A mission might only require a few minutes of flight time... but to get to that point, professionals train, get licenses and certificates, buy insurance, use apps and powerful software, collect backup batteries, propellers, cameras, lenses, filters, and even backup drones. There's planning time, FAA approvals and waivers to apply for and sort through, editing time, memory cards, data transfers, application subscription costs and more. Add in driving time, gas money and mileage, and you can see why drone professionals - the good ones - ask a fair price for quality work

Just like airline pilots, flying a machine commercially for their customers, UAV pilots - the good ones - flying commercially for their customers must hold a Part 107 license in order to legally get paid for their work. The license ensures each customer that their pilot has been properly trained and vetted by the administration which oversees our public airspace. Like a private investigator or contractor, you wouldn't want to hire someone who just spray-painted their company name on the side of a van and called it good. Licenses provide peace of mind that the work will be done professionally and with quality effort. A licensed pilot or any other type of private professional has proven they care enough to take the extra time and steps to provide their customer with satisfactory products

In fact, almost every place I've flown there's been at least one warning or hazard present. Knowing how to identify these and follow the proper guidelines while in those areas is what separates hobbyists from professionals. Even the pros have accidents but they are mitigated by licensed training time, proper insurance and pre-flight mission readiness. Every aspect of the flight and mission is thoroughly reviewed - more than once. For more info on the FAA's regulations, check out their own extensive list of do's and dont's HERE

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Every situation is different - distance, weather, accessibility, secrecy, resolution, danger, wildlife, active airspace, emergency crisis... the list doesn't end

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An example - I drive to a neighboring state to capture images for a missing person. The drive is 6 hours roundtrip, the mission is about three. Editing is still not completed four days later and there are about 80 images I still need to process. No charge - Why? I've been lost too, I understand the sense of urgency the family feels. I also can benefit from the experience and I love to travel. All works out so I chalk it up as an even trade. This is one reason there is so much planning involved when setting up a mission - I want to make the price fair for my clients and my business so we are both fulfilled from the mission

As we've covered, today's drone equipment is expensive and adds up fast. At one point I had a handful of drones to play or photograph with but during the building process of Kestrel Media I have figured out the most practical equipment for the majority of missions I will be flying. If a mission requires different vehicles, cameras, tools or calibrations, I have learned I can reach out to the drone community in order to acquire, learn and fly almost any type of sUAV I would need

DJI has an excellent history in the UAV market and they are considered by most to be the industry standard all other cinematic UAVs are compared to. Check out the DJI Mavic 2 Pro HERE​

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I learned quad copters in 2012 flying some pretty cool camera quads for the time. I have since dunked them into Hawaiian lagoons and the Columbia River. I've smashed them off of trees, chopped weeds, mowed grass and slung broken propeller blades across fields. This is how we learn.

Those instances taught me a lot - especially my love for the big picture, which translates into the cinematic aspect of sUAS. Ever evolving, I am looking for more... 

Everything listed on this site is fair game to criticize. I'm serious about learning WITH you. There is no claim of perfection here, I'm just excited enough to want to share the journey of sUAS together