we are happy to sign NDAs for high-profile vendors.

Can you handle “twilight” shoots for premium listings?
Absolutely. Twilight shoots (taken at dusk) are incredibly popular in Surrey for making large detached homes look warm and inviting. If the budget or schedule doesn’t allow for a separate evening visit, we also offer “virtual twilight” editing, where we take a daytime photo and digitally alter it to look like sunset—a cost-effective way to get that “hero shot.”

How do you handle bad weather on a large estate shoot?
With large grounds, weather matters. If it’s torrential rain, we recommend rescheduling the exterior portion. However, for overcast days, our “Blue Sky Replacement” service is included free of charge. We can make a grey Tuesday in Leatherhead look like a summer’s afternoon, ensuring your listing pops on Rightmove.

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.