Photographing Acreage and Hobby Farms on the Western Slope

Photographing Acreage and Hobby Farms on the Western Slope

If you’ve ever tried to photograph a 40-acre farm with a normal “three-bedroom house” mindset… you already know it doesn’t work. Rural properties have personalities. Quirks. Stories. And they certainly don’t fit neatly into a tidy little MLS square.

That’s why photographing acreage and hobby farms across the Western Slope—from Montrose to Hotchkiss, Delta to Cimarron—requires a different approach.
A little creativity, a little strategy, and sometimes a willingness to climb a fence, hike a field, or dodge an overly curious goat.

(Ask me how I know.)

Let’s talk about how to capture these properties honestly, beautifully, and with enough context that buyers can truly picture themselves living the lifestyle—not just buying a house.

Start With the Land: The True Star of the Show

When you’re selling acreage, the land is the product. The house matters, of course—but the fields, tree lines, irrigation, fencing, barns, and views are what buyers drive hours to see.

What I focus on first:

• Wide, contextual shots showing how the home sits on the property

• Drone aerial views showing boundaries, pastures, access points, and natural features

• Road approach images that help city buyers understand the drive-in experience

• Orientation of sunrise/sunset (Farm buyers are shockingly picky about light and shade… again, ask me how I know.)

It’s all about helping buyers visualize the space, not just the structures.

Barns, Shops, Sheds, and That One Lean-To

Rural buyers are extremely practical. Their first questions often include:

• “How big is the shop?”

• “Are the stalls standard or oversized?”

• “Is there power in the barn?”

• “Where would I store hay?”

So yes—outbuildings absolutely get their own glamour session.

I photograph:

• all sides of barns and shops

• stall interiors

• tack rooms

• loft spaces

• electrical access

• overhead doors

• fencing types

• loafing sheds

• corrals

• chicken coops (the cuter the better)

Every building tells part of the story.

Livestock & Hobby Animals: The Supporting Cast

If the property has:

• horses

• goats

• llamas

• cattle

• a feral barn cat who acts like the landlord

• or one extremely photogenic rooster…

…I always capture a few lifestyle shots.

These images make buyers instantly connect with the idea of living there—not just touring a piece of land.

Plus, animals add charm (and occasionally chaos, but that’s fine—this is farm life, not a pottery barn catalog).

The Essential Detail Shots That Sell Rural Properties

These aren’t glamorous, but they’re critical for acreage buyers:

• Irrigation setups (handlines, gated pipe, ditches, pumps)

• Water rights documents (if the seller wants them shown)

• Fencing type & condition

• Gate access points

• Well houses, cisterns, and pressure tanks

• Hay storage capacity

• Garden beds & greenhouses

City homes don’t need this level of detail.
Rural listings absolutely do.

Drone Aerials: Non-Negotiable for Acreage

There’s simply no way to represent 5, 15, or 60 acres from the ground alone.

FAA-certified drone photography (yep, that’s me) lets buyers see:

• property boundaries

• topography

• irrigation layout

• distance to the road

• how close (or far) neighbors are

• how the land flows

• how many usable acres exist

Ground-only photography leaves too many questions unanswered—and rural buyers rarely gamble on uncertainty.

Capturing the Lifestyle: The Secret Ingredient

Acreage buyers aren’t just dreaming of square footage—they’re dreaming of:

• morning coffee on the porch

• sunsets over their land

• kids running in open fields

• room for horses

• a workshop for projects

• a garden big enough to feed an army

• space, privacy, and freedom

So I shoot:

• sunrise/sunset versions when possible

• quiet lifestyle moments

• view corridors

• open spaces and “breathing room”

• patterns in fields

• mountain backdrops

Good acreage photography makes the buyer feel something.

Weather, Dirt Roads, & The Western Slope Reality Check

Rural shoots come with their own special challenges:

• windstorms that rearrange your hair and your gear

• mud season

• 4WD-required roads

• sudden snow

• summer haze

• gates that weren’t mentioned in the directions

• livestock blocking the path

• GPS deciding it’s tired and giving up

But these properties are worth it—and the buyers who love them appreciate authenticity.

I always provide photos that are beautiful but honest, because a buyer who’s misled about a rural property will bail fast once they see it in person.

Selling Rural? Let’s Tell the Full Story of the Land

If you’re listing an acreage property, hobby farm, or Western Slope homestead, you need photography that captures:

• the land

• the lifestyle

• the structures

• the context

• the reality

• and the magic

I love photographing these properties—they’re raw, real, and full of personality. And your marketing should be too.

Ready to Photograph Your Western Slope Acreage or Hobby Farm?

Book your session or build a custom package here:

👉 https://store.bluemoonmedias.com/storefront/

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