Aerial Photography business for non-pilot

[[email protected]]

Hi, flight school washout here... actually, I couldn't get my medical a
few years ago because of kidney stones. I grow enough to make jewelry
so I've given up on the idea :-)

Assuming I make a considerable effort in marketing my services, is it a
realistic idea for me to pay someone to fly me around to take photos
and expect to make a profit? It seems intimidating to go up against
local photographers who have a small fleet of aircraft, cutting edge
equipment, and years of experience while I would be a small potatoes,
one-man operation renting Cessna 172's.. oh, and one-woman (my wife is
a marketing/advertising major).

*In my mind* it seems possible, and if I knew it could be done I would
go all out to make it happen. What is the general consensus? Feel
free to encourage, or shoot me down. I need to keep it real.

Thanks!
Steve

[Don Tuite]

On 18 Jun 2006 18:48:06 -0700, wrote:

>Hi, flight school washout here... actually, I couldn't get my medical a
>few years ago because of kidney stones. I grow enough to make jewelry
>so I've given up on the idea :-)
>
>Assuming I make a considerable effort in marketing my services, is it a
>realistic idea for me to pay someone to fly me around to take photos
>and expect to make a profit? It seems intimidating to go up against
>local photographers who have a small fleet of aircraft, cutting edge
>equipment, and years of experience while I would be a small potatoes,
>one-man operation renting Cessna 172's.. oh, and one-woman (my wife is
>a marketing/advertising major).
>
>*In my mind* it seems possible, and if I knew it could be done I would
>go all out to make it happen. What is the general consensus? Feel
>free to encourage, or shoot me down. I need to keep it real.
>
I'm puzzled about how big a market there is for air-to-ground
photography. Shooting air-to-air (taking pictures of other people's
planes in flight against an attractive background), which would
require a pilot/photog team,seems like it might possibly break even,
although you'd need a good long lens, vibration cancellation, and an
aircraft you could take the door off.

One novelty approach to air-to-ground would be false-perspective
stereoscopic photography. You take two pictures of the same scene out
the side of the A/C while flying straight and level, (with as much as
a minute between pictures), print the pix, and arrange them for stereo
viewing through something like a stereopticon. Looks like a
model-railroad replica of the real thing.

(Or just set the images side by side, if you're good at fusing stereo
images. In that case, you could sell the results as a souvenir
booklet, or CD-ROM with a cardboard or plastic viewer. With some
marketing, you might be able to create a fad and make some money out
of the gimmick until the copycats caught up with you.)

Don

[Emily]

Don Tuite wrote:
> On 18 Jun 2006 18:48:06 -0700, wrote:
<snip>
> I'm puzzled about how big a market there is for air-to-ground
> photography.

I don't know either, but when I instructed full time, there were ALWAYS
photographers coming in looking for a pilot.

[[email protected]]

Steve:
I think you can do anything you want to. You would have to find a
private pilot that is willing to "split" thte cost of the aircraft, or
pay for a commercial rated pilot. As I am sure you know, everything in
aviation, marketing, or just general business is networking and
contacts, with the right contacts, price break and technology really
doesn't matter. Good Luck.

BE
wrote:
> Hi, flight school washout here... actually, I couldn't get my medical a
> few years ago because of kidney stones. I grow enough to make jewelry
> so I've given up on the idea :-)
>
> Assuming I make a considerable effort in marketing my services, is it a
> realistic idea for me to pay someone to fly me around to take photos
> and expect to make a profit? It seems intimidating to go up against
> local photographers who have a small fleet of aircraft, cutting edge
> equipment, and years of experience while I would be a small potatoes,
> one-man operation renting Cessna 172's.. oh, and one-woman (my wife is
> a marketing/advertising major).
>
> *In my mind* it seems possible, and if I knew it could be done I would
> go all out to make it happen. What is the general consensus? Feel
> free to encourage, or shoot me down. I need to keep it real.
>
> Thanks!
> Steve

[Larry Dighera]

On 18 Jun 2006 18:48:06 -0700, wrote in
. com>::

>Assuming I make a considerable effort in marketing my services, is it a
>realistic idea for me to pay someone to fly me around to take photos
>and expect to make a profit?

Although a PIC can get away with shooting a few snapshots while
performing the duties mandated by FAA regulations, prudent airman and
those wishing professional photographic results will want a two-man
team.

[Peter R.]

Larry Dighera > wrote:

> Although a PIC can get away with shooting a few snapshots while
> performing the duties mandated by FAA regulations, prudent airman and
> those wishing professional photographic results will want a two-man
> team.

I got the impression that Rosspilot, who used to be very regular in this
group, was a one-man, pilot/photographer operation.

He seemed to be both a prudent pilot and a profitable operator, but perhaps
his location to New York City helped.


--
Peter

[Flyingmonk]

wrote:
> Hi, flight school washout here... actually, I couldn't get my medical a
> few years ago because of kidney stones. I grow enough to make jewelry
> so I've given up on the idea :-)
>
> Assuming I make a considerable effort in marketing my services, is it a
> realistic idea for me to pay someone to fly me around to take photos
> and expect to make a profit? It seems intimidating to go up against
> local photographers who have a small fleet of aircraft, cutting edge
> equipment, and years of experience while I would be a small potatoes,
> one-man operation renting Cessna 172's.. oh, and one-woman (my wife is
> a marketing/advertising major).
>
> *In my mind* it seems possible, and if I knew it could be done I would
> go all out to make it happen. What is the general consensus? Feel
> free to encourage, or shoot me down. I need to keep it real.
>
> Thanks!
> Steve

When I was taking my helo lessons (over ten years ago) there was an old
gentleman that had a full-time office at the helo school there
(Metropolitan Helicopters out of Manassas, VA). He seamed to have been
making a profit to be able to afford the office, helo rental and
commercial pilots to fly him.

Monk

[gatt]

"Emily" > wrote in message
...

>> I'm puzzled about how big a market there is for air-to-ground
>> photography.
>
> I don't know either, but when I instructed full time, there were ALWAYS
> photographers coming in looking for a pilot.

Word is commercial developers like large-format hi-def aerial photos. My
wife and I are looking into this too.

-c

[Casey Wilson]

"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Emily" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>> I'm puzzled about how big a market there is for air-to-ground
>>> photography.
>>
>> I don't know either, but when I instructed full time, there were ALWAYS
>> photographers coming in looking for a pilot.
>
> Word is commercial developers like large-format hi-def aerial photos. My
> wife and I are looking into this too.
>
In what regard are you "looking into it?"

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer
and Photographer

[gatt]

"Casey Wilson" <N2310D @ gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fKZlg.9211$1G2.7371@trnddc06...

>> Word is commercial developers like large-format hi-def aerial photos.
>> My wife and I are looking into this too.
>>
> In what regard are you "looking into it?"

Well, I'm working on my commercial rating right now and trying to develop a
simpler means of mounting and stabilizing a digital camera. I've already
done one shoot, but that was a few years ago.

Is that what you're asking?

-c