What to Consider when Hiring a Drone Remote Pilot Photographer
Downtown dusk drone shot of Nashville, TN
When hiring a drone remote pilot photographer, there are some important factors to consider. The photographer must be a licensed drone pilot. Why must they be licensed? It is a federal crime to fly a drone commercially without one, and it is a federal crime to knowingly hire a drone operator without a liscense.
They should have a portfolio of their work that you can review to determine their skill level. You want to make sure that your drone pilot has business liability insurance. A drone can inadvertantly hit a tree limb and fall on a car or cause some other property damage. Make sure they are covered for that liability. They should have excellent customer service skills and be willing to answer any questions you may have about the drone and photography.
It is a federal crime to knowingly hire a drone operator without a license
Important information to share :
Do you need still photography or videos or both? Tell them specifically what you want to use the final media for so they can determine when to shoot each.
Let the pilot know if the property is within 5 miles of an airport. The pilot may need to get a special LANNC clearance, which at times requires a few days. They should check the map, but a heads up will go a long way toward a smoother shoot. Only licensed drone pilots can receive this clearnace.
How are using the stills or footage? If it's going as B roll in a video that shoot is very different from showing a property or showing the distance from the property to a nearby town.
Discuss the day and time you want to take the photos. There are more things to consider than just what you will need. If you are shooting video it is not possible to edit out extra cars or people around a building, so there may be certain times of the day that would be better; before a business opens or on the weekend.
Keep in mind that an experienced drone pilot will ask you these questions unprompted. If you are looking for an experienced drone pilot I would love to speak to you about helping with your project. You can find my website at tondamckay.com or call me at 615-496-2324.