Can Drone Work be a Gateway to Camera Work?
I was a Recreational Drone Flyer for two years before passing the Part 107 exam in May 2021. Got my business name trade marked, website up and running (www.droneability.net), have a repeat clients along with new ones that pop up. My clientele are typically Commercial and Residential real estate along with Construction Progression and various events. During my experiences with various drones and work, I’ve gotten confident with camera settings and various photo and video editing software.
Before the above, I’ve had minimal experience with a real camera. I bought a used Sony A7 III Full Frame camera on eBay. Besides learning how to change the settings on the camera itself, a lot of my drone camera experience translated over to the camera photography world. One big exception is learning how and when to use different lenses. I have a tendency to use only the default 24-70mm lens without thinking to change it for different angles and reasons (because the ability is not nearly as flexible on a drone).
To answer the original question, in my opinion is YES. It’s probably an easier transition from learning and using a good camera for a couple of years then to the drone photography world but it is doable if you put the time and effort in.
A couple of examples (be kind, I’m still new at this):
My Lessons Learned ‘since’ doing Drone Services in 2021
My Lessons Learned ‘since’ doing Drone Services in 2021
The last related blog was: My Lessons doing Drone Services in 2021.
Since then I’ve learned a lot, hussled a lot and now I’m in the black with my side drone business (not by a lot of money but typically have a drone job once a week at least during good Ohio weather).
A few suggestions:
Have Fun:
Make drone videos and photos at locations you really enjoy doing (even if for no cost). This helps in a few ways:
A great way to hone your skills (flying and post-editing).
I’ve gotten paid jobs afterwards by flying in some of these locations and sharing the media.
Share your skills with others.
Help build your portfolio.
Photo and Video Editing:
It’s great to hone your skills but most of the time I’ll make improvements on photos I’ve taken and/or create a polished video for my portfolio and social media.
Social Media:
Post what you do on Instagram, YouTube and other sites. Join various Facebook groups, especially ones for Real Estate and post there as well.
Hustle:
I have not ‘cold called’ anyone yet but I have:
Emailed many real estate agents found on Zillow and LoopNet.
Whenever I drive by a Real Estate company or construction site I always leave my card and other material. If that is not possible I’ll take a photo of their information and email them later.
I’ve offered drone training lessons and photo services (both have gotten me work).
Advertise:
Determine where you should advertise and if/how much your willing to pay for it. For example:
Google (get on Google Maps). Be found in searches.
The Better Business Bureau.
Next Door.
Yelp.
Other.
Repeat Clients:
I now have a few repeat clients that come back for more drone services. It takes time, quality of work and trust to keep them.
Diversity of Offerings:
I started off doing typical Real Estate type of work. I’m still do a lot of that but now also doing:
Events.
Construction progression.
Interior photography: even flying my drone to do interior work as well.
Be flexible and try new things that provide value for you and your clients.
Local Drone Community:
Sometimes other drone operators become too busy or cannot do a particular job. Could be more work for you.
Conclusion:
I do not know everything; I’m learning as I go like most of us. Because of my website and above topics, I’ve been getting more and more emails and calls out of the blue for drone work.
Let me know if there are other strategies you know of.
Best Places to Fly a Drone in Central Ohio
Best Places to Fly a Drone in the Central Ohio Area
Disclaimer: Before flying a drone anywhere, check the airspace and make sure you are legally allowed to fly their before doing so! Always follow the FAA rules as well. These are a few locations that are mostly in Class G (uncontrolled airspace) but there are also a couple Class C and Class D that will require LANNC approval.
Downtown Columbus:
A large area of downtown Columbus is in Class G airspace. An easy way to verify this is to use the FAA Visualize It webpage. For this reason, I’ll stick with the parks that are typically close the Scioto River (North to South) but I’ve been to most of the areas along both sides of the river besides the parks too. There are a lot of scenic buildings and river views!
1 - North Bank Park
39°57'55.129"N 83°00'35.747"W
311 W Long St, Columbus, OH 43215
Class G airspace
2 - Battelle Riverfront Park
39°57'47.183"N 83°00'19.419"W
25 Marconi Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Class G airspace
3 - East Bank Park
39°57'37.028"N 83°00'11.733"W
233 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
Class G airspace
4 - Bicentennial Park
39°57'23.032"N 83°00'14.516"W
233 S Civic Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43215
Class G airspace
Downtown Columbus OH
Other Locations in Columbus:
5 - Scioto Audubon Metro Park
39°56'53.593"N 83°00'24.673"W
400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215
The park is located south of downtown Columbus near the Scioto river.
Class G airspace
Note: This is a Metro Park, most of these parks do not allow drones but there is a field in the park you can typically use. Best to find a Park Ranger for the field’s location and any rules to follow.
Scioto Audubon Metro Park
6 - Goodale Park
39°58'31.556"N 83°00'24.622"W
120 W Goodale St, Columbus, OH 43215
One of the oldest parks in the U.S.; surrounded by historic homes.
Class G airspace
Goodale Park
7 - Tuttle Park
40°00'46.843"N 83°00'56.286"W
½ mile from OSU, great spot to view the Olentangy river and OSU.
Class G airspace
Tuttle Park
8 - Innis Park
40°02'21.177"N 82°56'07.227"W
3000 Innis Rd, Columbus, OH 43224
Pretty nature area near Alum Creek.
Class C airspace
Innis Park
Locations outside Columbus:
9 - Dinneen RC Field
40°11'07.846"N 82°57'16.899"W
5770 Africa Rd, Galena, OH 43021
You may need an AMA membership, but this is a very pretty location near the Alum Creek Dam and State Park Beach.
Class G airspace
Dinneen RC Field
10 - Indian Run Falls
40°06'03.594"N 83°07'11.653"W
700 Shawan Falls Dr, Dublin, OH 43017
A scenic nature location and waterfall.
Class D airspace
Indian Run Falls
11 - Dublin Link Bridge area (Dublin Spring Open Space – North)
40°06'00.176"N 83°06'42.813"W
20 S Riverview St, Dublin, OH 43017
Very scenic area including the Dublin Link Bridge, it is the only single-tower S-shaped suspension bridge in the world and East Bridge. There are a few places in this area to park besides this one.
Class D airspace
Dublin Link Bridge
12 - Ariel-Foundation Park
40°22'56.269"N 82°29'42.479"W
10 Pittsburgh Ave, Mt Vernon, OH 43050
It’s a little further away but one of my favorite places to go. It’s a large, beautiful park with a observation tower among many sculptures and glass factory artifacts.
Class G airspace
Ariel-Foundation Park
13 - Scioto Grove Metro Park
39°51'26.704"N 83°01'40.418"W
5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH 43123
This park has a dedicated drone field, scenic and right off the Scioto river.
Class G airspace
Scioto Grove Metro Park
Avoid & Handle Confrontations
Note: The below comes from my personal opinion and experiences.
If you have been flying drones for a while either for recreational or commercial purposes, you know there are so many scenarios and conditions to consider concerning this topic. In this article we will go over a few of the more common ones.
First, there are no guarantees you will not be surprised by either concerned or upset people when you fly a drone over any property but there are ways to minimize this from happening or de-escalating the situation if it does.
I will state this a couple of times, I personally have not had a negative experience with people while flying a drone. I find most people are more interested in the drone itself. If asked what I am doing, I am always as polite, friendly, and informative as possible. The last thing anyone wants is a confrontation.
The Basics
Legally Fly in the Airspace and have the Proof with You
The proof is in the pudding as they say. If your approached by anyone make sure your legally covered by having all the paperwork to prove it (including insurance if applicable).
Unless your approached by a police officer or someone from the FAA your typically not legally bound to supply proof BUT even then, having the proof to show can de-escalate a situation.
Whenever a new drone job comes up or I want to fly somewhere, the first thing I do is go to: Visualize it: See FAA UAS Data on a Map. This will not only tell me if I’m being asked or want to fly in controlled airspace but may also help me determine how much to charge for the drone job, depending on what I need to do to gain permission.
Get any needed FAA approval if applicable (this article is not going into the weeds on how to get approval but when this article was written Air Control by Aloft was my preferred website and phone app).
Depending on the location, search the Internet for any other restrictions that may affect if you can fly there or need a waiver (or you simply cannot fly there).
If all is well, print out any LAANC approvals, waivers or whatever else supports legally flying at the location and bring it with you. It all comes down to proof.
Always make sure you have your TRUST card (and UAS card if you passed the Part 107 exam). Also be sure to always have your drone FAA registration paperwork with your drone(s) (including labeling the drone and controller).
Are you flying recreationally or commercially? Make sure you know the difference and you can prove you legally can.
In most cases check for TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) before flying.
Location, Location, Location
Assuming you can legally fly at the location, there are a few things you should do first. These are not hard-fast rules but something to consider.
If I am flying for work or recreation, Google Maps is another great friend to have! There are so many reasons, here are a few:
Smaller airports, helipads may not have a controlled airspace but still need to be known about. I recently had a job near the end of a small airport’s runway. To be safe I decided to contact them, find out if there was anything to be concerned about.
What else may be around where you are flying? It may be near or in a dense residential neighborhood, in a high-crime neighborhood, near a hospital with an active helipad or a government building/complex (there are many other possibilities). Depending on why you are flying your drone there, you may want to strategize how and when you do. It is always good to be as prepared as possible. This may even mean going to the location ahead of time to strategize and determine what day of the week and time is best.
Strategize Your Approach
Again, there are so many scenarios and conditions to consider. It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I am planning to fly a drone in the middle of a residential neighborhood with people everywhere who are mowing their lawns washing their cars, etc. I think I will put the drone down on the sidewalk and fly it around, over and around houses, playgrounds etc.… What could go wrong?
The ‘approach’ to getting the drone up in the air depends on why you are doing it.
Recreational Flying
If I am there to take photos and/or video of the pretty neighborhood, sunrise, sunset, fireworks or other I would drive or walk the drone to an inconspicuous location where it’s not easily noticed then fly the drone. Even while it’s in flight, I would stay away as much as possible from other people.
If Someone Approaches Me or I Notice a lot of Interest
This statement is universal for almost any situation I can think of. The last thing you want is an altercation. It is almost like road rage situation; you may not know who you are dealing with or what they may do. That being said, (knock on wood) I have not had an encounter with anyone that was not friendly, or I could not explain to their satisfaction what I was doing; that includes two encounters with homeless camps who thought I was spying on them:
Explain to the person(s) why you are there (and have a good reason).
Be polite, friendly, and professional as possible.
If absolutely needed bring the drone in for a landing and at least show them your TRUST certificate (if not more).
Assure them you are there for a purpose and you know what you are doing.
Most of the time I’ve personally found that people are more interested in the drone than what you are doing with it, but I know pilots have had encounters.
99% of the time ‘you are good to go’. If the 1% happens:
Be polite and friendly as possible.
Gage the situation, sometimes leaving the area is best.
If you are there for a job and you need to finish you may need to convince the person(s) of why you are there, you are there legally allowed to, and you will not bother anyone.
Safety always comes first. If the situation is not resolved, bring the drone in for a landing and have the person(s) call the police or you do it yourself.
Again, safety comes first. If the situation escalates or you feel unsafe in any way, stop flying your drone until there is a resolution or leave and come back another day if needed.
Commercial Flying
If I’m legally allowed to fly in the location, depending on who is around and why I am there…
If for a specific property
I will take off and land from the property itself. This should make it obvious to most why you are there.
While taking photos or video, not hover private property unless you need to.
Never hover and avoid flying near windows or other sensitive locations.
When possible, stand near the drone yourself in a safe manner while taking photos and video. This informs any watchers that you are not hiding anything and there is no reason for concern.
If needed hover over houses (at a reasonable height) rather than yards or sidewalks. People are less likely to see or hear it.
Depending on the situation, wear a reflective ‘drone’ vest.
Be aware of your surroundings and be as transparent as possible.
Again, I have personally found that people are more interested in the drone than what I am doing with it.
If NOT for an obvious specific property
Either be as inconspicuous as possible or visible as possible (again, maybe wearing a reflective ‘drone’ vest). It really depends on the environment and situation.
Tip: If I am flying a drone in a populated area and worried for any reason about altercations or causing worry, I do this:
Take off in an inconspicuous location.
When taking off, fly straight up right and away as high as legally allowed (to lessen the chance of the drone being seen or heard).
Lower and position the drone where needed to get photos or video.
When finished, fly straight up right away as high as legally allowed.
Land in an inconspicuous location.
In Summary:
99% of the time, no altercations or negative encounters will happen. Make sure you can prove your legally flying there, have all the paperwork needed and do your best to polite and respectful of others.
Why do I have four drones?
When I first got my concealed carry gun license a friend of mine told me I would keep buying more and more guns for different situations and as a hobbyist. I do have a couple guns locked up in my safe I bought for different reasons but that is it. I may go to the shooting range every once in a while but other than that they are primarily for home and self protection.
Drones fall into a similar category. There are a lot of drones out there but I have not bought any I could not justify for one reason or another.
On a side note: I always get the DJI Care Refresh, whatever higher end ‘fly more’ bundle offered, descent hard case, ND filters, extra batteries and a lanyard for the remote controller.
Below are my drones and why I bought them. Notice they are all made by DJI. At this point I see no reason to use another vendor:
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
DJI Phantom 4 Pro v2.0: I bought this drone on eBay a while back and even though it’s the oldest drone of mine, I use it regularly for paid drone jobs that require consistent video or photos from the same locations. I also use it for creating orthomosaic maps and other abilities with software like DroneDeploy and Litchi, and others. Once the Mavic 3 has these abilites this drone may not be needed anymore. I’ve used it for many things in the past, has a great camera but it is bigger and louder than my other drones.
Mavic 3
DJI Mavic 3: This is currenty my ‘go to’ drone especially for video but photography as well. I use this drone on all other paid drone jobs (real estate, events, other). I cannot justify another variant of the Mavic 3 or simlar drone at the time of this blog entry but this drone is amazing.
Mini 3 Pro
DJI Mini 3 Pro: This is my backup drone for the Mavic 3 for photography on paid jobs. It takes great photos however the video quality is not as good as the Mavic 3 (or Phantom) because of the camera sensor size. That being said, it’s 25 grams and can fit in your pocket easily. I’ve flown in a number of local Metro Parks, I previously shown the Park Rangers the Mavic 3 and a lot of the time they said ‘no’. When doing the same thing (even the same parks), when the Park Rangers saw how small and less intimidating the Mini 3 Pro was they usually said ‘yes’. I believe some thought it was a toy or cheap drone not know how wrong they were. It’s also great for traveling but even then I may opt for the Mavic 3.
Avata
DJI Avata: I’m still learning FPV flying and seeing what I can really do with this drone but it is damn fun to fly! I see using footage from this drone for many different scenarios. It’s a different look and perspective than a typical camera drone. Sucks you need a VO (Visual Observer; another person who can see it flying with their eyes) when flying it but thats the law (at the time of this blog entry).
In conclusion: The above drone lineup may change in the future but not without good reason.
How much should you charge for drone photography and videography services?
This is a question I see all the time on the Facebook Groups I follow. I’ve been in business (a side-business) doing various drone and general real estate photography for more than a year. Even in that short amount of time I’ve done a wide variety of work and clients. It’s hard to know what the client expects to pay compared to what you expect to get paid. Every situation can be different including if it is a repeat client and what part of the country you live in. I have a general menu of cost on my main website page: DroneAbility LLC but that is to help set an expection for the perspective client. This may be different in some ways if it was my full-time job and/or I had reliable repeat clients.
In this blog I am NOT going to list actually amounts of money a particular job should be charged for. It depends on so many factors including your experience level, how high a client will pay for the job and the type of job. The best advice I can give is:
Client communication: Have a good conversation with the client, really determine the needs and other below conditions to understand exactly what is needed and expected. This includes what the client is willing or can pay as per a budget.
Client satisfaction: When possible, always exceed the client’s expectation and wow them. Make sure they get the service they asked for and more.
When I have an opportunity for a job, I typically make my decision for the cost I’m going to charge from the four below general conditions:
What is the service needed?
Back to client communication, fully understand what the client needs are. This includes if the client wants photos or videos, if you are expected to only provide unedited media or a finished product, the deadline or timeframe for the service to be done and even issues like controlled airspace or permission to take photography where the client wants.
Where is the service needed?
Is the commute 1-2 hours away or really close? Are there any airspace restrictions that need to be addressed? Is the job in a high-crime area? Most of the time these are not issues but this is about: location, location, location.
How many hours of drone and/or photography is estimated?
Most of the time, a client may say it’s 1 hour of actual work. In reality it turns out to be 3-4 hours. Something to consider. Make sure to account for travel and setup time.
How many hours of post-production is needed?
I personally like finishing the end result if it’s improving the photos in Lightroom or creating a video with music in Davinci Resolve. This will definitely affect the cost of the service but it also gives you more content for your personal portfolio.
Summary:
Almost every drone or photography job I’ve done included a negotiating with the client. I’ve also turned down jobs if if the client is not willing to pay enough or something feels off about the job or client in general. In the end it’s all about communication with the client.
P.S.
I almost always get paid before I hand over the deliverables. I’ll do the work and create and post a slide show or video on YouTube with a watermark for the client to approve or want changes. Once everything is good I prefer a check or cash but I also have a Stripe account in case the client wants to pay via credit card. Stripe and other services like this take their fee though. I’ll then send the client a link to Google Drive to download the deliverables.
Once a job is finished I send them an email thanking them for the work and a link to provide a review on my Better Business Bureau site (previously used Google reviews) to get feedback and show perspective clients.
Flying for fun can pay off!
Like most drone pilots, I fly in different locations for photography and videography for the fun of it and other times for work (sometimes both). I did this video last Winter for enjoyment in: Mohican State Park. I recently was contacted by a member of The Village of Perrysville’s council because he liked the video and wanted additional footage taken for thier website. I didn’t do the first video expecting work to come out of it, just a pleasant surprise. Below is some of the video clips I recently taken for their website with my DJI Mavic 3 drone:
The Village of Perrysville
The Ohio State Reformatory
At the end of the Winter season, I asked a couple of cool places in central Ohio if I could create a drone video (typically places I haven’t seen many YouTube videos of). These were not paying jobs. I wanted to do them because I enjoy it, always want to hone my skills and get my company name out there. Afterwards the locations can have the footage for their use. I got a few that said ‘yes’ and a few that said ‘no’. Some of these places ended up with a paying job, not the goal but an unexpected perk.
The last one these drone videos I’ve done is of the Ohio State Reformatory. This previous Reformatory then max prison is now a museum and tourist attraction in Mansfield Ohio. If you’re not familiar with this location, it’s also known for where The Shawshank Redemption movie and other movies/tv shows were filmed. It’s a beautiful building and a great place to visit if your in the area.
I was not expecting to get approval because there haven’t been many drone videos of the Reformatory I knew of and there is a working prison facility right behind it which has a problem with illegal drone activity.
I wasn’t sure what approach or way of telling a story of the Reformatory via a drone video I was going to do. I decided to use Google Maps along with my ReMarkable 2 tablet to help determine/strategize preliminary drone flights I may want to do in about the 6 hours I had at the location. In the end I took many more and different flights but it always helps to feel/be prepared.
Once I got approval from the Reformatory, prison facility, fly in the airspace via the FAA and found a central Ohio day that was sunny and ok for all involved, I drove there in the morning, met with the prison facility representatives (who were very nice; made sure I knew not to fly or take footage of their facility). Used my DJI Mavic 3 drone with 6 batteries (was able to setup a charger inside as well) had a great experience and enjoyment droning the Reformatory on a beautiful day. I would have liked to have done more in the back of the building but the prison facility is really close. Below is the video I came up with. I may make variations but please let me know what you think:
Print from Catalog or your Photos!
One tip I found on YouTube was not to keep photos (drone or otherwise) only on your phone or computer, print them big and show them off. I have +/- 10 hanging on my walls now and plan to print more. Even printed a iPhone generation one photo of my dear departed German Shepherd.
Since I’ve been ‘droning’ I collected a lot (+55 and growing) photos of central Ohio that have been cleaned up and enhanced along with being enlarged using AI software. This catalog of photos are here: Catalog of Drone Photos. Besids that if there other locations in central Ohio, even your house, you can have photos taken and printed at almost any size (I normally do not print them larger than 24”x36”, any size that can be printed by Staples works).
This video shows more about the process and shows examples of old photos I have printed large and photos from the catalog: Print Big or Go Home
My Lessons Learned doing Drone Services in 2021
I’ve only officially been doing drone services commercially for a relatively short time.
I AM NOT PROFFITABLE YET AND DID NOT EXPECT TO BE SO SOON.
I put money into a good desktop computer, software, bought more than one drone along with accessories, created a website, trademark, business cards and marketing. I also spend a lot of time honing my drone, photography and editing skills.
I’m in no way delusional in thinking I’m among the best out there. I believe in supplying great customer service, try to go above and beyond what the client expects and keep learning.
It is a side business for me, I do it mostly on the weekends but during the week when needed. I got into this because of my enjoyment for flying my drones, taking photos and videos. Once I got my Part 107 I decided to help pay for my enjoyment of using my drones by taking on paid clients and so far it’s all been a great experience and I’m so happy I did.
My goals in 2022 are to keep improving my drone skills, do more varied Commercial and Real Estate services (construction site progression and inspections is high on the list), taking on new clients and needs along with hopefully getting recurring work from previous clients. These sound like somewhat simple goals but that all depends on many factors and it takes a lot of time and effort to keep moving this train forward.
I’m really looking forward to see where this endeavor goes in 2022 and how far I can take it.
Below is a video of most of my favorite ‘droning’ in 2021 (some for fun, some learning experiences and others are for paying clients).
I hope you enjoy it!
Is the DJI Mavic 3 Wide-Angle Lens worth the cost?
Wide-Angle Lens for Mavic 3
When it was first released I tried many times to purchase it from the DJI website but it was sold out (you can be notified when more are available). Eventually it became available and I purchased it. At $179.00 it’s not a cheap lens by any means.
I’ve seen a couple of reviews since along with their pros and cons. I agree with most of them. This is a lens you would only need if what your trying to photograph or video but cannot get the everything in the frame. For the most part moving your drone back or to a different angle will get you what you need without this lens but I can see situations where it may be useful. Here is a YouTube video using the lens in Columbus Ohio; not really a need for it for what I was shooting but wanted to test the quality and usefulness:
Here is the the DJI description and specs for the lens:
Precise optical design increases Mavic 3's FOV to 108° with a 15.5mm equivalent focal length, offering wider camera angles. Provides a 108° FOV and 15.5mm-equivalent focal length.
Specifications:
Weight (single lens): 13.0 g
FOV: 108°
Equivalent focal length: 15.5 mm
My quick pros and cons from using it:
Pros:
Easy to put on the gimble (just like the ND filters)
I like having the wider angle when needed
The quality of the lens is really good
Cons:
The horizon is warped (to be expected I guess)
Photo quality seems diminished (I sharpened the ones in the video)
Cannot use ND filters while using this lens
Should I have bought it?
In the end the $179 is pricey. The lens will have it’s uses but rarely. If I put more thought into it before purchasing it I probably would not have bought it. My initial thought process when buying it is it would give me more options and abilities using the drone but in the end it was not really needed for me.
Automated Construction Site Progression, Inspections and 3D Models Oh My!
These are areas I’d love to sink my teeth into. There are many uses for drones in the world today but working for an Architectural Design Firm, doing work to add value for construction site insights and improvements is something I hope to get the chance to add to my skillset. Being able to create 3d models we can use for new or existing locations with software like Autodesk Revit would also add a lot of value to projects. In this video I’m using DroneDeploy to do something similar for a friend’s farm but there are so many other products out there as well:
Ask for Permission or not. That is the Question:
Depending on where you want to fly, take photos and video you may want to ask permission first. I’m not referring to the FAA and airspace rules but to private property. This mainly refers to where your drone can takeoff and land but there are other situations as well.
There have been times I have been pleasantly surprised when I asked for permission and other times not so much. I’m not one to typically takeoff and land outside a property just to get a few photos then leave, I tend to rather attempt to get permission to be on the property and do what I want and not be hassled by the owner or other (park ranger for example) so I can enjoy flying and get the finished media I was looking for.
Three examples of asking for permission that worked out well are: The Pontifical College Josephinum, Ariel Foundation Park and Peters Cartridge Company Building. I was able to take my time, get the media I wanted (for the most part) and left feeling satisfied. I even gave the finished media to the owners for their use and they were happy to get it.
A couple of places that did not work out well (irked me a little to) are: Ohio State University buildings on the main campus and the Serpent Mound Historical Site.
I had a client who worked on specific buildings in OSU territory and wanted photographs of those buildings. I did my research and found their policy. Filled out a request to take the photos along with where it can be done safely but after 3 weeks I was denied for no good reason. There are many drone photos of famous OSU buildings out there but they where not done legally according to OSU. I could have played ignorant and taken the photos but decided to follow their rules.
I contacted the Ohio History Connection about taking off and landing within the Serpent Mounds site’s parking lot. They said ‘no’. Again there are drone photos and videos out there of this property but the pilots either took off and landed outside the property or on the property without consent. I understand their concern to preserve the Indian mounds but I explained how safe and respectful I would be and I have a UAS commercial pilot license; didn’t make a difference.
Conclusion:
Most situations are different and drone pilots feel differently on this topic depending on the situation and what they want to get out of their drone flights. In a lot of cases it’s fine to takeoff and land outside a location but there are situations where you can get in trouble or at least hassled by doing this. I would recommend to never takeoff and land within a property unless given permission but it happens.
For Beginners: My Two Cents for New Drone Pilots:
(Disclaimer: I in no way feel I know more than anyone else with my knowledge and experience flying drones. The below are my thoughts for new drone owners and I’m sure others will disagree with at least some of them).
Bought a $100 Drone, Bad Idea:
I forget what maker it was but it was a cheap knockoff Chinese drone. I didn’t know better at the time or did any real research. I tried flying it a few times, after one too many ‘fly aways’ I threw it in a dumpster.
After Some Research:
Went to Best Buy and bought the Mavic Air 2 (it just came out but had great reviews) along with the Fly More Combo and DJI Care Refresh. I also now have a Phantom 4 Pro for commercial work as well. I could mention the latest drones in this article but do your own research for what is available, in your price range and right for you.
YouTube, YouTube, YouTube:
From unboxing, camera settings, advanced maneuvers and more there are many great YouTube videos that explain and help with any information you may want for your drone or drones in general. This includes FAA rules and properly registering yourself and your drone.
Your best resource for registration and most things related to the FAA is: FAADroneZone.
Facebook Groups:
Search Facebook and you will find many groups for your drone and most likely at least one local one. Besides being able to ask almost any question and get an answer, searching the groups for information is a great resource. Warning: if your having an issue or question make sure to research the answer before asking a group. Most are happy to help but all expect you to attempt to find the answer yourself first.
Know when and where and how high you can fly:
Download the the B4UFLY and Aloft phone apps to help with this. AIRMAP is good too and I know there are others out there now and will be released after this article. The important thing is to know your airspace and be safe.
I found a nearby park that was flat and void of people to practice different manual maneuvers and the automated ones that come with the drone software (again, YouTube has a lot of great information). I would suggest practice flying before you begin using the camera for photos and videos but as soon as your comfortable with beginner flying most want to see how good the camera is and start doing both.
If I’m planning to fly in a populated park or location I do attempt to contact a park ranger or office for example to determine their stance on the use of drones. I’ve had a few uncomfortable encounters; the FAA owns the airspace but where you takeoff and land a drone is a different story. Even if your legally allowed to fly at a park, contacting them let’s them know your there and can prevent unwanted conversations.
Experience along with knowing the rules concerning the use of unmanned aircraft will really help you with your confidence flying in general.
If possible fly with an experienced drone pilot:
It will get you up to speed much faster. I did not have this luxury, I started flying and typically fly alone. Seems difficult getting a group together. There are also on-line and some in-person training courses available.
In summery:
When your a beginner, do not just go out on the street and put it up in the air. Best to go through a number of tutorials, learn the FAA rules, do your registrations if required then fly in a safe location to gain comfort and confidence. There are so many other things that could be added to this but in the end it’s all about knowledge and experience.
Always keep up with the latest FAA drone laws and general news concerning drone use.
Later on:
Getting my Part 107 certification for commercial drone use was really important to me, not just because I sell a service but also because it teaches you a lot about how and when to fly a drone legally and safely. I compare it to my concealed carry gun license. I do not carry a gun very often but going through the process taught (and honestly scared me about) all the possibly laws and consequences. I highly recommend the Pilot Institute to learn and take your Part 107 exam but there are other training courses out there too. You learn so much more beyond what is needed for the exam; I now have thoughts of becoming a manned aircraft pilot someday.
My Phantom 4 Pro. I have a Mavic Air 2 as well but use the Phantom for commercial work.