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Aerial Photography and Video > So Few followed by So Many.......?
 
 
LooseWing
New Heliman
Location: Maucatraz, Indian Ocean

As a newbie in the AP world,I was super impressed to find a forum with such excellent comaraderie, professionalism, and information sharing.

After months of research and scouring these forums,one thing seems to be clear- there seem to be only a few dedicated AP business's that operate full time and make a decent living out of it. Most AP'ers are hobbyists, and have a day job to bring in the cash.In spite of the technology leap in RC/UAV equipment, and the affordability now,few seem to have ventured into the full time business model.

Question: Is this because the industry is still new (relatively),or just cause of the difficulties in being a super multiskilled person?(skilled and experienced pilot, photographer, editor, business etc)? Or is there just not enough business to make it work?

I have to take my hat off to those of you that have persevered to produce a viable business that one can live off.
08-29-2008 11:16 PM
 
 
FrankC
Senior Heliman
Location: Ocala, Florida

I have been on the edges of RCAP for a bit over a year now while I am watching to see what the FAA does to us. I have taken advantage of that time to write software to manage an RCAP (or freelance photography) business so if we don't get grounded I will have that to fund my flying. That has been what has slowed me down, I think for most others there may be a hesitancy to try to do this full time because of the volume of work you would need to make a decent living. The ones who have managed that are doing well, but the key I think is to have some form of long term steady work to keep you going. Trying to do real estate photography is going to require such a high volume there are few places thast can sustain that. Where I live there are a lot of horse farms and I could charge a good rate to photo them, but how many could I get in a month? My thoughts, I am sure there will be more opinions.
08-29-2008 11:27 PM
 
 
daytonabeach
Key Veteran
Location: Oslo, Norway

I can only assume for the US market, but i guess its actually almost to many doing this over there...?!

For the european market, or the Scandinavian to be more spesific, its so new that very few are in this business at the moment, and it is about to become a huge demand for these kind of services here, which means, that the few of us that are doing this at the moment can make big money out of it cause there are few that needs to share the market with each other.

That said, you ALSO have to be a good sales man, selling in your products in a professional and convincing way, so the customers feel that this is something they NEED.

I my self, work as a full time photographer and do allot of real estate work, and that makes it easier for me, as i already have a large customer portfolio for the target market, Ap

Remember, its not only who you are, but who you know

Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience...
08-29-2008 11:31 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
LooseWing
New Heliman
Location: Maucatraz, Indian Ocean

like i said...

multiskilled, including great marketing skills. Down here in the Indian Ocean region it's fairly new too, so much like Scandinavia it will boom for a while until the market catches up. The saturated markets (or maybe, soon to be eg US) may need to specialise in order to stay ahead, whereas in a new market diversity in products seems to be the (safest) way to go. This is where i admire companies like Flying-Cam that carved a niche in a particular industry.

Quote 
Remember, its not only who you are, but who you know

Man, so true - and a bit of luck thrown in!
08-29-2008 11:50 PM
 
 
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Aerial Photography and Video > So Few followed by So Many.......?
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