Pre-Planning

I work directly with clients to gain an understanding about specific requirements for each project:

• What phase of the project will we be photographing?
• Are there distinct design elements that need to be highlighted?
• Is the focus on interior or exterior shots or a combination of both?
• Where is the location of the project?
• What is the timeframe for shooting?

Estimating

• Details of the project are enumerated.
• Copyright and licensing requirements are established.
• Pricing is finalized.

Copyrighting and Licensing

Copyright law grants exclusive ownership of images to the photographer that creates them. These rights include but are not limited to the following:

• Reproduction rights
• Distribution rights
• Authority to display work in public

Licensing is something that is common among architectural and/or commercial photographers. The license is a legal agreement between the photographer and the client that sets forth usage rights and timelines. A license does not allow the client to share photos with third parties unless there is a prior agreement. Individual licenses will cover the types of photos each client needs, the way they intend to use them and the expected time of use.

Aerial Photography

It used to be costly to get aerial photographs using airplanes or helicopters. Today, with drone technology, I have the ability to create professional grade aerial imagery for a fraction of the cost. I am Part 107 certified with the FAA. This license allows me to shoot commercially. However, there are factors to consider when thinking about aerial photography:

• Location
  • If flying within five miles of an airport, prior approval is needed from the FAA. Waivers are available depending upon location. However, it can take up to 90 days for waivers to be approved.
  • Temporary Flight Restrictions may prohibit photographers from flying drones in certain areas at certain times.
• Time
  • Unless a waiver is obtained ahead of time, a drone operator may only fly during daylight or civil twilight which is typically 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.
• Weather
  • We are at the mercy of the weather when it comes to any type of photography, but this is especially true with drones. Visibility and cloud ceiling requirements must be met, wind conditions can prohibit flight and precipitation will ground a drone.