How to Start a Drone Photography Business - 011
I was listening to a podcast, can’t remember the name, and the host was reading a letter from a listener about how they were going to start a business as soon as this person “saved enough money to purchase a top of the line equipment, get a business license, consult with an attorney, secure insurance, buy a domain name,” and twenty other things that just “had to be done.” The host of the podcast sunk his teeth into the question by responding that nothing on the list had anything to do with an immediate need and that what the budding small businessperson need to do was to start making money. IMHO, I think he hit the nail on the head, because it’s so easy to get hung up on the details that don’t matter, at least not in the short term.
If you have read enough of our articles up to this point, I frequently tell drone pilots, start with what you have and move forward. If you own a Mavic Mini, it’s quite the capable platform for many types of customers, as most photos and videos end up on the internet. If you have 1080P and 12 MP that a great way to start a business. If you are new to drone and business and flying, a basic drone from one of the top 5 manufacturers will allow you to learn how to fly, remember crashes are part of learning, so a base model is fine. If you are new to drone flying, consider seeking out instructors that teach flying skills. It’s a great way to learn and try out popular training drones (plus not crash one you own). The awesome part is that as you move up in drones, the software/app will be familiar. Don’t forget to register your drone at the FAA’s DroneZone.
Now it’s time to start building a portfolio as a recreational pilot, don’t forget to take the FAA TRUST test. See what gets social media buzzing as you post to your various feeds. Start with stills and work your way up to video. Need shot ideas, go to your favorite video portal and see what others are doing. As creative as we might think we are, there are a lot of standard shots that are a must, take real estate photography for instance. In real estate photography you will always see the establishment shot (a picture of the entire home that sets the scene), each side of the home, and various features. If you have any photo editing skills, this is a good time to put them to work, if not, just go with what you have or use simple automatic color adjustments.
Post your photos on various social media sites and monitor the reactions and comments. My disclaimer is to discount the “flamers” on the internet, meaning grown people with sad lives that like to make themselves feel better by cruelly criticizing others via the anonymity of the internet. Along these lines, when it comes to feedback, ask someone that you respect in the drone photography business about your photos. Keep it short and sweet, “Love your work, would you take two minutes to look over drone photos I’ve posted and give your feedback? Here’s the link. Thank you!” Personally, I would spend my time with feedback from trusted professionals while appreciating the positive comments of friends and family.
During this time of building a body of work, I would suggest studying for the FAA commercial Remote drone Pilot test, called a Knowledge Test. Since we offer a video-based course that helps drone pilots prepare for the Knowledge Test you may think we are biased, however Remote Pilot certification is required if you are planning to make money with your drone (kind of why you chose to read this article, huh?). After studying and feeling confident in the material, schedule a time to take the test at an FAA Approved Testing Center. The cost is approximately $175 and consist of 60 multiple choice questions that you must complete in 2 hours. Don’t waste time while you study, this is a great time to network and tell potential customers that you will be certified in short order and ready to take great photos.
After earning Remote Pilot certification, you can choose a business name, secure a domain (website name), get business cards, etc. A quick check on the internet (typically via your States Department of Commerce) will let you know if someone else has the business name or similar. The path of least resistance would be to operate under your own name. While not a tax professional, I’ve heard that some new small businesspeople will initially put any revenue earned under their personal taxes, especially while the business isn’t making significant money. If I were pressed for time and cash for a domain and website, a social media or video portal page (like YouTube) is a quick way to get a presence online.
Marketing is a tough nut to crack, the good news is that most drone business is done within a certain geographical location. Decide what you want to focus, real estate, industrial construction and/or event, and reach out to folks in the business. Relators, construction managers, and event planners are good connections to make, the challenge is finding the right person, or the decision maker. To get the ball rolling business-wise, develop your commercial portfolio, and work out the kinks in your system, consider doing the first several jobs for free or for expenses. A customer of ours had his first gig of a mountain vacation home in beautiful western North Carolina (USA). Since it was his first job, he made a deal with the owner that in exchange for photos that would “sell” his rental home, he be allowed to stay for a week during their brief slow season. It was a “win-win” situation for both parties!
Should you take care of those details associated with a business that don’t directly contribute to revenue? Yes. Should you look further down the road of your business to anticipate the needs for equipment, infrastructure, and training? Yes. However, let first things be first by focusing on getting the business in a position to make money then take care of the other details.
TC Freeman is the Chief Instructor for the RemotePilotAssociation.com (RPA) and has a passion for helping recreational and commercial drone pilots learn to fly and earn FAA commercial Remote drone Pilot certification through live, hybrid or self-study courses. NEW: We just started our RPA Membership Mastermind Meeting, M3 for short, where we meet online on a bi-weekly basis to discuss drone business, certification and re-currency.
Join us for our annual JUNE-JULY New Membership “OPEN HOUSE,” a FREE-no obligation bi-weekly webinar where we discuss drone business, certification and re-currency. Email us to RSVP.
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Copyright 2023, Remote Pilot Association (TC Freeman)
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