Getting Started
How do I book with Doorstep?
All bookings are handled through our online booking portal. Select your services, choose your date, and submit your deposit to reserve your spot. If you need something last minute or have a more complex project, call or text us directly at 406-600-8108 and we'll figure it out together
How far in advance should I book?
As early as possible - especially during peak seasons in Southwest Montana. That said, Doorstep regularly accommodates short-notice bookings and will always make every effort to fit you in when timing is tight.
Same-day availability isn't guaranteed but has happened. If your timeline is compressed, call us. We regularly have changes to our schedule that may not update immediately
What areas do you serve?
Doorstep is based in Bozeman and serves the full Southwest Montana corridor - including Big Sky, Livingston, Ennis, Gardiner, Virginia City, Butte, and the surrounding areas. For properties outside these areas, contact us directly. If we can get there, we will.
What type of properties do you shoot?
All of them. Residential listings, commercial properties, vacant land, ranch acreage, vacation rentals, new construction, and everything in between. If it needs to be marketed, Doorstep can shoot it.
Do I need to be present at the shoot?
You do not! As much as we love the company, you have better things to do and we understand. As long as we have access information prior to our arrival, we'll let you know when we arrive and when we lock the door behind us.
Pricing and Payment
How is pricing structured?
Pricing varies vastly based on property size, services provided, and location. If you have an upcoming listing, the best way to price it out it to enter the details on our booking page where you'll be given accurate pricing after entering the above criteria
How does the deposit work?
A 30% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to reserve your appointment. The remaining balance is due upon delivery of your completed media. For certain clients or arrangements, alternative payment terms may be discussed in advance.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Cancellations made more than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment are entitled to a full deposit refund. Same-day cancellations forfeit the deposit. It compensates Doorstep for the lost appointment slot and preparation time. If you need to reschedule rather than cancel, your deposit rolls over to your new date without issue.
Do you charge travel fees?
Properties in and within 50 miles of Bozeman incur no travel fees. This covers Livingston and Paradise Valley, Big Sky, Ennis, Three Forks, Whitehall, and surrounding areas.
Any property outside this range will incur a travel free of $1.25/mile - Applicable to listings in Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Butte, Virginia City, and the rest of Montana.
What are your hidden fees?
We have no hidden fees...
Sky replacement is included at no extra charge. Your complimentary 2D floor plan is included at no extra charge. What's quoted is what you pay unless you add services or the scope of the property differs materially from what was provided at booking.
The Shoot
How should I prepare my property for media day?
Download our Pre-Shoot Checklist - This all-encompassing guide covers everything from lighting and decluttering to exterior prep and day-of walk-through. The short version: every light on, every blind open, surfaces cleared, pets secured, and vehicles out of the driveway. A camera-ready home produces dramatically better results than one we're working around.
What if the weather is bad?
Montana weather is unpredictable - Doorstep plans accordingly. Sky replacement is included with every shoot at no extra charge, so overcast or grey skies on exterior shots are addressed in post-production. For drone operations, safety and FAA compliance take precedence and flights may be modified or rescheduled if conditions prevent safe operation. We'll always communicate any weather-related decisions before or during your appointment.
If weather is not ideal - rain, snow, wind, or earthquakes - we will be in communication to reschedule for our next available slot.
Can I request specific shots or angles?
Yes - The best time to do it is at booking through the special requests field, or during the brief walkthrough at the start of the appointment. Once the shoot is underway, we work best independently. If something is a must-have, flag it before we start rather than during.
How long does the appointment take?
It depends on the property size and the services booked. A standard listing photography shoot typically runs 60 to 90 minutes for most homes. Larger properties, additional services like video or 3D tours, and more complex shoots take longer. You will have an estimate of time before you finalize your booking.
Do you move or stage items during the shoot?
Minor adjustments to small items - a lamp, a pillow, a chair, blinds - may be made at the photographer's discretion. Doorstep does not move heavy, fragile, or valuable items and is not a staging or cleaning service. The property should be camera-ready before we arrive.
What equipment do you use?
Professional Canon full-frame camera bodies with a range of lenses from wide-angle to telephoto, DJI drones, stabilizers, and audio, Matterport and Zillow-compatible 3D scanning cameras. The gear changes as better tools become available, but the standard doesn't.
Media and Delivery
Can you work with Zillow Showcase?
Absolutely! We even have our "Showcase Package" that gives you everything you need for preferred placement on Zillow. Photos, aerials, a Zillow 3D tour, and floorplans. Ask us more about how this service works if you'd like to include it.
When will I receive my photos?
Listing photos are guaranteed to be delivered by the next business day following your shoot - no exceptions. If your shoot is on Monday, your photos are in your inbox on Tuesday morning
Here's the general timeline for everything else Doorstep delivers:
- Listing photos: Next-day, guaranteed
- 2D floor plans: Within 24 hours
- Matterport 3D tours & Zillow 3D Home tours: Within 2 days
- Cinematic video & walkthrough reels: 24 to 72 hours depending on complexity
- Virtual staging & twilight conversion: Typically within 24 hours
Where do I access my media?
All media is delivered through our delivery portal - The same one where you placed the order. You can access it by selecting Client Login on our site.
You'll receive a notification when it's ready. From there you can download everything, share your property website link, and access all delivered files in one place.
How long will I have access to my media?
All of our media is stored in the portal for a minimum of one year. Doorstep strongly recommends downloading everything promptly and saving locally to your own devices. We are not a permanent storage serrice.
Can I request edits after my media is delivered?
Minor edit requests are considered on a case-by-case basis at Doorstep's discretion. More advanced edits - object removal, retouching, virtual enhancements - are available at an additional charge. Doorstep does not guarantee reshoots but will always work with you in good faith in the unlikely event of quality concerns attributable to our performance.
Are my photos MLS ready?
Yes. All delivered photos are sized and formatted for MLS upload. If your specific MLS or platform has non-standard requirements, let us know at booking.
Services
What is the difference between a Matterport and Zillow 3D tour?
Both are virtual tour products, but they serve different purposes and differ in compatibility.
Matterport creates a fully immersive, navigable 3D model of the property that lives on the Matterport platform and can be embedded most places - the MLS, websites, email marketing, you name it.
Zillow 3D Home tours can do the same thing, but may also integrate directly into your Zillow listing. This gives buyers an interactive walkthrough without leaving the platform. As the agent, it also allows you to participate in Zillows "Showcase" marketing.
What is virtual staging and how does it work?
Virtual staging adds digitally rendered furniture and décor to photos of vacant or sparsely furnished rooms. The result is a fully furnished, lifestyle-forward image delivered alongside your listing photos. It's a fraction of the cost of physical staging with comparable visual impact. Clients are responsible for disclosing virtually staged images in accordance with their MLS rules and brokerage policies.
Are your drone flights legal?
Yes. Every Doorstep drone flight is operated in accordance to FAA 14 CFR Part 107. We handle all airspace authorization, NOTAM checks, and pre-flight planning. If your property is near controlled airspace, we handle the necessary authorizations on our end at no additional charge to you.
My listing is near an airport, can I still have drone photos?
Yes you can. We handle all coordination with the FAA and at times communicate directly with the tower to make sure you we get the media you need, wherever your listing may be.
Why should I include media beyond listing photos?
The numbers do the talking. This is why:
Listings with video receive 403% more inquiries and sell 31% faster
Including a 3D tour gets up to 87% more clicks than those without as buyers spend 52% more time viewing it
Floorplans - 80% of buyers want them, 93% of buyers spend more time viewing the property
Do you offer agent branding or social media content?
Yes - Our agent branding and content services include agent introduction videos, neighborhood spotlights, local business features, monthly market update videos, and recurring monthly content packages for agents building a consistent social media presence. Available as standalone add-ons to listing shoots or as a dedicated retainer arrangement. Contact us to learn more.
Policies & Other
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations more than 24 hours before the appointment receive a full deposit refund. Same-day cancellations forfeit the deposit. Rescheduling is always welcome - your deposit rolls over to your new date at no penalty.
Who owns the photos Doorstep takes?
Doorstep retains copyright on all delivered media. Upon full payment, clients receive a license to use the media to market the subject property and to promote their own professional services using the media in connection with past listings. The license does not transfer ownership and does not permit resale or sub-licensing without Doorstep's written consent. Full details are in our Terms of Service.
Can another agent or new owner use the photos from a previous listing?
Not without obtaining a separate license from Doorstep. If a listing changes agents, sells, or the media needs to be used by a party other than the original client, contact us. Secondary licensing is available and will be quoted based on the scope of the requested use.
What if I have a question that isn't addressed here?
Call or text us at 406-600-8108, email mason@thedoorstep.co, or use the contact form on our site. We're always happy to talk through a project, answer questions before you book, or help you figure out the right package for your listing.