Professional Photographers with Drones
- Thread starter Fred Garvin
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Riggs
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It’s hard to calculate. Because I was just doing only houses. So I can have a day where I may do 2 or 3 houses a twilight shoot and they may or may not include the drones. So on those days it’s easily $400-$600 a day. So for me I do 3 things, houses, drones and twilight shoots and everyday is different
Riggs
Member
Where are you located? Just call TourFactory.com. Out here in Southern California we have enough photographers. It took me several years to break in to this market.
Unfortunately, the waiting period while we perfect our skills to become noticed, accepted, and requested is something that accompanies every trade. Carpenter, mechanic, engineer, attorney, photographer, aerial photographer, it applies to all of them with photography perhaps the most difficult and lengthy to accomplish.
The aerial photography side may be even more difficult as most aerial cameras lack to resolution and fidelity of the full frame and mirrorless cameras used by ground photographers. To compensate for the lower quality of an aerial camera more work is required in composition and post processing, becoming more critical to sell a photo. Both of those are skills that take time and practice to develop by themselves. Using a drone has its benefits but the drone, especially as so many are flooding media with repetitive themed images, can make it harder, especially if all you have is more elevation to make your work stand out.
The aerial photography side may be even more difficult as most aerial cameras lack to resolution and fidelity of the full frame and mirrorless cameras used by ground photographers. To compensate for the lower quality of an aerial camera more work is required in composition and post processing, becoming more critical to sell a photo. Both of those are skills that take time and practice to develop by themselves. Using a drone has its benefits but the drone, especially as so many are flooding media with repetitive themed images, can make it harder, especially if all you have is more elevation to make your work stand out.
R.Perry
Well-Known Member
R.Perry
Well-Known Member
Pat those are some really good points. However with construction aerial photography the quality, and composure isn't nearly as important as giving the construction people the views that they require. As for the quality of drone cameras, well, you get what you pay for. The above photo was taken from a I2 with the X5 and 15mm lens, to me it is an acceptable picture, not perfect by any means but it does the job. It was one of 35 pictures in a pano.
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I’ll take a cloudy day over full sun every time. The soft, diffuse light is brilliant....and no dappling that will ruin an image.
GothamDronePilots
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Yes I am a commercial photographer thats added the skill to service the amount of commercial work thats come through requesting drone work. I must say drone filters are a must have !
Riggs
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It depends on the job and location. Obviously Orange County pays more. Video is extra depending on duration
R.P..R
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Los Angeles, in particular, pays more. I at times work in SoCal and I sometimes hold my breath, flying autonomously in SoCal when documenting a build is scary.
Cinesky
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I was a photographer who moved to video and later incorporated drones but I find that the majority of my clients are requesting videos. I'd say about 1/5 of my work would be for aerial photography. I shoot on the Phantom 4 Pro which is a gives a good quality image but still nowhere near a dslr. Hopefully this will change in the next year with the release of the Phantom 5 or mavic Pro 3.
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I started as a aerial cinematographer but had to include video using my Dji osmo pocket.
Ground and aerial clips are awesome.
Ground and aerial clips are awesome.
OnLocation
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I've been a commercial photographer since 1979, graduated from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. I started out as a Photojournalist and later opened my commercial studio. Mostly did product shots, Annual reports and Lifestyle photography. I see drones as a great tool to stay off of bucket trucks, high ladders and helicopters. I have incorporated drones into my still photo business. Here is an example I did for Centennial Bank where I mixed my still photography with aerials. I use LR & PS for all my work along with Lucis Pro which is no longer available.
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I shot for Tour Factory for a couple years then they just sort of went away. Not sure what happened. I don't know if I sucked, or if there wasn't enough work where I'm located, or what. But they're a good group. Glad they're keeping you busy.
Count me in. I've been shooting commercially for about 47 years. I had so many clients pestering me the last couple years to do drone work I finally broke down and got into it. Gotta admit, it's kind of fun having a new perspective to play with. The industry has changed so much since I began shooting that I find myself shooting things I never thought I would, real estate being one of them. But, hey, ya gotta eat and pay the bills, eh?
