Does your Multi Rotor pay its way?

[Gunter]

I was just wondering if anyone actually earns a proper living from our hobby. I know of a couple of folk who have made a success of it (eg Jeff at QC.us and a few others) but does anyone else manage to earn a living from aerial videos and photo's?

I suspect a lot of us have a normal job and do this because we love it, and don't rely on the next aerial job to make money.

Cheers,

Gunter.

 

[RTRyder]

I was just wondering if anyone actually earns a proper living from our hobby. I know of a couple of folk who have made a success of it (eg Jeff at QC.us and a few others) but does anyone else manage to earn a living from aerial videos and photo's?

I suspect a lot of us have a normal job and do this because we love it, and don't rely on the next aerial job to make money.

Cheers,

Gunter.

I highly doubt that I could make the kind of $ I do at my regular job doing anything related to RC or multirotor. It's nice to have a regular paycheck large enough to pay the bills AND fund my RC addiction, can't even imagine what it would be like trying to make a living flying with the crazy weather we tend to have around here. I'd be living in a tent eating at the local soup kitchen for the homeless...

Ken

 

[Tomstoy2]

I don't,,,, but the guys at the hobby shop are making a killing off of me, does that count?

 

[DucktileMedia]

I was always curious about this as well. I think when the FAA makes it easier on all of us we will be able to generate more business comfortably. By then there will also be more saturation as well. Personally, I got into this to take photos/video for existing clients who are mostly architects. I think I will be happy when my toy is paid for.

 

[DennyR]

I would not bother to build these things if they did not pay for themselves. As a full time aerial pro shooter who uses full size aircraft and helicopters on a weekly basis to earn a living it was the natural way forward to cut costs and integrate models into the business. Whereas I am not about to divulge how I use these things to best effect I can say that at least 30% of my aerial work is now done with three multirotor and two fixed wing models. In a time where a lot of pro shooters have simply given up due the the economic climate within the industry, as airtime costs have risen dramatically, we have actually expanded the operations to incorporate new products. I have just been invited back to Turkey to do another book and video on the TRNC which will be done entirely with models. As a NGA (news gathering organisation) I did also use multirotor in several war zones last year.

Just about every Cessna operator would love to see a total ban on UAV's used in the business so watch your backs in the US and the UK, they are out to get you. For those who want to start a career in aerial photography with models it will be a tough uphill struggle where only the few will cut the mustard. IMHO so don't give up the day job just yet. Trying to get a foot in the door by being cheap is a sure way to go broke.
As with most hobbies that later become a living, the labor of love enthusiasm dies very quickly after that point.

As Ken pointed out the weather is an all important factor which is why I moved from the UK.

 

[plingboot]

ha!

my long term goal is to become proficient at the sticks and take the appropriate uk caa exam to give me a (very small) extra string to the bow of services we offer, as there are situations where an aerial photo from places a quad could easily go would be significantly cheaper and quicker than the current methods required. but i will definitely not be factoring it into our business plan.

when folks started shooting QTVR/panoramic photos, i did work at the high end with canon 1ds, hi-end kaidan and later 360precision specialist tripod heads and quality L series lenses. the images required lots of careful planning and work, but the end product was high quality and fully immersive, 360 x 180 degree images. then some numpties rock up with one shot mirrors with point and shoot cameras, shooting very low quality, high volumes for £2.50 and that killed it dead. it's always a dissappointment when the majority will settle for total crap because it's cheap. which is why I'd never expect to make any money out of this lark.

 

[Macsgrafs]

Pingboot, I hear you loud & clear when people will settle for poor quality.....hence why I got out of weddings!

 

[DennyR]

I have been hearing that for many years but the same old faces are still there at the top making a fortune out of weddings and aerials. The main problem with doing aerial work or any other form of jobbing contract is that you only get paid once for the job. There are other ways to get paid thousands of times for the same pictures or footage.

 

[DennyR]

ha!

my long term goal is to become proficient at the sticks and take the appropriate uk caa exam to give me a (very small) extra string to the bow of services we offer, as there are situations where an aerial photo from places a quad could easily go would be significantly cheaper and quicker than the current methods required. but i will definitely not be factoring it into our business plan.

when folks started shooting QTVR/panoramic photos, i did work at the high end with canon 1ds, hi-end kaidan and later 360precision specialist tripod heads and quality L series lenses. the images required lots of careful planning and work, but the end product was high quality and fully immersive, 360 x 180 degree images. then some numpties rock up with one shot mirrors with point and shoot cameras, shooting very low quality, high volumes for £2.50 and that killed it dead. it's always a dissappointment when the majority will settle for total crap because it's cheap. which is why I'd never expect to make any money out of this lark.

Pling what kind of exam are the CAA up to now. I know from the past that they love farting about with paperwork. they have a form and a fee for almost everything. Or is this a BMFA test?

 

[Gunter]

Denny, it's not BMFA anymore, there is another training course you need to attend (the name eludes me now) which costs dearly but needs to be done. You have to have a good amount of work lined up to pay for it!


Regards,

Gunter.
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[DennyR]

Denny, it's not BMFA anymore, there is another training course you need to attend (the name eludes me now) which costs dearly but needs to be done. You have to have a good amount of work lined up to pay for it!


Regards,

Gunter.
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Interesting I have not been back in the UK for ten years or so. I used to write ops. manuals for various aircraft and then have the pleasure of dealing with the CAA to get them approved. Most of the CAA officials are retired police officers or solicitors. They do have a few engineers. Like most civil servants it is always easier to say no to any request as it keeps you safe and it's less work.When an aircraft is about ten years old it's weight is exceeded by the paperwork that has accumulated around it. Most of that paperwork has fees attached. I don't think that modelers are an attractive enough target for fees. YET. I do remember the break up/renaming of the BMFA now you mention it. Although they would often quote the Air Navigation Order they actually had no official CAA approval to do so. I still have an examiners certificate issued about 25 years ago. How times have changed.
Anyone remember when it was called the SMAE that goes back to when we all flew control line.

 

[jes1111]

I have been hearing that for many years but the same old faces are still there at the top making a fortune out of weddings and aerials. The main problem with doing aerial work or any other form of jobbing contract is that you only get paid once for the job. There are other ways to get paid thousands of times for the same pictures or footage.

You've hit the nail on the head there, Denny. It's the key to a decent living in any branch of photography these days. Stock footage and stills (with releases)- from an unusual/different perspective.

 

[DennyR]

Jes
You are right, Publishing is our best earner. followed by supply to other publishers. Jobbing just pays for the aircraft to do my work and also the clients. Agency work is not what it was since the digital camera made a photographer out of almost anyone. The moving image is what sorts the men from the boys. With a Cineflex equiped AS 350 costing around 20 K per day. Just imagine what the BBC must have shelled out making the Frozen Planet even if the operators were doing it mostly for glory. You only get the mention if you are on a cheap deal.

 

[*****]

well there is a new law comming in april 2012 from brussels.
its based on the UK ruling in operating a UAV.
all made by old man and politics.
so hold your breath...

 

[Efliernz]

In New Zealand, we are lucky that our CAA hasn't over-regulated yet but I suspect it will happen soon. With most countries writing laws to either regulate / make money out of us or ban us due to 'security issues', ours will change soon. I think my biggest threat is the number of FPV videos arriving on youtube with regular flying of models miles away from the pilots eye-view, often above the 400' legal model ceiling. Of course, no amount of regulation will prevent someone from flying... just those of us that try to make a $ doing it legally.

I have a good full-time job that doesn't need good weather. In fact (like most comms company / network geek / engineers, I get paid whether I just drink coffee or work ). I have been part-time (AP rc heli) for 5 1/2 years and yes - I have made money but I don't want the pressure of being self-employed full-time. In my small city, there is already a (very cheap) polecam and a tethered blimp (ex real-estate agent with ALL the contacts). The multi's I'm building will let me shoot in areas I have not dared fly a heli (like indoors... I have already done a factory shoot) and I believe the multi is going to open opportunities where the rc heli scared some off!

Pete

 

[hexa]

I don't,,,, but the guys at the hobby shop are making a killing off of me, does that count?

Lol


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[hexa]

well there is a new law comming in april 2012 from brussels.
its based on the UK ruling in operating a UAV.
all made by old man and politics.
so hold your breath...

Any info about this new law ?


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[jes1111]

well there is a new law comming in april 2012 from brussels.
its based on the UK ruling in operating a UAV.
all made by old man and politics.
so hold your breath...

Will that mean 400ft, line-of-sight operation and max 7kg AUW before per-flight authorisation required?

 

[HexCam]

If you want a little light reading then CAP722 on the CAA website is probably what you are looking for and will lead you to other documents. Then go and look up the BNUC-S qualification... then go and look at the price!!:dejection:

Although, I was speaking to someone the other day who said that a lot of the documents on the CAA site are already out of date and changes are happening. As someone who would like to offer a service as "another small string to my bow" , I have done a fair amount of research but a lot of the information seems to be conflicting, outdated or just wrong. Things really start to change when you are doing "aerial work" rather than just, for example, catching some nice sunsets for a Youtube montage.

The interesting thing about BNUC-S from what I have been told is that it will be graded and each platform you use will require a different test. So if you had a hex carrying one FC but then decided to have an octo with WKM for heavier lifting you would have to have another test done. I'm not sure if that would be at full price again or a smaller fee. There is also the option of having an airworthiness certificate for each machine. Effectively each individual craft you use will have its own registration number that will be used when seeking permission from the CAA. There seems to be a bit of a monopoly at the moment and I think more training providers would be needed to drive prices down. At the moment, it is alot of upfront cost for not a huge return!

 

[Gunter]

Hexcam,

I have just changed helicopters, from a quad to a hexa. I enquired with the CAA and was told I just need to update my heli details with them and send an updated ops manual. I did that last night and emailed it off, just waiting for confirmation now.


Regards,

Gunter.
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