Light, weather and when to shoot
Big-sky light is clear and changes fast; the last hour before sunset on the mountains is the state's signature exterior. Summer wildfire smoke can flatten the sky for weeks — re-shoot when it clears. Winter is long, bright on snow, and honest for a property used year-round; shoot summer footage for a summer place.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley sell on views, new construction and proximity to trails and skiing; Missoula on neighbourhoods and the river; the Flathead on the lake. Ranches sell on water rights, fencing, hay ground, outbuildings and access. Recreational parcels sell on the view and the elk.
The clips to make
- Balcony pull-back from the peaks into the great room; tilt up the timber frame.
- Ranches: drone fly-over of the hay ground; aerial pass along the river frontage; a tracking drive in from the county road.
- Drone top-down for boundaries, with the survey lines drawn on the still before upload.
Rules worth checking
Montana does not mandate a statutory seller disclosure form; sellers must not conceal known defects and brokers have disclosure duties, and the video should be as straightforward as the listing. Water rights, conservation easements and winter road maintenance are the facts an out-of-state buyer most often misunderstands — put them in the caption, not the video.
Disclosure, drone and privacy rules change and differ by MLS and municipality; confirm the current version with your broker before you rely on anything here.
Questions
How do I show water rights or an easement?
You cannot in video; state them plainly in the caption and the documents. The video shows the river; the paperwork says what you may do with it.
Is winter access worth a clip?
Yes, for any property off a plowed county road. A clip of the drive in winter, or a caption stating who plows it, saves a buyer a surprise.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Colorado and the Mountain WestListing video for mountain-town and Front Range agents: views, seasons, decks and outdoor access, second-home buyers, and how to shoot in snow and altitude light.
- Farm and Ranch Listing Video: Land, Buildings and Working AssetsHow to video a farm or ranch for sale: aerial moves for the land, ground moves for the house and barns, what to show of working infrastructure, and how to organise a long video.
- How to Make a Video for Land, Lots and AcreageListing video for vacant land and acreage: which drone moves show boundaries, access and lay of the land, what ground-level photos add, and how to keep it honest about what is and is not included.