How to get started with Digital Marketing for any Business

If you are a small to medium business owner or marketing manager (oftentimes it is the same person), your marketing resources (budget and employees) are limited. Your challenge is to have that marketing budget work for you as hard as possible. You most likely already know that the best way to spend your budget to reach more people is through digital marketing (the exception to this rule exists, of course, if your target audience is not digitally savvy, which is increasingly hard to find nowadays).

Why Digital Media over Traditional Media?

It simply costs a lot less than traditional (Print, TV, Radio) media, it can be better targeted, and there is a lot of 'free' media exposure to be gained through search engines and social media, through what is called "earned media" in the communications world.

When I was in corporate marketing managing million-dollar budgets, the mantra always was to spend your budget most efficiently, and in many ways that meant reaching the most people possible for the cost of the media buy. Usually, this is measured in CPM (or Cost per Thousand) of individual visual impressions. So, even if you have large budgets nowadays, a large portion of it should go to digital marketing, since it helps you reach more people at a lower CPM.

Relevant Digital Content Increases Your Reach

Digital media revolutionized marketing in many ways. One of them is the ability of any business to be discoverable on the internet through the use of relevant content on the website that helps with Search Engine Optimization (or SEO), the other is putting out consistent content on a website and social media that is shareable and helps to build and keep your brand top of mind. The type, quality, and relevancy of this content will play a role in its distribution, sharing, and ranking in the Search Engine results.

A website with SEO-Optimized Content– Step # 1

If you don't have a website yet and have never heard of the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) before, then you should stop reading this immediately and set up a website, and get educated on SEO as soon as possible! Because SEO is the #1 free marketing tool that is available to you. Through continuous SEO-optimized website copy, you can make your business more discoverable through Search Engines (such as Google, Bing, etc.), bringing your website up in the search results when a prospective customer is searching with a term specific to your business. This should always be the starting point to establish your digital presence: building a website that has SEO-optimized copy and content that will help your website to be discovered.

How to get started with SEO? Since you or your employees are most likely subject matter experts in the service or product you provide, and you have access to clients who you serve and who share their needs (pain points) with you, you are perfectly capable of developing some basic content (copy, photos) for your website. You should also have a plan to keep current on relevant keywords of how customers/consumers look for the services/products you offer, perform a routine (quarterly) audit of yours and competitive website keyword ranking, and update the copy and content accordingly.

There is a wealth of online information and tools on SEO and of course plenty of SEO professionals who can help you to manage this if you are not inclined to do so yourself.

Establish Social Media Presence – Step #2

If you have a website, you need to have a social media presence as well to help you get exposure to prospective clients via content you put out. You can also join and participate in relevant to your business groups on those social platforms, commenting and posting your content there.

The choice of which social media platform you should join depends on your target audience, and where it will be most receptive to your message. If you are a consumer-centric business (Business to Consumer, or B2C - think e-commerce or local services and products), you will most likely get more exposure on Facebook and Instagram. If you are a Business to Business (B2B) provider, then you should probably look into LinkedIn and Facebook more closely. There are other social media platforms (YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, etc.) that could be useful, but, of course, their usefulness to you will be dictated by the type of product or service you offer, and the type of customers you are targeting.

Whatever social media platform you choose, you should have a consistent posting strategy (a few times a week on certain days, for example), and experiment with the type of posts to learn how you can engage prospective clients (and only your imagination is the limit of what you can try out). This is also something you can outsource if you have the budget to do so.

Video as Digital Marketing Content – Step #3

If you have a good grasp of SEO and have established your social media presence, you should seriously consider developing video content as the next step in making your website content easier to digest and more engaging.

It is not easy to keep your website visitors linger on the website and contact you for business, and video is one of those things that can help you to get there! Good video content on your social media channels will also help to break through the feed and 'earn' free media exposure through catching prospective customers' eye that may cause them to engage with it on a social network, making the reach of your content go further. Video is becoming one of the most effective ways to break through the social feed clutter, and you can read more about the reasons behind it in our Why Video for Your Marketing Content blog post.

But whatever industry your business is in, and whether you have an established marketing strategy or not, get started with a few powerful videos that help a prospective client understand what you do, how you do it, and whether you are trustworthy. You will need this type of basic information for your website anyway, and if you publish it in the video format, it will help to increase time spent with your content on your website (this helps with improving search engine ranking, as mentioned above), and you can reuse the footage you got by posting it on social media platforms to get that coveted 'word of mouth' through social sharing.

Video Production Investment

Video production requires an investment of considerable resources. Over the years the cost of video production has come down significantly with the democratization of video production when skilled video-makers with affordable high-quality gear are establishing video production companies, but it remains an expense, nonetheless. In the marketing communications field this is what's referred to as "non-working dollars', and what this means is it is dollars spent on creating content, i.e. creative development, video production, and agency fees. 'Working dollars" is the budget spent on actually 'showing' the content to prospective customers (i.e. dollars you spend on buying media in form of TV, Radio, Print, Billboard and Social Media).

The rule of thumb in the organizations that spend millions out of their budgets on marketing communications is that the 'non-working dollars' to 'working dollars' ratio should be no higher than 20/80. However, this isn't always realistic and depends on what type of content you are developing. If this content will be reused a lot (also sometimes called 'evergreen' content), and that will permanently on your website and other digital channels (i.e. one that will work for you longer than for 1 year, such as About US video, Product or Service showcase video, project documentation, customer testimonials, as examples), it is certainly worth investing more into producing professionally. If you don't spend any budget on advertising, then you should only think about developing 'evergreen' video professionally for the time being.

What kind of budget should you plan on for video production?

The cost of video production depends on the # and types of videos you want to make, and the number of resources needed to produce them (read # of the crew, equipment, days of shooting, and editing time). If you want to educate yourself more on what it takes to produce a video and learn about the stages of video production, refer to our Video Production 101 blog post.

If you are working with a small agile video production company, you can establish starting budget for your project at $2500 for a simple production with minimal editing and crew, and the budget will go up from there if you require specialized equipment, additional crew, and extensive editing in post-production. If you need creative support from a video production company, such as scriptwriting and ideation in the pre-production stage, then you should plan extra funds for that as well.

If your video requires hired talent (actors), extensive scriptwriting, built sets - this will require a much bigger budget and can run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars easily for a couple of days shoot.

Are there ways to reduce the cost of video production?

Yes, there are several ways to control the cost, and many of these levers are within your control. You can limit the cost with careful planning in the pre-production stage, which should dictate exactly the amount of resources (crew members, equipment, production, and editing time) you need to produce the video and give you an idea of what you want to do is within your budget. It will be most helpful to establish the expectations of the production process details between you (the client) and the video production company you hire and formalize them through a written contract.

So, if you are a small to medium-sized business with limited marketing resources, there is enough information here for you to jump-start your digital marketing efforts. If you are ready to get started with video marketing (and our specialty, aerial video), check out our video portfolio and contact us to evaluate and quote your video project.

Get your drone license training for free in Ohio with TechCred!

Technology is constantly changing the nature of work, and nowadays even more so in non-technology-focused industries. Drone technology is one of those technologies, as it is disrupting established industries like surveying, construction, real estate, land development, asset management, telecommunications, and is being used as a new tool in disaster response, police, firefighting, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, insurance, media, and many others. You can read about the current state of the Drone Industry and its development in this 2021 Drone Market Report Snapshot.

Why are these industries using drones?

1. Drones made aerial videography and photography more affordable to use in TV, Film, marketing, and advertising.

2. Drone technology enables more efficient operations through cost-cutting, project transparency, and site visualization for improved communication.

3. Drones improve the safety aspect of operations: for example, not having to have people climb facades of the buildings, cranes, or cell phone towers as much, and assess the crime or a disaster scene for response planning without putting first responders in danger – this can be achieved with a drone!

4. Drones can also uncover new value for businesses when they find a way to use a drone in innovative ways: for example, in forestry, it is a new way to assess the health of a forest/vegetation area – you can even count the trees when the collected visual data is processed through photogrammetry software! In package delivery, drones may solve last-mile delivery challenges and can access remote or dangerous locations. And there are many more use cases to come as the drone industry is experimenting and implementing them in their workflows!

So, is your business ready to embrace this new technology to stay competitive and realize potential benefits? Is your workforce ready to use these new tools?

Investing capital and people resources into learning and implementing new technology at a workplace can be costly, however, not investing can cost a business more (or even put them out of business) if it doesn't embrace a technology that is being rapidly implemented in their industry.

The good news is that in Ohio the state government is committed to helping local workers and employers to get the new technical skills they need in order to stay competitive in this technology-driven reality. The state of Ohio has established the TechCred program that helps Ohioans learn new skills and help employers build a stronger workforce with the skills in a tech-infused economy by reimbursing them for the training.  

TechCred is a program for Ohio employers that have identified new technology skills needed for employees, and if that technical skill is on the approved TechCred ‘credential’ list, they can nominate employees to go through the training to learn this skill. Once the employee is enrolled in a listed technology ‘credential’ short-term course with a credential provider they can either earn a technology certificate through taking the course or pass a standardized test with a certification after completing the course. After the employee has ‘earned’ the credential, the employer will get reimbursed for the cost of the employee training in the course.

And yes, drone skills are on that 'credential' list as FAA Drone Technology UAS! So, if you think your employer can benefit from you learning drone skills and getting trained to become a certified drone pilot by taking and passing the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test (you can read more about this license in our Drone Pilot License blog post), you should bring this program to their attention and encourage them to apply on your behalf!

How much does it cost to earn the Drone Pilot License? Through TechCred you would have to take a course that would run $499-$1000 (the cost of this course can get reimbursed to the employer by the TechCred program), plus the cost of the test itself, which is currently $175 (you have to pay it every time you take it, so it is worth to take a course and study to ensure passing the test).

Once you earn your commercial drone pilot license your value to the employer may increase and you can even use this credential to help with finding employment in the future. 

Or, if you are an employer (manager) in an industry that is rapidly embracing drone technology (watch our Drones for Business Information Webinar - video below - to learn more about drone uses in various industries), you can identify employees who would be a good fit to earn their drone pilot license and enroll them in an appropriate course that gets them ready to fly drones and pass the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test.  

Drone Applications For Businesses - Pre-recorded Informational Webinar

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot Jason Damman (you can read his bio on the About page) has been teaching first responders to fly drones in the Cleveland area for the last 4 years and recently started teaching the same course at the Lorain County Community College, which is on the credential list as the FAA Drone Technology UAS credential provider through TechCred. Check out our Drone Training and Events page for the upcoming training to enroll yourself or your employees, sign-up for e-mail notifications about classes, and check out our TechCred page to learn what courses we provide through the Ohio TechCred program to get acquainted with how it works and to get started with your application to get reimbursed!

Where you can get trained to fly drones in Cleveland, Ohio

V1DroneMedia gets frequent questions and inquiries about getting certified to fly drones or learning how to fly them proficiently. We’ve also met quite a few people who fly drones illegally around Cleveland (aka without FAA Part 107 Drone License), or not flying them in compliance with the FAA Drone Regulations.

We know that demand for consumer and commercial drones is soaring, as is the drone use in many industries, but few people know where to turn for credible information and training. So, we’ve put together this guide on available Drone Training in Cleveland, Ohio.

There are several options in the Cleveland area for drone training, both in-person and hands-on drone flight training,  available for those interested to learn to fly drones proficiently, getting their drone FAA Part 107 certification that enables them to fly commercially, and learning about innovative drone technology applications in various industries.

Accredited degree programs in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) in Cleveland, Ohio

If you are looking for a traditional undergraduate program, Kent State University is known for its aviation programs, and it offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics with the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations concentration. Kent State also offers an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Minor for those enrolled in its undergraduate program.

However, you don’t need to get a degree in drones to fly drones (especially if you already have a degree and are just looking to get your drone license). Flying drones is a skill that can be learned if you invest some time into learning to fly while studying the FAA rules and regulations so you are doing it safely and responsibly, and then schedule and pass the Part 107 Drone License Test (see our blog post Drone Pilot License for more details on that). There are several drone training options in the Cleveland area as well if you are looking for an in-person class where you can acquire drone skills.

Non-degree Drone Training Courses in Cleveland, Ohio

There are several in-person training options for the Part 107 drone license in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.

Kent State has a UAV Training and Part 107 Testing course that does just that. It is scheduled throughout the year and doesn’t appear to always be available, so you must keep an eye out when it opens up.

Cuyahoga County Community College (Tri-C) offers FAA Part 107 drone training for law enforcement and other first responders at its Drone Academy, also offered throughout the year, where our Chief Pilot Jason Damman is the lead instructor on the FAA Part 107 Rules and Regulations and National Airspace.

V1DroneMedia also offers a variety of Drone Training Courses in the Cleveland area, with in-person courses offered through a partnership with Lorain County Community College, and custom-scheduled courses for organizations and individuals. V1DroneMedia also offers educational content through video resources on our Resources page and YouTube channel Drone Education playlist. Our Chief Pilot and Drone Instructor, Jason Damman, is a Certified Flight Instructor with an extensive commercial airline, flight, and drone training, and drone flying background (see About to learn more).

For starters, if you are curious about what you can do with a drone, watch our Free Drone Business Information Webinar outlining major drone use cases, industries that use them, and opportunities for growth in this field.

If you are ready to learn more about what it takes to get started in this field, schedule with us an Introduction to Drones Class geared toward drone hobbyists or aspiring commercial drone pilots. Or, if you are more serious and ready to try out a career in the field, take the Part 107 Drone Certificate Prep Course preparing anyone to take the Part 107 Test to earn a commercial drone pilot license.

V1DroneMedia Drone License Prep Class is a 2-day in-person class that takes place in a classroom. It covers everything one needs to learn to pass the FAA Part 107 test, including practice tests, access to class materials and additional resources, in-person connection with the instructor, and a private Facebook group community to stay in touch with the class participants and the instructor. The Part 107 Prep Class costs $499 (the fee does not include the test fee payable to one of the FAA-authorized testing centers where you schedule to take your test).

The benefit of taking the in-person class is that the instructor has simplified the complex and lengthy aviation lingo-heavy Part 107 study guide into easy-to-understand digestible content. This class has been taught before to many Cleveland-area students who successfully passed the Part 107 Test.

V1DroneMedia is also available to teach its custom FAA Part 107 Drone License training courses based on the curriculum we developed, can conduct group or 1:1 Flight Training sessions, and provide consultations on all drone-related matters, including setting up an internal Drone Operations Program for a business that is looking to build one.

We recently also started offering individual and small group Drone Operations Classes and Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions geared toward those who want to get started flying their drones with professional guidance or learn advanced flight skills.

If you are thinking about getting trained, but are not sure when you will be able to do it, Sign Up for an e-mail notification list to stay informed about V1DRoneMedia classes as they get scheduled

Online Drone Training

If you are good at following a self-paced YouTube, or another online course tool, there are many options out there. Google them, and you will find many, but it may take some time for you to make a decision on the one that’s right for you.

However, if you decide to go in this direction, you will still have to study the materials and take the test. The upside here can be lower cost (although not always), but the downside is that more often than none there isn’t any person to ask any questions for more information and clarification, and many of those programs can be very dense and full of aviation lingo (that we strip out in our courses, which give you only the essentials you need to know to fly and pass the test). We have had students in our in-person classes who have taken online courses and ended up coming to our class because the online course they took was very confusing. Of course, you are free to choose which learning mode best suits your needs.

You can also access official FAA Study materials on the FAA website (very comprehensive, but hard to digest if you are a non-aviator).

What about the FAA Trust Test?

FAA recently released a mandatory Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for recreational drone pilots (hobbyists). It is much more basic than the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test, and most of the information is laid out by the online accredited testing centers (you can learn more about Trust Test in our Trust Test blog post and YouTube video on this topic).  

So if you are ready to embark on your drone hobby or a career, check out the Drone Classes we offer, Sign up for class notifications, and Contact Us if you are interested in a consultation or a custom class.

FAA Trust Test for Drone Pilots Explained

There has been no requirement for recreational (or hobbyists, who solely fly for fun) to take any type of knowledge test to fly in the national airspace. Up until now, that is, with the FAA releasing a mandatory TRUST test for recreational drone flyers.

According to the FAA's website, there are roughly 871,000 drones now registered in the United States with over half of them being registered for recreational use, with many of those folks not investing any time in learning about FAA rules and regulations about safe drone flying.

So, we've put together a quick guideline on the newly released Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test for recreational drone flyers, known as the FAA Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test). If you are better at learning through videos, you can also watch our YouTube video on this topic!

What is FAA Trust Test for Drone Flyers?

With all these drones now sharing the same airspace as manned aircraft, the FAA has released a mandatory knowledge test every recreational pilot legally needs to complete – The TRUST knowledge test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), which provides essential information for anyone operating a drone so that they know how to safely and legally fly within the national airspace. As a side note – this also applies to model aircraft pilots, in general – NOT JUST DRONE PILOTS!

Who should take the FAA TRUST Test?

The FAA says that "anyone who operates their drone for fun or personal enjoyment purposes only." So, even if you already have a Part 107 certificate, you should still take the TRUST test if you plan to operate your drone recreationally or 'for fun.'

How hard is the Trust Test? Is it similar to the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test?

The TRUST test is very basic in comparison to what Part 107 drone pilots must know, and some of the items that recreational pilots will learn about and be tested on include: preflight inspections, aircraft registration, airspace classifications, TFR's (temporary flight restrictions), how to get airspace authorizations to fly in controlled airspace, among others.

How do I study for the Trust Test?

You can read through all the information you are tested on prior to taking the test through one of the FAA's approved test administrators.

Where do I take the Trust Test?

The TRUST test can be taken online through one of the FAA's approved test administrators which are listed on the FAA's website. You can use this FAA website link for access to all of the available Trust Test administrators available. There is NO CHARGE to take the test and, depending on your level of knowledge, could take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to complete.

Do I have to take the drone Trust test in the future to stay current?

Unlike Part 107 pilots, who must take recurrent training every two years to maintain the currency, the TRUST test need only be taken and passed ONCE – there is no need to take the test again once completed.

The caveat to that is, you must retain the certificate that you receive upon completion of the test. This certificate is the only documentation that you will receive showing that you have completed the TRUST test. Neither the test administrator nor the FAA will maintain personally identifiable information about the recreational flyer so it is not possible to re-print or re-issue your original certificate.

Why is it important to take and pass the drone Trust test?

The FAA and/or law enforcement can now ask recreational pilots to provide documentation showing that they have completed the TRUST test. The certificate received after completion of the test is the ONLY documentation that you have to prove that you have taken the test and are legal to fly as a recreational pilot.

How soon does the Trust test go into effect?

It is already in effect and has been since June 2021!

So, if you are a recreational pilot and have not yet completed the TRUST test you should do so before your next flight in order to be legal, as flying without the TRUST certificate of completion could get you into trouble.

I am sure a lot of people may think: what is the likelihood of that? Or, who is going to catch me – no one will know where I am flying, etc. One thing to think about is if an accident would occur with your drone or if you are caught flying in an area that you shouldn't be – especially if specifically mentioned in the TRUST test, there could be greater consequences for your actions when it is found that you haven't completed the required testing for recreational pilots. I know the chances of that may be slim, but when you consider how easy the FAA has made it to complete the (now mandatory) testing, there really shouldn't be any excuses to not take it.

Can I fly drones commercially after passing the Trust test?

Just so there is no confusion, as mentioned earlier, passing the TRUST test DOES NOT allow you to fly for commercial purposes – it is strictly for pilots wishing to fly their drone solely for recreational purposes, or 'for fun.' If you would like to become a commercial operator you will need to pass the FAA Part 107 knowledge test, which covers the topics included in the TRUST test along with many others much more in-depth – similar to what a private pilot knowledge exam would look like! You can learn more details in our Drone Pilot License blog post.

If you are a recreational drone pilot, you are now equipped with the knowledge of what you need to do. Good luck and happy flying!

Drone Photogrammetry And Its Uses

What is Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry is the science of making precise measurements of three-dimensional objects and terrain features from two-dimensional photographs. The input to photogrammetry is multiple photographs of some real-life object or a scene, taken from different angles and locations, and the output is typically a map, a drawing, a measurement, or a 3D model of the subject matter.

How does photogrammetry work?

This process works by using the method of triangulation. It involves taking pictures from a minimum of two different locations. These pictures create lines of sight that lead from each camera to specific points on the object being photographed. The intersection of these lines plays into mathematical calculations that help produce geometric 3D coordinates of the specified points, which sometimes is referred to as “point cloud”.

Photogrammetry triangulation creates 3D object

Photogrammetry history and evolution

Photogrammetry is nearly as old as photography itself. Since its development approximately 150 years ago, photogrammetry has moved from a purely analog, optical-mechanical technique to analytical methods based on computer-aided solutions of mathematical algorithms, and now to digital photogrammetry based on digital imagery and computer vision, without any mechanical hardware. 

Topographic map creation was the first application of photogrammetry, which gave way to the development of simple map-making techniques geared towards the mapping needs of the military during World Wars I and II.

Types of Photogrammetry

Two general types of photogrammetry exist aerial (with the camera in the air) and terrestrial (with the camera handheld or on a tripod).

Terrestrial Photogrammetry

The photos used in photogrammetry can also be taken directly on the ground or from a fixed terrestrial position, such as by a person walking around or a camera mounted to a building.

Aerial (Drone) Photogrammetry

Aerial photogrammetry was introduced with the invention of flight, and drone technology advancements in the last 6 years have made it more accessible and affordable.

Now a drone captures several high-resolution photos over an area at different angles from multiple vantage points. These images are then processed with photogrammetry software (such as Pix4D, AgiSoft, Drone Deploy, etc.) that “stitches” the images together to create point clouds.

Photogrammetry accuracy

Several variables affect the overall accuracy of an aerial map, including camera specifications, the number of photos collected, the photo overlap percentage, the flight altitude, atmospheric conditions (wind speed, air pressure, air density, cloud cover, position of the sun), the GPS signal strength, and the ground sampling distance (GSD). A lower flight altitude yields a smaller GSD, and a smaller GSD yields a more accurate and higher resolution aerial map.

Many of these factors are already accounted for by main drone manufacturers that produce drones for collecting visual data used for photogrammetry processing. These drones are equipped with proper cameras, and the differences between those drones are oftentimes the quality of the camera itself, and the experience of the drone operator in using the drone for photogrammetry data collection (programming the flight path, calibrating, camera settings, etc.)

Relative and absolute photogrammetry accuracy

In aerial photogrammetry, there are such terms as relative (local) accuracy and absolute (global or spatial) accuracy.

Relative accuracy is the measurement of how objects are positioned relative to each other in a reconstructed model (Orthophoto map, Digital Surface Model, or 3D point cloud). Most aerial maps provide a high degree of relative accuracy. So, for simple use cases (measuring distances, volume, and height differences, etc.) relative accuracy should work just fine.

Absolute accuracy refers to the difference between the location of the objects on the reconstructed model and their true position on the Earth (or a geodetic coordinate system). Aerial maps do not provide a high degree of absolute accuracy unless Ground Control Points (GCPs) are used during the drone aerial data collection.

Relative vs. absolute accuracy

What are Ground Control Points (GCPs) in photogrammetry?

Ground control points are points on the ground with known ground coordinates, which can be easily recognizable in aerial photos. The ground coordinates can be measured with traditional surveying methods or an existing map (even Google Earth map), or smart control points that automatically upload position data, such as Aero Points.  To calculate the coordinates for each point on the aerial photography several ground control points’ coordinates should be in place in the survey area and they should be clearly visible in the taken aerial photographs.

Ground Control Point Positioning

Drone Photogrammetry Outputs

The photogrammetry software generates object or area point clouds that enable data visualization, turning these clouds into various outputs for different applications, with many allowing for measurements such as distances, heights, areas, and volumes:

• Orthomosaic maps are stitched from multiple drone photos that have been corrected for lens distortion, with each pixel containing 2D geo-information (X, Y) which enable the generation of measurements such as horizontal distances and surfaces.

Orthomosaic Map

• Topographic maps show details of the relief features using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), giving a better understanding of the surface of the area.

Topographic Map

• 3D Point Cloud is generated from drone images with each point containing geospatial (X, Y, Z) and color information. It provides a model for distance, area, and volume measurements.

3D Point Cloud

3D Model is often generated from the 3D Point Cloud, and is a reproduction of the edges, faces, vertices, and texture of the object or area shot by the drone, and is most useful for visual inspection. This type of model can be used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) or BIM (Building Information Modeling) software.

3D Model Screenshot

• Digital Surface Model represents the elevation associated with the surface of the earth including topography and all human-made features, containing 2D information (X, Y) and the altitude (Z) of the highest point for the area.

Digital Surface Model

• Digital Terrain Model (also Digital Elevation Model) is a topographic model representing the bare ground surface without any objects like plants or buildings and can be uploaded into and manipulated by computer programs. The model contains 2D information of the area.

Digital Terrain Model. Credit: Jason Stoker

These outputs can be used in many applications in various industries, where the workflows for the collection of this type of data were largely manual and time-consuming. With drone photogrammetry productivity and efficiency of such operations can be improved significantly, and allow for more opportunities to innovate with such easy access to digitized data.

If you are interested in learning more about drone photogrammetry and its applications for your business, Contact us for a free consultation!

Best drones to buy in 2024

A variety of drones and drone controllers

My drone story

I grew up flying RC (Remote Controlled) airplanes in the '90s, spent 20 years with a commercial airline company as a pilot, and have been a commercial drone services provider (DSP) in Cleveland, Ohio now for 8 years shooting everything from real estate, construction, building inspection to high-end TV and Film video production (you can read my story here), so I have developed some strong opinions about what drone is best to use for certain tasks.

While you will find that I am mostly recommending DJI products, that doesn't mean that other manufacturers' (Autel, Skydio, Parrot, etc.) drones are subpar (although everyone agrees DJI platform is the best in the market for commercial tasks currently),it's just that I adopted the DJI platform from the start and stuck with it because it works for me and I've learned the 'ins and outs' of their products. Investing in a new platform always takes time, so unless I am forced to quit DJI products with new regulations or there are clear advantages over existing DJI products, I am not keen on investing a lot of time and money to learn them. However, if I do find and try out new drones that provide a similar or better price/value ratio, I will update this blog post.

What is the Best Drone for Beginners and Best Small Drone?

If you are just starting with drones and are in the market for a compact drone with a camera that can produce great video and photos for you to take on the road, the DJI Mini series is your best bet as of 2024. It is highly portable with a compact folding design, easy to use with many beginner-friendly features such as autonomous flight modes like QuickShots that allow beginners to capture professional-quality footage without advanced flying skills. DJI Mini series drones (2, 3, 4 models) also have impressive image and video quality with at least 12MP for stills and up to 4K video, and come with a gimbal to ensure image and video stabilization (especially useful for beginners who may not yet have steady flying skills). All 3 DJI Mini models offer impressive flight times, ranging from 31 to 45 minutes (depending on the model and conditions), and come with standard safety features (GPS and vision sensors, and geofencing and altitude limits, preventing beginners from flying into restricted zones or too high).

What is the Best Drone for Kids and Beginners for under $200?

A few years ago I purchased the DJI Tello Drone so my wife and kids can join in on my passion for drones with this incredibly easy-to-use drone from the DJI platform. It is conveniently operated with the DJI Tello app from your smartphone touchscreen, has a camera for photos and video, and quite a few fun flying features to try out (like Bounce Mode, 8D flips, Up & Away, etc.).

My wife and kids had no problem flying and performing fun tricks with it within minutes, and if something does happen to it while they are flying it, it isn't a huge loss.

Another cost-effective and easy to use drone for beginners is Holy Stone HS175D, which has beginner-friendly controls, uses your smartphone monitor (same as Tello), has decent camera quality, GPS-assisted flight and return-to-home feature. It offers around 22 minutes of flight time (so at least 10 minutes less than DJI Tello), but comes with 2 batteries (vs. 1 with Tello). All in all it is a good choice for beginners as well.

Best Drone for Video and Cinematography

While I use the DJI Inspire 2 and DJI Mavic 3 Cine for many of my cinematography jobs, my vote for best video production drone will always go to DJI Inspire series, the most current of which on the market is Inspire 3. The Inspire series allows for using different lenses on the camera – something you can't do with the Mavic or any of the other DJI models. Couple that with the ability to shoot in Apple ProRes and CinemaDNG (aka, RAW), if you purchase DJI Inspire drone with a special license to do so, and the Inspire drone can capture video that looks far superior to the Mavic series drones.

One of the benefits of being able to shoot in ProRes or CinemaDNG is that it allows for matching the aerial shots to other cameras that are being used for filming by allowing much more flexibility in color correction and grading in drone video post-production (video editing) to get the right 'look' that they want to achieve. However, using the Inspire 2 comes with higher operational costs and therefore higher client pricing. If the client doesn't require it or doesn't want to pay for it, that is where the Mavic 2 Pro comes in.

For its small form factor, the Mavic 3 Pro can still 'pack a punch' when it comes to video. It allows for shooting in 4K, LOG (for color grading in post-production), or Normal color profiles, and has 10-bit color depth. If you know what you're doing, you can get some great imagery out of the Mavic 2 Pro.

DJI Air 3 is a great alternative to Mavic 3 Pro (and is also great for its compactness and good video quality), but I already owned a Mavic Pro series drone when Mavic Air series came out, so there is no need for me to have both.

You can check out my video portfolio here. They were all taken with one of the DJI drone series drones I am recommending here (Phantom 4 Pro, Mavic 2 and 3 Pro, Inspire 2).

Best Drone for Inspection, Mapping, Modeling, Surveying, and Construction Jobs

The workhorse of my fleet used to be DJI Phantom 4 Pro for some of these AEC industry tasks. I've owned several of its predecessors (Phantom 2 and 3 Pro) as well, so that used to be my 'go-to' drone for inspection, mapping, and 3D modeling type jobs. However since DJI came out with DJI Mavic Enterprise series, which are better suited for these purposes, I would recommend to use DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, the most current model on the market for inspection and drone photogrammetry used for mapping and 3D modeling. It is best suited for professionals needing a portable, high-precision drone for these tasks.

An upgrade from DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise would be DJI M30. While that is a much higher investment than Mavic 3 Enterprise, its main difference is that it has more advanced features, the most valuable of which is the ability to swap camera payloads with a variety of sensors for different tasks. It is built to handle itself better in a rugged, challenging environment vs. DJI Mavic Enterprise models, making it a better choice for certain industries and tasks.

What is the Best Drone for the Money?

There is no straightforward answer here. It all depends on what job you are using the drone for.

If you are looking for a drone that can perform a variety of tasks well (including photography, photogrammetry, and video), I would recommend the DJI Mavic 3 Pro (although if you are using specifically for photogrammetry, then Mavic 3E - Enterprise series, see above).

If you are interested in finding the best photography and videography drone, the Mavic 3 PRO or Mavic Air 3 would be my choice.

If you do end up buying a drone, be sure to read my Beginner Guide to Drones and Drone Pilot License blog posts to learn more about operating your drone in a safe and legal manner.

Contact me if you are looking for a drone consultation, quote for your business, or are interested in drone flight and FAA Part 107 Certificate training. Follow me on social media to see our work and drone advice and tutorials - links are at the bottom of the website pages. Good luck and happy flying!

FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License

Do You Need a License (Certificate) to Fly a Drone?

Yes, you will need to get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate) if you intend to become a commercial drone operator (sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) you take while flying your drone, or flying the drone for your job at an organization your work).

There is some ignorance about drone rules and regulations out there, including the responsibilities one has when launching the drone into the air. This is perfectly understandable if you do not have an aviation background and haven't spent a lot of time scouring the internet looking for answers. We hope to clear this up for you.

Do I need to have a drone license if I am a hobbyist?

No, you don't need to have a drone license if you are flying as a hobbyist. However, in June of 2021, the FAA made it mandatory to pass the TRUST Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for hobbyist pilots. They are also required to carry evidence of passing the test when they are flying their drone.

The TRUST Test gives an overview of the FAA regulations regarding drone registration and the basic rules of safe drone operations which every drone pilot (hobbyist or commercial) should know and comply with. You can read our detailed TRUST Test Blog Post or watch our Trust Test Vlog on YouTube (below):

You can also read more details on the registration and the flight rules in our Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Flying Your New Drone post.

How do I get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate)?

You can become an FAA-certified drone pilot by passing an aeronautical knowledge test (aka Part 107 Remote Pilot Test). You must be at least 16 years old to take the test, and you will need to study the materials that cover the topic areas that you will be tested on. They include regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft, airspace classifications, flight restrictions, aviation weather theory, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communication procedures, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance, and preflight inspection procedures, among others.

Is there a drone school or a drone training program I can attend in the Cleveland, Ohio area?

There are several options for an in-person program in Cleveland to get your drone license or get an accredited degree in remote aviation. Check out our blog post A Guide To Drone Training In Cleveland, Ohio for more detailed information. V1DroneMedia also offers in-person regularly scheduled or on-demand custom drone instruction, you can check out our Drone Training page for more information and Sign-up for our Drone Training Newsletter with class announcements.

Where do I register and take the drone license test?

You can schedule your test online here, as well as obtain practice exams.

how much does a drone license cost?

It costs $175 to take the test and $5 to register each drone. This doesn’t count the investment of time into studying for the drone license test via taking an online or an in-person drone license prep class, and as we all know, time is money.

How do I become a drone pilot?

Whether you are going to apply for a drone license or not, becoming a drone pilot goes a lot further than simply having a drone license or a drone. The trick to any profession is mastery, and you will need to practice flying your drone to become a real pilot. So, practice, practice, practice!

If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I am available for 1:1 and small group in-person Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions. I also teach FAA Pat 107 Drone License Prep Courses, which are regularly scheduled and can be found on Events or Drone Training pages. Sign up to be notified about new drone training classes as they get scheduled!

Contact me if you have an interest in kicking off your flight career with a professional airline and drone pilot with 25+ years of aviation experience. You can read more about me here. Good luck!

Top Drone Applications in Construction Project Management

Many people don't think of drone uses beyond military applications or taking aerial pictures and video for professional photographers, videographers, and filmmakers. The truth is many industries are adopting this multi-use tool at very fast rates, and using drones for construction project management and site visualization is a top trend in the construction industry, according to Project Manager News.

Here are the top 4 drone uses for construction projects

1.   Construction Project Management via Construction Site Visualization

Drone photos and videos taken and shared at regular intervals for construction monitoring to verify progress, changes, and comparison vs. design documentation can improve communication and decision-making between the construction project management team members. When they are looking at the same pictures or video vs. written or verbal reports from several people walking the construction site at different times, there is a lot more clarity and agreement on the state of the site's progress, leading to faster problem identification and decision-making.

360 video and photo technology, when combined with drones can help produce virtual construction site tours (with interior and exterior of the building, see our example here) that can be used for touring the site virtually by team members, customers, or owner's reps, which gives transparency on the project progress, can help resolve conflicts, and speed up decision making.

Site mapping using drone photogrammetry software can be performed in all stages of construction, overlaying processed drone site maps with site plans for utility, wastewater, equipment location, etc.), helping with planning and managing the site.

2.     Drone Inspection (Building, Façade, roof, Equipment)

Remote drone inspections performed by qualified drone pilots can replace hours of human time spent inspecting and tracking the state or location of equipment, structures, and critical assets, decreasing the likelihood of employee accidents and human error when gathering this data visually by walking the site or climbing structures, leading to a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective operation.

Proven drone photogrammetry scanning software such as Drone Deploy, Pix4D, AgiSoft (and others) offer tools to upload and process point cloud data gathered by a drone pilot in a matter of hours, giving real-time actionable information in form of hi-res images and digital twins of structures (3D aerial photogrammetry models) for someone to conduct an inspection in the safety of their office, and provide collaborative tools for the construction team to document photographic evidence and make notes on "problem" areas.

3.     Construction Site Documentation

You can document as-built conditions upon the completion of the project via panoramic photo and video virtual tours, site maps, and 3D model creation that can be integrated into BIM (Building Information Management) and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) documentation.

Many photogrammetry drone software tools also offer integration of processed data (aerial maps, 3D models, etc.) with leading construction management software platforms, making the incorporation of this technology into existing workflows easier.

4.     Construction Services Marketing

It is well-documented that aerial photos and videos of construction sites are some of the best ways to market construction services. Construction site drone photos and videos can be used in customer presentations, websites, and social media to showcase progress and finished projects that give the firm credibility and get prospective customers excited about a potential partnership. What can be more gratifying and exciting than seeing a building which took months, if not years to build, go up in a Hyperlapse video in less than a minute?

Finally, the ability to provide construction site visualization and progress reports via photos, video, and virtual tours can be an additional way to make your construction company stand out among competitors when bidding for a construction project, as that's an additional value you are providing with multiple customer benefits.

We at V1DroneMedia specialize in providing safe, legal, and high-quality aerial drone services in and around Cleveland, Ohio, to various industries, including construction. Check out V1DroneMedia Drone Construction Services and Contact Us for a consultation or a project quote.

Video Production Explained

When most people hear 'video production' they think of the Production stage of the video production process (with directors, cinematographers, and actors on a set/location shooting video footage). While production is considered the 'sexiest' and the most visible step in the process, it does not exist in a vacuum. There are 3 steps in the video production process: Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. You should know what they are if you are looking to hire a video production company.

Pre-Production Stage and Checklist

Pre-Production is the first and the single most important step in the video production process. This is when the production is planned, dictating the success and cost of the entire video project. So plan, plan, plan!

All the video production details are agreed upon between the video makers and the client to clarify expectations. Here is a sample list of topics that can be included and will vary based on the complexity of the project:

• Video goals

  • message to be conveyed to the audience, tone, and the emotion of the delivery

• Budget

  • Do not underestimate (pun intended) the importance of knowing the budget upfront. After all, this will determine what can be accomplished during the filming and the quality of the production itself (time available, location, set design, props, equipment, crew, talent, etc.)

    • A contract outlining the budget should be drawn up, no matter how small the production or budget is

• Story/Script Creation

  • Even if it is a promotional video for a business, it is easier to sell services/products with a well-crafted story that has some logic to it

  • At a minimum, a shot list should be agreed on. Inexperienced filmmakers and clients who do not know what they want often omit this step, but it is important to complete it

  • Storyboards are often created during this stage. Storyboards are a visual representation of the shots (drawings, animation, etc.) along with the script/story flow. The storyboards need to be suitable for the videographer/filmmakers and for the filming crew to understand. Here is an example of a simple storyboard

• Project timeline

  • Establish a clear timeline for video production project steps and deliverables

• Shooting schedule

  • You always have a limited time to get the shots you need, so planning out the video shoot schedule to get them ensures you will not run over time and budget

  • If outdoor cinematography is involved (and/or drone shooting), you also have to work around weather conditions for scheduling the shoot

• Talent

  • Hire actors or coordinate customer spokesperson availability according to shoot timeline and schedule, as dictated by the story/script

• Production crew and equipment needs

  • Hire crew and rent equipment based on the project needs

• Set/Location

  • This goes along with the 'shot' list creation: each shot has a pre-determined location (outdoor or indoor) or a designed set. Sometimes locations need to be scouted and a set designed, and these costs need to be included in the budget.

Production Stage

This is when the filming happens. Pre-production plans are executed by the production crew and talent, according to the shooting schedule.

Unexpected issues do come up on the filming day(s), and it is important to have an established line of communication with the client when something needs to be resolved to move the production forward.

Larger productions can include producer(s) on set, whose job is to coordinate all the logistics and clear up issues.

Post-Production Stage (Editing)

During the post-production stage, all the footage/scenes are stitched together into a pre-determined story flow. The footage is color-graded, motion graphics created, and music, dialogue, and/or subtitles are synced with the footage.

It is no coincidence that the Academy Awards (the Oscars) have a separate category for Editing. Editing can make or break any video or film, and it is an art and a science, depending on the complexity of the project.

This stage can last a long time, depending on the amount of shot footage, length of the video, the number of videos/clips expected to be produced for the client, and the amount of time the client needs to change something (if it is a commercial video production project).

Usually, in a commercial video production project, several ‘edit’ rounds are included in the contract upfront, and going above the agreed-upon rounds can drive the costs up significantly. The client can reduce their cost if they agree on accepting the director's cut (filmmakers edit), without any additional edits.

Videos as Marketing Content

If you are a business owner who is just getting started exploring videos as a marketing tool for your business, check out our blog post Why Video For Your Marketing Content that gives you more information on the importance of visual storytelling in today's marketing and types of videos you should consider for your video marketing strategy.

V1DroneMedia is a full-cycle video production agency that can help you brainstorm to establish your video content strategy and messaging, script, shoot and edit short and long-form video content. Our staff has experience working on the client-side with content development, production, and digital and traditional media buying, so we can advise and help you distribute your content via owned and paid media channels, depending on your business goals.

Video Production Costs

Visual storytelling used to be a luxury reserved for big companies with budgets that could afford creative and video production agencies with layers of people. That meant you incur higher costs long before getting to a creative strategy or even a script, let alone actual video production or a piece of video content. This is why in today's environment, when businesses are pulling back their budgets, these agencies are forced to rethink their business models and thin their ranks, according to this Ad Week article.

And even though these agencies will still be out of reach for most small to medium-sized businesses, video marketing doesn't have to be, especially if you plan to distribute your content through digital media.

You can hire a small media production company like V1DroneMedia to deliver a year's worth of marketing content for a mere fraction of larger video production companies and advertising agencies. For example, a simple production leading up to 3 short-form video clips can start at $2500 (vs. $15K+ at larger agencies), depending on the project complexity.

V1DroneMedia Video Production Capabilities

We have the capability to provide ground and aerial footage in 4K and raw, using a variety of ground cameras, audio, and drone equipment, and can do interview-style filming.

Our ability to provide high-quality aerial footage can also give your videos that wow factor, as detailed in our blog post How Drone Footage Can Enhance Your Videos. We hold FAA Part 107 certification for commercial drone operations, are fully insured, and have 5 years of experience working with small clients and large video production companies.

Check out our Google reviews for customer feedback, and our portfolio and YouTube channel for examples of our work. Contact us with your video production inquiry today!

The Anatomy of the Drone Service Providers (DSP) Market

The Good – drones bring value and opportunities

Drone technology can bring a lot of value to businesses: innovative and cost-effective ways to complete tasks that were performed by humans that took a lot longer, potentially dangerous, and more expensive to accomplish (ex. inspections of hard to reach places, surveying, substitute for old/expensive solutions for aerial filming/photography, having ‘eyes in the sky’ for documenting work, etc.).

Several industries realized the value right away and have fully embraced this solution, spurring a flurry of DSP (drone service providers) entrepreneurs and startups to provide these services. And as drones get solid traction and more use cases with many industries, the drone industry is projected to grow to $43 Billion by 2024, according to COMPTIA report, with a compound growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5%, greatly outpacing growth rates of many industries, including IT. So with such an opportunity, the Drone Service Provider (DSP) market is growing rapidly.

In short, drones are bringing a lot of growth opportunities and economic value for enterprises and entrepreneurs. But, because the industry is so new, regulations and standards (FAA, industry, state and federal, etc.) are largely still developing and changing rapidly, as are enterprise use cases, it can be hard to understand the landscape of the drone service providers (DSPs) if you are a business owner or a manager looking to hire them.

The Bad - Hiring a drone company or a pilot is like gambling

Let’s imagine this scenario: you are a business owner or a manager in construction, engineering, video production, marketing, etc. (in short, any industry that could use drones) and decided you want to hire a drone pilot to do a job for you. This job could be anything from flying a drone to document the progress of a construction site or proof of work, inspect an oil rig, showcase commercial real estate, shoot aerials for a video you are making, etc.

Finding someone you can trust your project to can be a challenge unless you have a vetted and proven drone company/pilot you employ or you have contracted with before. Most likely you will do a web search for a drone pilot or a specific drone service you are looking for, and then you will get numerous paid ads and search results offering those services.

And here is what you need to know about the drone services providers (DSP) market in the United States: the market is very new and fragmented, and it can be hard to navigate. There are only a handful of national enterprises that operate in this industry, the rest are either small regional and niche companies specializing in a certain service or industry (ex. oil, gas, AEC industries, aerial cinematography/video, real estate etc.), entrepreneurs (aka drone pilots that can cover several industries), or ‘uber for drone pilots’ drone pilot network platforms (such as Drone Base, Drone Hive, Drone Up, etc.). These companies all need qualified drone pilots operating for them in the specific location required by clients to complete the task, regardless of the industry.

Some of these companies grew out of drone pilots starting their own companies (so they are operated by them), but many grew out of a recognized market opportunity, so they need to find pilots to fly for them. This isn’t easy to do, as finding a good pilot is like looking for a needle in a haystack of people self-proclaiming as qualified drone pilots.

The truth is, it is easy to get into the industry and call yourself a drone pilot or a drone services provider company.  Commercial drones are within reach to purchase for under $2K nowadays. Anyone who wants to invest their time and some grit can study, pass and receive an FAA Part 107 commercial drone operator certificate, and put up a website to advertise their services. And voila, they have a drone services business presence that makes it look like they are legit!

In reality, this may be a company that doesn't have their own pilots, or is operated by a self-proclaimed pilot that has hardly flown before, who may not have a commercial drone pilot license, or insurance, and very possibly has never done the type of job you want to have completed. See our blog post Things to Consider Before Hiring A Drone Pilot for more details on this topic.

So, you are really gambling as you are trying to find someone you can trust in your specific location to do the job you require – the market of drone services providers is still new and is a bit like the Wild West right now.

Some companies out there (especially national companies serving oil/gas, telecom, and energy markets) are starting to employ and train their own drone pilots. These industries require specialized skills and services performed at a regular cadence. It is also easier to ensure that their customers will get quality service consistently when hiring and investing in proper pilot training. These companies train pilots to fly proficiently and execute specific tasks they require (video/photo, aerial inspections, surveying, and photogrammetry).

However, most companies do not employ their own pilots, so when you submit a request for your service through a drone pilot network company that doesn’t employ their own pilots, you will be dealing with a ‘middleman’ company that will connect you with a drone pilot, whether from their existing contacts in the area (someone they’ve hired before for another client) or from another area that will have to travel to your location (and therefore charging more, most likely). And if the job at hand is rather simple, not requiring specialized skills in flying, shooting high-quality video/photo, or gathering data in a specific way, it may be an effective solution for you.

But you should be aware that many of these drone pilot network companies do not vet their subcontractors properly, and in many cases, these pilots get paid low wages (the middleman takes a cut, of course). You will not get the best-qualified pilots to perform your task and will most likely have limited direct communication with them to prevent those pilots from acquiring you as their own client.

And while this business model of drone pilot network serves well as a marketplace to connect clients with pilots, these pilots may not be highly skilled and use the middleman service to gain proficiency (using this as paid training) before branching out on their own or being employed as drone pilots full-time for a company that has its own drone program.

The Ugly - You Take on Risks

So, if you have contracted with a company that doesn’t employ its own pilots or doesn’t vet them properly, what are the risks?

Here are the top 4:

1)      Fines. If you have hired a drone pilot who doesn’t hold an FAA Part 107 license or is operating outside of the FAA Part 107 guidelines (including not registering drones, flying without additional airspace authorizations when required, etc.), you are opening your company to potential FAA fines.

Recently the FAA fined a drone pilot $182K for repeated violations, as detailed in this Forbes article. While this may be an extreme example, you don’t want to get in ‘hot water’ with FAA or local law enforcement, let alone get your business dragged through the bad PR a drone incident could generate. Drones are still a new and sometimes controversial technology, so drone incidents tend to make TV, front page, and social media news.

2)   Damage liability. If you don't ensure that the drone pilot you hire has drone business insurance or puts your company as an 'additional insured' as an additional way to defer potential liability away from the client, there is always a potential that your company may be liable if something goes wrong. Drones do crash, can cause property damage and personal injury, and that cause could be anything from weather-related, technology failure, or pilot error, regardless of their skill and qualifications.

3)   Wasted resources (time and $). If you don’t have a way to communicate your requirements to the pilot directly, or don’t know their experience with the type of job and data output you require, that money you just spent may have been wasted – you may not get the output you need, or the quality of the output may not be up to your standards.

4)  Reputation. If you are the business owner and the drone pilot you hired didn’t work out in some way, you will learn your lesson and move on. But, if you are a manager within a company that oversees outsourcing these jobs, your career and reputation in the company and industry may be at stake.

To sum up, if you want to hire a drone pilot consider coming up with requirements to vet them, and/or ensure that the companies you hire vet the pilots according to your specifications. These requirements should include the basics and go beyond them, especially if you have a complex technical deliverable that will need to integrate into your workflows or you expect video of certain quality and professional photography output.

V1DroneMedia is owned and operated by its Chief Pilot Jason Damman, a professional airline turned drone pilot, with 25+ years’ experience in remote-controlled aviation, 20+ years in commercial airlines, and 5+ years in commercial drone operations. Jason is a drone and aviation practitioner and educator, performing complex drone jobs in various industries (see our Portfolio and YouTube channel for examples of our work), and is also a certified flight instructor, including training drone pilots.

Contact us for a consultation today. V1DroneMedia can help you complete a drone job, train your pilots, or help you to set up a drone operation of your own!

Where can I fly my drone?

I get this question all the time. Mostly when people see me fly my drone downtown Cleveland, Ohio, (and anywhere else). There is still a lot of confusion as to where you are legally allowed to fly.

There are 2 types of drone operators – hobbyists (recreational) and commercial operators (Part 107 license holders, like myself). As a reminder, drones are legally defined as aircraft, so their operations are subject to regulation by the FAA. This regulation applies to both recreational and commercial operations and ALL drone pilots are required to know the type of airspace they plan to fly in.

Commercial drone operators (with Part 107 certification) are required to learn and understand much more about operations within the NAS (National Airspace), and it is a major part of the FAA knowledge test for remote pilot certification. The same goes for the hobbyist drone pilots: as of 2021 they are required to take the TRUST test, preparation for which gives them basic information about the airspace types (see my TRUST test blog post for more information on that)

Types of United States National Airspace (NAS)

When planning a drone flight, you need to determine what type of airspace you are intending to fly in.  If it is controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or certain areas of E) then you will need to get FAA authorization to fly in these areas.   Controlled airspace is typically found within 5 miles of an airport that has a control tower in operation. 

How can I check what type of airspace I am in?

There are several ways to check what type of airspace you are intending to fly in.  The easiest way is with an app that was developed in conjunction with the FAA, called B4UFLY. It provides drone pilots with a status indicator based on their current or planned location in relation to airspace restrictions. Of course, there may be additional restrictions, such as state and local regulations, that may not be shown on the app.

There are a variety of other apps available for drone pilots, including Airmap, UASidekick, and Aloft to name a few, which help determine the airspace type and the ability to request FAA flight authorizations through the app.

Uncontrolled airspace drone flight operations

As the name implies, you won’t need additional FAA authorization if you are in uncontrolled airspace. You are free to fly there, as long as you comply with basic drone operation rules (flying under 400’, not flying over people or traffic, and not interfering with traffic patterns of takeoff and landing areas, if near an airport).

How to get FAA Authorizations to fly in controlled airspace

If you’ve determined that you are going to be flying in controlled airspace (Class A, B, C, D, etc.) you must apply for an airspace authorization for altitudes below the posted UAS Facility Map grid altitudes (this applies to both recreational and commercial drone pilots)

You can get these authorizations through a variety of apps (mentioned above) that are LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) service providers, which were developed in collaboration with the FAA and the industry.

If you are unable to get authorization through the LAANC network, you will have to get authorization through the FAA DroneZone.

You can probably figure out where to go from here with the information and the links I provided, but if you want more detail and are more of a visual learner, I uploaded a video tutorial on getting drone flight authorizations through the LAANC and DroneZone on my V1DroneMedia YouTube channel.

Can I get an FAA Authorization through the DJI Fly Safe Website?

No, getting an FAA Authorization is a separate step from unlocking a DJI Fly Safe No Fly Geo Zone. I explain the difference and give the tutorial on how to unlock the DJI Fly Safe No Fly Zones in my What is DJI Fly Safe blog post.

Can I fly my drone downtown Cleveland?

If you are specifically looking to fly downtown Cleveland (since I am local, I will elaborate on this subject), you will most likely be flying in Class D (controlled) airspace. This controlled airspace exists due to Burke Lakefront airport being located in downtown Cleveland and encompasses a 5 miles radius around the airport.  You will need to check the LAANC system to determine if the specific spot you are looking to fly in is within that controlled airspace and if so, you will need to get an FAA authorization to fly there. Simple, right? 

Something else to be aware of when flying downtown Cleveland is the fact that there may be TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) in effect – typically in effect if there is a Cleveland Indians game – TFR prohibits any drone flying during that time.

I have a few spots I tend to fly at often around Cleveland, and you can read my post Where To Fly Drones in Cleveland to learn where that is.

I hope you have a bit more clarity now about flying at your desired location. Comment here or on my YouTube video if you’ve found this helpful, and contact me if you have more questions or have a topic in mind that you’d like to learn more about. Have a safe flight!

What Are Virtual Tours

Virtual Tours

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Virtual Tours have been getting a lot of attention because prospective customers and guests are either unable or are unwilling to tour spaces they would traditionally check out in person.

Several industries felt an increased need for such tours during the pandemic, especially residential and commercial real estate, assisted living, hospitality, event venues, and construction sites. Even after the initial lockdown is over, customers are still reluctant to visit these sites in person, which is where the virtual tours come into the picture (or computer screen near you).

The pandemic also accelerated the adoption of virtual tours for the travel industry, museums, parks, other public spaces that were shut down for quarantine but still wanted to provide services and content to their existing audiences and find new ones, as digital viewership increased unprecedently during this time, allowing to attract new customers.

Well, the good news is, now that the pandemic has accelerated everyone's level of adoption of and comfort with using digital technology, virtual tours are within reach for small and big companies alike. And the technology has come a long way since using panorama photo settings on your smartphone.

Benefits of Virtual Tours

Why should your business or real estate listing consider having a virtual tour? There are several distinct benefits:

·    They help showcase facility/property to customers that are unable or unwilling to come tour in person (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic reality)

·    They increase confidence in your business, especially for out of town customers, event planners, picky and technologically savvy customers that would only consider an option after watching a video or taking a virtual tour

·    They increase customer traffic and engagement by helping to move the customer down the sales funnel into the consideration phase, increasing sales conversion rates for businesses

·    They improve presence on Search: website visitors taking a virtual tour spend more time on your website, increasing their retention. What's more, having a 360 Google Street View that is included in a Google My Business listing makes it even more discoverable

Types of Virtual Tours

A virtual tour is a digital visualization and simulation of an existing space composed of photos or videos. It can include traditional ground and 360 aerial photos and video, floor plans, music, voiceover and guided narration, or subtitled text. Here are the popular types:

·    360 Photo/Panoramic Tours

·    Virtual Video Tours

·    360 Virtual Video Tour

Virtual 360 Photo Tour

Virtual Tours are most commonly associated with 360 Photo (or Panoramic) Tours, which are created with still cameras enabled to capture 360 images of each space, all of which are then linked together into 1 file that enables moving around those spaces via some wayfinding indicators (most likely arrows or circles), which can be labeled on the computer screen and clicked on to move forward in the tour using a computer mouse.

This type of tour has been a popular option for the real estate and hospitality industries. One of the useful applications of this type of tour is the ability of any business to include their virtual tour into their Google My Business listing, which helps customers to discover and tour the business through the company Google Search listing.

There are many choices of virtual tour software tools out there that vary in features (pictures and links to floor plans, etc.) and pricing along with them. Check out a virtual tour experience in this 360 virtual photo tour of a construction site in Avon, Ohio.

Virtual Video Tour

A Virtual Video Tour is a traditional 2D video walkthrough of a space, which can be combined with music, text overlay, narrated by voiceover talent, or guided by an expert through the space (realtor, museum guide, event planner, etc.).

This type of tour requires low effort on behalf of the viewer, as no additional clicking on a screen using wayfinding features is necessary. It can also offer up useful information at the right moment (through narration or text), such as key details about the property/venue that viewers normally wouldn't even know to ask. This type of tour has been popular for marketing facilities with the real estate industry, assisted living homes, museums, parks, and event/hospitality venues.

Just recently V1DroneMedia worked with Emerald Village Senior Living facility in North Olmsted, Ohio, to put together a Virtual Video Walkthrough of their facility, that enables their prospective clients and relatives to tour the property without visiting it in person.

Virtual 360 Video and Photo Tour

360 Video and Photo Tour is a very immersive visual content that creates a virtual reality-type experience without additional hardware other than a screen. The best use of such technology is to showcase an ‘experience’ vs. just an informative tour. It allows moving around the video by clicking and dragging the mouse around. And since videos rule the marketing world now, as highlighted in our Why Use Video in Real Estate Photography and Videography blog post, adding an immersive 360 virtual video tour would certainly add surprise and delight to any prospective client.

Experiences such as city and museum tours, other types of venue/event spaces that want to showcase its atmosphere (coffee shops and restaurants, sports, public and private events, and venues, etc.) would get the most benefit out of this type of tour.

What's more, drone technology made aerial 360 views now accessible to include in such a tour, giving another exciting perspective for the viewer. Check out V1DroneMedia Cleveland 360 aerial drone photos to get a feel for this experience.

Aerial 360 video tours have become especially popular in the travel industry, as they can showcase large locations with a guided narration easily, while still giving viewers an interactive experience.

Virtual Tours is also a tool that enables team collaboration and customer transparency in the Construction industry, allowing to walk the site remotely to see the progress of work and speed up decision making. Check out our construction site 360 videos and photo tour here, which incorporates both aerial and grounds views.

Are you ready to take your marketing to the next level with interactive and immersive virtual tour experiences?

V1DroneMedia can deliver all types of virtual tours and has provided these services to the delight of many customers, as evidenced by our excellent Google reviews. If you are not sure what type of tour suits your needs or want a consultation and a quote, Contact Us today, and we will be sure to get back to you quickly!

Drone Pilot - Airline Pilot's Plan B During The Pandemic

My airline history and job status with the pandemic

My name is Jason Damman, and I am a 20-year captain with ExpressJet Airlines (doing business as United Express and Continental Express before the United and Continental merger). I know that many pilots, much like me, are sitting at home/not flying due to the COVID epidemic. Many of us are on company leave, on reserve out of the base, waiting for furlough once the government aid to the airlines runs out, or potentially already lost our job and looking for a new one. While this type of industry slump isn’t something that we could have predicted when we started pursuing aviation careers, events like 9/11 and the COVID epidemic can cripple our industry and turn everything upside down in a matter of days.

Looks like this time around with COVID the industry took a nosedive for a while (way worse than 9/11), and according to many sources, it is not expected to fully recover to pre-COVID levels until 2022. Of course, we all hope that this will not be the case, but at this point, we must assume this is the state of things for the foreseeable future.

What else can you do with your airline pilot skills?

While I am in this limbo state, it doesn’t stop me from working on my side gig that has the potential to develop into a full-time gig if enough time is put into it (and we have lots of it now). This side gig is a Drone Services Provider (or DSP) business, which is much easier to get airborne with (pun intended) if you have an airline pilot license than for anyone else. Because any certified pilot can get certified to fly drones commercially (FAA Part 107 certificate) much quicker than folks that are not. This is usually one of the biggest obstacles for people who want to fly drones commercially, as getting Part 107 FAA certification requires passing an aeronautical knowledge exam, like what you must pass for a private pilot certification. You can find detailed information about getting this pilot certification on the FAA website at here and here.

The reason I am here telling you about this is that if you are a certified pilot, you can do this too, while you are in this limbo state with lots of time on your hands. This will give you another skill/tool to help you in your job search beyond airlines, if that’s what you are doing now.  I don’t know how many companies are hiring pilots now (maybe private jet management and cargo transportation companies), but even they have a limited capacity to absorb the pilot surplus that is being created with the pandemic disrupting the airline industry.

State of the Drone Industry in 2020

Remember how there was a pilot shortage in the airline industry just a few months ago? Well, there is kind of a similar situation in the drone industry now - lack of qualified, knowledgeable drone pilots to complete flight missions for companies that have nationwide needs. Although many of these drone gigs are contract or per property/asset, meaning you can choose to do them when you have time, there are already many full-time jobs available also, and new jobs/job descriptions are being created every day due to a lot of drone experimentation and new use cases and workflows being created in various industries. 

Do a search for drone pilot jobs in whatever job search engine you use, and you will see the openings, in different industries and with different pay scales. If you have other than aviation degrees and professional experiences (especially photography, cinematography, software development, engineering, construction management, surveying/mapping), you will be even at more advantage in this industry. A 2013 industry report released by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International projected more than 100,000 new jobs in unmanned aircraft by 2025.

And the actual drone pilot work is mostly contact-less, so it is COVID and quarantine friendly.

What’s more, due to drones disrupting so many industries with faster, cheaper, more efficient solutions to completing tasks traditionally done by humans or other tools, the drone industry is predicted to experience growth rates far outpacing those of many traditional industries (including airlines). Here is a Business Insider Intelligence Drone Market Outlook outlining drone use growth in major industrial and service industries.

Is drone business a viable long-term job/income replacement?

Will becoming a drone pilot replace your income? Probably not, or at least not right away, but again, it all depends on how much you choose to pursue it and market your services. You can always use this as a side gig to supplement your main income, especially if you don’t have a regular 9 to 5 job (which is the airline industry, essentially).

How to get started in the drone industry for airline pilots

Of course, getting a Part 107 certificate will not make you an experienced drone pilot, that is just the first step.

I grew up building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, which is how I got into aviation, so I already had a lot of experience in remote control flying prior to picking up a drone. So, when I started experimenting with drones, I picked it up pretty quickly due to that past experience, but even then, I put in a lot of time practicing my flying, photography, video skills and learning various software processing tools - skills which even now, 5 years later, I am still honing every week as I am working on projects for clients.

So for someone who has never picked up a drone before, the next step after getting your Part 107 certificate would be to get proficient in flying (just like with the airlines, you need to get those flight hours in), and then honing other valuable skills that enable to produce value out of visual data that was captured, not to mention getting your name out there to be considered for drone jobs. However, the possibilities in this developing industry are endless, if you have the interest and the drive.

The easiest way to enter the drone industry is by providing videography and photography services (although most competitive, as well), and that may be the way to get started, but you can take it beyond that and develop skills to use drones in Search and Rescue, Surveying, Mapping, Construction, Delivery, Agriculture, etc. Possibilities are endless if you have an interest and the drive to grow and make this a legitimate side gig or your next career.

If you find this information helpful, please share with your network, airline industry friends, and relatives, and leave comments so I can gauge if this was helpful and whether I should cover the subject of drone business setup in more detail because there is a lot more to it than just FAA Part 107 Certificate to get started!

Also please check out my Website if you are interested in learning what type of work I’ve done and what industries I serve, contact me for job inquiries, and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!

Sign up for a drone class notification list if you are interested in taking a class with me!

Drone Use For Real Estate Marketing

Traditional real estate photography can be limited in its ability to capture the information a prospective tenant or buyer needs before leasing or purchasing a property. With the accessibility and increasing affordability of drone technology in the last 5 years, it is easier than ever to showcase almost any property from an aerial view, providing much more information about a property to prospective buyers.

How does aerial video fit into your real estate video marketing strategy?

This marketing tactic is extremely important nowadays, as most prospective buyers browse listings online before requesting to see a property, and the more visual you can make that listing, the higher the odds that you will have more showings. Video reigns in the marketing world now. According to Wyzowl's State of Video Marketing Survey, 66% of consumers in 2020 prefer watching a video to reading about a product, as well as spend more time interacting with the websites/product listings that are showcased with video. And, of course, video is much better shareable content for real estate agent social media pages. You can read more about the importance of video marketing in our blog post Why Video For Your Marketing Content.

Aerial photos and video are not just pretty pictures

We can see more from a bird's eye view, so aerial views provide information that prospective buyers want to have about the location. For residential real estate, seeing property size and back yard layout in one quick shot (lake, pool, outdoor recreation area, privacy) can help inform buyers, appeal to their emotions, and make them visualize themselves there. Here is an example of a real estate aerial video shot by V1DroneMedia of a lakeside residential property – it can be more appreciated from a bird's eye view with that stunning back yard. Of course, higher-end listings use drones more often. Those properties have more to showcase, and high-end homeowners want to hire an agent who will make sure that their property is represented with its maximum potential to attract more demand from buyers.

It goes without saying that forgoing professional real estate photography is a big mistake, as highlighted in this Most Common Selling Mistakes article, but pretty soon forgoing drone photography/videography will become just as big of a mistake for advertising a home, as aerial visuals will become an industry standard, especially for higher-end homes.

According to A Study Of Drones in Real Estate

·  83% of home sellers prefer an agent who uses drones

·  High volume agents use aerials 3.5x more often than low volume agents

·  Large properties and high dollar homes use aerials more often

For commercial real estate, drone visuals can answer numerous questions. Who is the anchor tenant? Is there parking nearby? How accessible is the property to the main roadways? What other valuable infrastructure is nearby to attract prospective employees? Here is a video of a commercial property produced by V1DroneMedia that does just that.

Aerial views provided by drones can showcase many of these insights quickly and help rent or sell commercial property faster. It is even more impactful to promote a property with aerial video when the property is very big and has many buildings/facilities. If the facilities inside are expansive as well, a drone can help showcase that space the same way. Here is an aerial video of an Olympic training facility, Spire Institute, in Geneva, Ohio, combining outside and inside aerial footage highlighting the amenities and size of the indoor and outdoor training facilities, ultimately helping the owners to sell the property to an out of town investor.

Ways to showcase a property virtually, whether through an aerial video or a virtual tour (as close as it comes to seeing the property in person), has become even more important nowadays, when the world is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective clients are unwilling or unable to come tour the properties. We cover this in more detail in our Virtual Tours Explained blog post.

Can real estate agents fly drones to take aerial pictures and video?

Can real estate agents and brokers do it themselves? It is possible, if willing to learn a new skill and invest time and financial resources. And in the case of flying a drone for commercial purposes, one must also get a Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) that makes them compliant with FAA regulations. This means studying to pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at one of the FAA-approved testing facilities and, as of now, taking a recurrent FAA test every two years thereafter.

Besides having the certification, one would need to buy a drone, learn to fly it proficiently, know how to take good pictures or video that showcase property from the best angles and with the best lighting, learn to edit them with various video and photo software applications, and it is highly recommended to also have liability insurance.

If you have decided to outsource this work and hire a drone pilot, you should make sure that they are qualified to perform the work. Here are the top 5 things to consider:

1. Is the pilot licensed?

2. Is the operator insured?

3. Are they knowledgeable about airspace, flight restrictions, and authorizations?

4. What is the pilot's experience level?

5. Do you like their previous work/portfolio?

We cover this subject in more depth in our blog post Hiring a Drone Pilot

How much do real estate aerial photography and video cost?

Drone photography rates can start at a couple hundred dollars for simple aerial photos, with a professionally produced aerial video ranging from $400-$1200 depending on the customer requirements, number of shooting locations, FAA authorizations, and level of post-production editing required. Any type of custom video that goes beyond the features and benefits of the property will most likely cost more.

Sometimes the decision to produce an aerial video comes down to a cost/benefit analysis of whether you can afford this type of marketing to help you sell or rent a property. If it is a higher-end home that has many outdoor features to showcase, of course spending $300-$1200 on a listing that can yield you $15K+ in commission makes sense. According to the Study of Drones in Real Estate, drone usage for marketing increases for listings at $600K and climbs up slowly from there. There are other considerations as well - if your colleagues in the market are using aerial video to convince customers to list properties with them, then you may have to do the same just to stay competitive even with lower-priced properties.

So, are you ready to get some real estate drone photography for your property? If you are in the Northeast Ohio area, contact V1DroneMedia for a quote and check out our Real Estate website page for more information, photos and videos. We offer menu and package pricing and also started offering 360 virtual tours, so the property can be showcased from both the inside and the outside. Start wowing your clients and happy selling!

What Drone Footage Will Do For Your Videos

What are the benefits of aerial drone video?

What industries can benefit from aerial drone video?

How are drones used in the film industry?

What do drone photography and videography cost?

What do I need to know before hiring a drone pilot?

Who doesn't want to wow their clients and audiences? Well, the use of aerial video can help you do just that and stand out from your competition. It can help you grab attention, leave a lasting impression, and make your good video, commercial, or film even better.

Until recently, if you wanted to have aerial footage included in your video you had to rent expensive equipment (helicopter or an airplane), hire a pilot to fly it, and a videographer to shoot aerial footage, so this was out of reach for many businesses and filmmakers. In 2016 commercial drone use became legal when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started regulating and licensing drone operators. Affordable, but high-quality drone equipment also became available, which made this type of footage accessible for smaller budgets.

Here are several reasons why you should think of including aerial shots into your video content or film:

For starters, it gives any video that wow factor. Humans are visual beings, and when you see anything from a different perspective (especially aerial), it elevates the visual experience to a completely different level. In simple terms though, you see more from the bird's eye view and this perspective can be mesmerizing, so you are instantly able to grab attention and get an emotional response from the viewer, regardless of what you are showcasing. Watch the short downtown Cleveland drone video below, you will see what kind of mood and tone can be set with some aerials and music!

In addition to arousing an emotional response from the viewer, many products and services are best showcased from an aerial perspective. Companies now realize that marketing content in video form works best (we cover this in detail in Why Video For Your Marketing Content blog post), and adding aerial video for those industries adds a lot of visual value.

For the real estate and hospitality industries, aerial photos and videos can instantly provide information not available from the ground perspective. With a couple of shots, you can showcase the location, property size and amenities, backyard features, proximity to transportation, leisure activities, and more. Most real estate customers and event planners do their research online nowadays, and beautiful and informative aerial views can help them evaluate the property and help visualize themselves in these locations. Here are examples of commercial and residential real estate videos produced by V1DroneMedia that do just that.

Aerial views are also best for documenting the work of companies in Construction, Roofing, Landscaping, Paving, Lighting, and other industries. This type of footage can give tools to not only share the progress of work and results with clients, but also content for marketing to prospective customers via print materials, website, and social media. Here is a paving company marketing video that V1DroneMedia fully produced. Drones make even dirty work look cool!

And here is a hyperlapse construction progress video that showcases the project to the client or prospective clients with a lot of powerful imagery, almost making the customer feel like they are on the site watching it happen!

Companies that manufacture and provide transportation and recreation products and services also can benefit from the aerial shots, as they can highlight their products and services in action. Such products are cars, boats, travel services and experiences, and many more. There isn't a car or a cruise commercial nowadays that doesn't have an aerial shot included!

Drones are also being widely used for outdoor event coverage, including live streaming. Aerial view of the event allows organizers to highlight attendance, show action on the field from a different perspective, convey the atmosphere and attractions of the event, as well as highlight sponsors. Sporting events, outdoor concerts, community festivals, business events, and weddings regularly use drone footage for their event videography and broadcasting. Here is the Sunnyside Chevrolet outdoor car show event video, and Quaker Steak & Lube franchise corporate video, combining traditional ground and aerial footage from V1DroneMedia.

In film and TV, drones are often used to showcase locations, buildings (i.e. establishing shots), time of day (sunrise, sunset, nighttime), weather conditions, and beautiful scenery with many of these shots being used for transition between scenes. Also, motion and tracking shots are very popular (we've all seen chase scenes from the bird's eye view) and showcasing remote locations and the expansive size of the subject matter (battlefield scenes, forests, deserts, bodies of water, etc.). Therefore, almost every movie and documentary have drone footage nowadays. As an example, here is a 30 second Cleveland Cavaliers commercial with Cleveland downtown aerials shot by V1DroneMedia throughout the spot, and below is the opening sequence of the NFL Draft 2021 shown on the NFL Network with the Cleveland drone footage shot by V1DroneMedia.

In short, drones will elevate your video value to the viewer and help you grab attention, whether you are making a corporate video, highlighting office or factory location, showcasing your product/service, showing a different perspective of your subject matter, or documenting an event.

What will drone video services cost? A simple short video clip can be as low as a few hundred dollars, with a short fully produced video with original footage starting around $1500-$2000. If you don't need original video footage, a fully edited video from existing video clips is a good budget option. Overall pricing depends on the level of complexity: type of drone equipment used, length of the video, location, flight authorizations required, ownership rights to the footage, and level of video editing services needed.

So, you have decided to get some drone shots, now what? If you are looking to hire a drone pilot or production company for aerial drone video, you should make sure that they are qualified to perform the work. Here are the top 5 things to consider:

1.   Is the pilot licensed?

2.   Is the operator insured?

3.   Are they knowledgeable about airspace, flight restrictions, and authorizations?

4.   What is the pilot's experience level?

5.   Do you like their previous work/portfolio?

We cover this subject in more depth in our article Hiring a Drone Pilot

V1DroneMedia started providing aerial media services as soon as the use of drones became regulated by FAA and since then we have gained a lot of experience helping to sell residential and commercial real estate, produce corporate videos, TV commercials, document and Livestream events, provide aerial footage for TV, news and documentaries. See our Portfolio and YouTube channel for more customer projects.

Our drone pilot, Jason Damman, is a commercial airline pilot by trade who has been passionate for aviation since his teenage years, flying radio-controlled airplanes before going on to the airline career where he has now spent over 20+ years flying the friendly skies. You can get more details on our pilot and his credentials on the About page. Besides technical and flying expertise, Jason has also developed a keen cinematographer eye and always provides excellent customer service, for which he is constantly praised. You can see our customer reviews here.

V1DroneMedia video services range from raw video clips to include in your video, to fully produced and edited video, including traditional ground videography and post-production services such as color grading, licensed music and subtitles, complete with digital file delivery. We also have Cleveland aerial drone stock footage available for purchase.

If you are interested in a consultation or getting a quote, call us at 419-699-6010, or get in touch with us on the Contact page.