This month is the second anniversary of doing construction documentation with a drone. As many of you know there are several facets of construction documentation. Some is done from the ground with cameras, and interiors are done with cameras.
My experience is solely with aerial photography. When I started in January of 2018 my contract called for doing exteriors and elevations with a few panos. It didn’t take long to realize my client wasn’t pleased with what we were giving them, primarily the exterior and elevation shoots, they weren’t even looking at them and they were the most time consuming.
Talking to the Superintendent he clearly laid out his dissatisfaction with what he was getting for what he was paying. As we talked it became apparent, he was more interested in an overview of the project (about 180 acres). I suggested mapping to him and told him I would do one mapping for free so he could evaluate it. Once he seen the mapping, he loved it, had to have it. Well the contract was modified, and elevations and exteriors were removed and mapping and more panos were now included. A few months later he asked if I could do videos, I told him I could, but it would be a learning experience for me because I’m not a video guy, he understood.
I did one video and he loved it, that became a weekly or bi-weekly shoot. In January of 2019 they used one of my videos at the construction seminar in Las Vegas, it wasn’t very good, but the construction people didn’t care as much about the quality of video as basically a construction overview.
So why did I say all this? This has been a tremendous learning experience for me, not only in aerial photography but in creating videos thanks to many people giving me advice and ideas. Most importantly though was learning what my client really needed and supplying it. I knew basically nothing about major construction of multistory building and what is involved, so I asked probably ten million questions over the past two years, and probably drove the superintendent and engineers nuts but it has given me a good foundation and understanding of what they need.
In photography we look for the beautiful shots, the lighting to be just right. In construction they only care about seeing what work has been completed, and what needs to be done. Actually, I owe a lot to this forum because I have learned a great deal thanks to many of you.
My experience is solely with aerial photography. When I started in January of 2018 my contract called for doing exteriors and elevations with a few panos. It didn’t take long to realize my client wasn’t pleased with what we were giving them, primarily the exterior and elevation shoots, they weren’t even looking at them and they were the most time consuming.
Talking to the Superintendent he clearly laid out his dissatisfaction with what he was getting for what he was paying. As we talked it became apparent, he was more interested in an overview of the project (about 180 acres). I suggested mapping to him and told him I would do one mapping for free so he could evaluate it. Once he seen the mapping, he loved it, had to have it. Well the contract was modified, and elevations and exteriors were removed and mapping and more panos were now included. A few months later he asked if I could do videos, I told him I could, but it would be a learning experience for me because I’m not a video guy, he understood.
I did one video and he loved it, that became a weekly or bi-weekly shoot. In January of 2019 they used one of my videos at the construction seminar in Las Vegas, it wasn’t very good, but the construction people didn’t care as much about the quality of video as basically a construction overview.
So why did I say all this? This has been a tremendous learning experience for me, not only in aerial photography but in creating videos thanks to many people giving me advice and ideas. Most importantly though was learning what my client really needed and supplying it. I knew basically nothing about major construction of multistory building and what is involved, so I asked probably ten million questions over the past two years, and probably drove the superintendent and engineers nuts but it has given me a good foundation and understanding of what they need.
In photography we look for the beautiful shots, the lighting to be just right. In construction they only care about seeing what work has been completed, and what needs to be done. Actually, I owe a lot to this forum because I have learned a great deal thanks to many of you.