Any aviation/aerial photogs? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/16/2010 06:13:43 PM · #1

I just found out that a friend of mine has a friend who owns a Beechcraft Bonanza and a Cessna 172. I love aviation and wondered if the combination of flight and photography had any business opportunity. I did a Google search, but the results were sketchy. Saw something about fence checkers, but not really any concrete "Here's what's a possibility, here's your possible market, etc..."

Any input is appreciated.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

06/16/2010 06:25:45 PM · #2

Electric utilities routinely "fly" power lines and photograph them to survey vegetation clearing requirements.

High end realtors often commission areal photos of properties they are listing ... especially waterfront, estate and high rise condo properties.

Might be possibilities. Oh, and use the 172. Cheaper than the Bonanza to fly and high wing makes photography more practical.

06/16/2010 06:38:43 PM · #3

I already considered the high wing as better. The thing I was wondering about is the actual shot. Would I be shooting through window glass? I've been in a Cessna when the passenger door opened in flight (a "demo" ride for a skydiving company), but I was strapped in, the plane was (I think) customised for just such purposes, and I was a lot younger. (and dumber)
8-)

My other thought would be to offer a percentage deal. Do you think that would be a feasible option? (Offering the pilot a percentage of profits.)

I'm thinking that hiring a pilot runs about $40/hr.
Does that sound about right?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/16/2010 06:47:41 PM · #4

Most 172s will have an operable window on one side which is the only way to shoot. A good pilot will be able to fly from either seat allowing you the shooting position. I would fly you for $40 an hour but that wouldn't include the plane rental or gas.

One good source of photo opportunities is the pilots themselves. They love having photos taken of themselves while flying their airplanes. Find a pilot who can fly formation and attend a local fly-in.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/16/2010 06:57:27 PM · #5

Originally posted by dsray:

Would I be able to get contact info at a local FBO?

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

06/16/2010 07:05:01 PM · #6

Originally posted by e10icus:

Depending on a bunch of stuff ... it costs between $80 and $150 / hour to fly a 172 including fuel. Not including the pilot's time.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/16/2010 07:06:59 PM · #7

What you really want is a small town airport. Go on Saturday morning and bring a bag of doughnuts. You want to talk to the people on the line, not the FBO people, but if that's all there is, then do it. Ask your friend's friend to take you along for a hanger flying session. Take a flying lesson. Just show up and be interested. Tell them you want to take pictures of airplanes and you'll have to beat them off like flies. Hand out a bunch of free photos - ground static shots to prove you can do what you say and take it from there.

The aviation community is small and tight. It will take time to be accepted but once you are you'll have a solid group of clients.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/16/2010 07:12:21 PM · #8

Make sure you aren't prone to motion sickness while concentrating on something. I think it was my 14th birthday or something, my parents took me up in a small plane to fly over our property and take some aerial pictures. My dad was snapping pictures out the window as we circled. Suddenly he felt ill and threw up out the window. Of course the slipstream carried it back to me in the back seat. Happy birthday! :D

06/16/2010 07:17:40 PM · #9

Originally posted by dsray:

You want to talk to the people on the line,

hanger flying session.

I'm not familiar with these terms???

Thanks for your input, though. I live about 10 minutes from KTHA and the Beechcraft Heritage Museum is also in town. (I'm a card-carrying member) It's nice, because all I have to do is call up the curator and let her know I'm coming. Open, or not, they give me full access to the place. I took this one there.

It's a bit more abstract than DPC likes, but would this be something desired in the aviation community?

06/16/2010 07:21:01 PM · #10

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Thanks for the info, Doc!

Actually, I've been pretty fortunate in that respect. I can't say that I've spent a lot of time in planes, but the time that I have (general and commercial aviation), I haven't ever had to grab the ol' "barf bag".

8-D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/16/2010 07:26:52 PM · #11

On the line means the guys out on the flight line, the worker bees and pilots. Hanger flying is a BS session, tales and stories told while the weather is crappy or just wasting time.

If you have access to the museum like you say you do, then I would contact Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) about doing a photo article about the museum for their magazine as they always seem to be looking for quality content. I've never sold photos but I have written a couple articles for them. That would be an excellent intro into the community. Don't forget, pilots are just like pet owners, and most would love a special photo of their plane.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/16/2010 07:40:20 PM · #12

Originally posted by dsray:

I would fly you for $40 an hour but that wouldn't include the plane rental or gas.

Check the FARs. I don't know if you have a commercial ticket. Would this constitute "commercial" where you'd need a commercial certificate to make it legal. I don't remember that part of the FARs that well. Maybe you could work out a side deal, where he'd buy a tank of gas in exchange for a ride.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/16/2010 07:45:25 PM · #13

I do happen to be a commercial pilot, but otherwise you would just do the sharing expenses thing to avoid FAR trouble. The point being that pilots love to fly and if you buy the gas they'll take you to the pancake breakfast.

snaffles

Nikon D7100

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/16/2010 07:59:03 PM · #14

Friendly word of advice to OP...myself and many others in the area where I live are fed up to the teeth with some guy cold-calling with a framed (in a cheap frame plastic-made-to-look-like-wood frame, I should add), utterly crapola pic of the property, trying to ~~pimp~~ err, sell it to us for ONLY $250.

Nobody even asked for such pics to be taken in the first place. And those of us that do NOT have property that looks good from the air (I am on a fairly flat piece of property, have a green tin roof, green lawn, heavy green canopy...couldn't even see the redbrick of my house for all the f***' green on/around it)...buddy hadn't even cropped or PS'd them, and had shot with an entry-level dslr (not naming brands). The pictures looked TERRIBLE.

I sent buddy on his way pretty smartish.

So please, if you are considering any kind of photography like this, don't fall back on ye olde ruse of cold calling. Visit first and talk to people, make sure they may even be remotely interested in a framed pic of their property. Then hire buddy with a plane, go up and snap away. But unless you have untold sums to spare hiring a plane, pilot, fuel, etc...cold-calling has gone the way of the dodo.

Trust me, I have a formal background in Advertising/Marketing...and in this day and age, if the market ain't there in advance, they sure won't be there when you turn up on their doorstep!

Message edited by author 2010-06-16 19:59:57.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/16/2010 10:02:06 PM · #15

Originally posted by snaffles:

Whoa, Nellie!
Not what I had in mind, at all. (That guy musta been a REAL butt-hole!) I couldn't cold-call to save my life. Way too mellow for anything high-pressure like that. Cold-callers give me the willys. Pretty bad when a stranger makes you feel uncomfortable and uptight in your own home.

Originally posted by snaffles:

Trust me, I have a formal background in Advertising/Marketing...

Any suggestions? I'm trying to find something to supplement my main income with. I love flying and I love photography. I'm just trying to put 2 and 2 together.
8-)

snaffles

Nikon D7100

06/16/2010 10:17:55 PM · #16

Oh trust me, I hear you in terms of trying to marry two loves and hopefully make some $$$ in the meantime. I love photography, animals, nature, old barns, painting with light and food...(not necessarily in that order ;-) so am shooting lots of the above and uploading pix to Alamy featuring same, so if someone wants a jug of limeade with lemon slices and mint floating in it, drops of condensation on the rim and everything but the buzz of mosquitoes happening... well, that's what I'm trying to create even as we speak!

On a more practical level may not hurt to find local graphic designers/ad agencies (or even better, small 'creative boutiques' where all they do is specialize in only the creative end) and let them know you have access to a plane and a camera. Have stuff ready to show them. See what they think and as with here, I suggest listening to what the majority of them say.

Good luck and keep us informed! :-)

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/16/2010 10:41:14 PM · #17

You might want to check out Photographers Direct (don't have the link - posting this from my phone) you can google it. I signed up as a contributing photographer and they send me client requests. Last week they sent a request for an aerial shot of an intersection - could be from any major city. I believe they were paying $2000 or $3000 for the shot. I've sold a few images through their site - they do take a small percentage of the sale, but hey, it's a sale I wouldn't have had.