Overview of 360 Photography
360 photography is made up of collections of still images taken in all directions that are stitched together into an equirectangular projection, which can be viewed as a 360-degree photo in VRIFY’s 360 photo viewer.
VRIFY’s 360 Decks consist of Drone 360 Photography and Ground 360 Photography supplemented with still imagery.
Drone 360 Photography:
Can easily be taken with most DJI drones where the process is mostly automated. Anywhere from 25-35 individual still photos are captured for each 360.
Accepted DJI drone models ordered from best to worst.
It is possible for clients to self-shoot provided you have one of the accepted models. Drone 360s cannot be taken inside buildings unless you have the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Ground 360 Photography:
Includes 360 photography inside any buildings or underground.
This is a very specialized form of photography and will require a VRIFY photographer which there is an extra cost for (more on this below).
Types of 360 Photography Shoots
There are two main options for a 360 photography shoot: self-shoot or VRIFY photographer shoot.
As mentioned above, for a self-shoot only drone photography is possible. In addition to capturing ground 360s, a VRIFY photographer will also be able to capture professional still photos and the quality of drone 360s will be much higher. VRIFY has photographers situated throughout the world who are all very experienced in 360 photography.
A third option is to use a local photographer that you may have worked with before, but it would be unlikely that they have the required equipment to capture ground 360s and it is strongly recommended to use a VRIFY photographer over a local photographer.
VRIFY’s Process for 360 Photography
Once it has been determined whether the shoot will be a self-shoot or a VRIFY photographer shoot, the process is as follows:
Pre-Production Call
For 360 photography you will be working with the Production Team which is separate from the team you will be working with for your 3D model.
During this call we will create a shot list as well as go over the procedure and requirements for capturing drone 360 photography (if self-shoot), or plan travel arrangements and discuss logistics (if VRIFY photographer shoot).
Meeting attendees required consist of anyone who would be necessary for deciding what to capture at site as well as the drone pilot (if self-shoot) or site personnel who can chaperone the photographer (if VRIFY photographer shoot).
[Self-shoot only] Drone 360 Test Shot
If self-shooting, a test drone 360 shot prior to the shoot will be required to ensure that the procedure for capturing 360 photography is understood. This is to prevent having to re-shoot anything and save everyone time.
[VRIFY Photographer shoot only] Finalizing Travel & Logistics for the Photographer
VRIFY will take care of the booking for all travel and accommodations with the exception of site-specific charter flights and sites with camps.
VRIFY will handle all the coordination with the photographer and ensure they submit all necessary documents and fill out all required paperwork.
Shoot
Post-Production
VRIFY stitches and edits all 360 images.
After all the content has been received, it generally takes 2-7 days for delivery depending on the size of the shoot.
5. 360 Deck Delivery & Review
What is the Cost of a VRIFY Photographer?
The cost will be dependent on the amount of shoot days. The amount of shoot days will be determined by how extensive the shot list is which will be created on a call with the Production Team. The layout of the site and travel time between shooting locations will also be a factor as well as time required for induction.
Generally, shoots are 2-4 days. The time required to capture a 360 photo is usually 15-30 minutes.
Our photographer’s rates vary but are around $1200-1500 CAD per shoot day plus $500-750 CAD per travel day. If a day includes both travel and shooting it will be charged as a shoot day. All photographer expenses will also need to be covered (travel, accommodation, meals etc.).
Content Ownership
As stated in the contract, VRIFY owns all photography content for any VRIFY photographer shoots. If you would like your still photos from the shoot this can usually be accommodated.
One thing to note, however, is that the purpose of a VRIFY shoot is to gather content to be used for the VRIFY platform only (not for other marketing purposes), so the amount of still photos taken for each shoot will be limited.
Image Modifications
We are limited in what we can do with modifications to 360 photos. It is possible to remove small objects from photos, but the best practice is to have all the photo locations set up to be photo-worthy ahead of time.
Updating 360 Photos/Re-shoots
Our contracts are structured in a way where an initial 360 photo shoot is included but any re-shoots are not. There is an extra cost of $1000 USD per 360 photo up to a maximum of $10,000 USD whether you self-shoot or use a VRIFY photographer.
As before, photographer expenses are extra. If multiple 360 shoots in a year may be of value, such as for a site under construction, we can likely work out an alternative agreement. Please reach out to your VRIFY contact or support@vrify.com to discuss.
Learn More
Still have questions?
Reach out to your CSM or email Support@VRIFY.com for more information.