Multi-Rotor RC aerial photography

<p>With retirement from my full-time job coming within the next few years, I'm considering the purchase of an expensive Cinestar system from Quadrocopter.com.<br>

This would allow my passion for flight and photography to come together for what I hope can be a lucrative facet of my photography business.</p>

<p>I hope to get aerial photography & HD video work from realtors and large businesses (car dealerships for example) in my area.</p>

<p>I'm writing to check if any other photo.net members are into this type of aerial photography & video. If so please share your thoughts and experiences.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance. J.</p>

<p>J, have you considered gas powered rigs? I don't know the implications of flying in urban areas but to me the payload capacity, flight-time predictability and reliability makes it attractive. </p>

<p>have you ever visited runryder.com ? they have a specific aerial photo forum. Also, if you're in the southern 495 area, you may want to check rchover.com and ask for Jeremy.</p>

<p>Before investing in a photography platform to do work you "hope to get" perhaps you might do some market research to find out if there are people willing to pay for the kind of photos you hope to take?</p>

<p>Seems like the first step into a new market.</p>

<p><Chas></p>

 

<p>Charles, I imagine it would be difficult to do market research on something so foreign to most people; they would want to see demos or samples. On the other hand, I can see all sorts of possibilities in motor-sports, outdoor events or even weddings.</p>

<p>The obstacles I see are local bylaw restrictions on flight vehicles and the (usually) two-man operation - one to fly the vehicle, the other to control the pan/tilt of the camera and get the shot. </p>

 

<p>One thing to consider is that the tech of this gear is changing very fast, buying now when better gyros and payloads etc will be available, almost as soon as the credit card statement comes, make investing at the right time important.</p>

<p>Thank you J. Harrington for adding to my Christmas list... That thing is sexy.<br /><br />http://vimeo.com/43406524</p>

<p>I agree Jeff.</p>

<p>There's a guy about 30 miles away from me who seems to be getting <em>plenty</em> of work doing this stuff. However he's an <em>aggressive</em> marketer and he's willing to travel.<br /> <a href="http://www.thecamerainthesky.com/">http://www.thecamerainthesky.com/</a></p>

<p>Michael, gas power = noise and hi vibes. These systems are designed specifically for aerial photography and video. Definitely a 2 person operation, especially for video. Camera operator can see the live-view from the camera from the ground.</p>

<p>BTW, I've been very successful with my previously created Web sites, getting them to rank near or <em>at</em> the top for their targeted search terms. I'd certainly create a Web site to promote the new business.</p>

<p>J, you've looked into it far more I'm sure, but one thing about those multiblade machines that I felt uncomfortable with has always been payload capacity - they seem to be always at the edge of what you want to put on it which of course reduced flight time. </p>

<p>Thinking out loud from a business perspective, maybe offering a more capable vehicle can open more doors where octocopters can't do the job.</p>

<p>I haven't looked into pricing but something like a turbine Lama fully configured might even be cheaper than a comparable Cinestar and depending on finances you can probably still buy something like a GoPro-capable quadcopter and have HD/photography capability for smaller jobs.</p>

 

<p>1) Before buying this type of equipment, I would rent it, learn how to use it, and come up with some samples of my work to show potential customers. Then I would go out and solicit work and see how much business I get. If I eventually got enough to justify buying the equipment, then I would buy, but otherwise would keep renting. <br />2) There have been many stories written in the past year or two about privacy and noise-related objections to aerial photographer and "surveillance" using everything from model-plane-like aircraft to drones to full-size helicopters. Some specificaly regarding photography of property for real estate agents, others by the news media, etc. Some cities (including Los Angeles, I think) have restricted or tried to restrict such flights and/or photography. You would definitely want to look into what regs there might be where you are, or what is being considered.</p>

<p>An interesting electric heli rig carrying a Canon 5D:<br>

<a href="http://vimeo.com/10599330">http://vimeo.com/10599330</a></p>

<p>Things have really come a long way since my dinky Hirobo Shuttle. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming.</p>

<p>The newly added Radian stabilization onto the three axis gimbal (360 rotation) on the Cinestar makes it leading edge.<br /> <a href="https://vimeo.com/47435482">https://vimeo.com/47435482</a></p>

<p>Although still photography will be part of what I want to do, everything points to HD video being the most lucrative, in-demand media. I don't thinks there is a platform better suited for video than the tricked-out Cinestar.</p>

<p>It's possible some local, hi-end wedding photographers could add my aerial service to their packages.</p>

<p>Other potential customers would be golf courses, amusment parks, construction companies etc.</p>

<p>I've always wondered how folks in the business deal with gear failure at this level.</p>

<p>A photographer/videographer can always bring 2 of everything, but what if something as exotic as a Cinestar fails or crashes? </p>

 

<p>Michael, traveling long distance with only one system is not something I'd do. You are correct in that if the business "took-off" two systems are needed.<br>

I was advised that take-off and landings are the most common causes of crashes. I'm thinking nothing ventured, nothing gained. Indoor filming for heavy industry is another potential market.</p>

<p>J, I guess that's the reason not many people are doing it professionally. It really does call for multi-discipline skill sets and steep investments. </p>

<p>I haven't flown my Shuttle in years because it's at least $300-$500 a crash plus down time and repair efforts. Once was enough to keep me grounded, thank goodness I flew it without its Jetranger fiberglass body.</p>

<p>Came across something interesting: How to fly an octocopoter in autopilot by presetting waypoints programmable on your PC and datalink setup:<br>

<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/DJI-Groundstation-instructions-for-flying-an-octoc/?ALLSTEPS">http://www.instructables.com/id/DJI-Groundstation-instructions-for-flying-an-octoc/?ALLSTEPS</a> </p>