I’ve been working with rideshare jobs for the past two years, but lately, it’s been drying up in my area. Meanwhile, I studied for and got my Part 107 certification recently!
I took a course on getting the right shots for real estate, so I know what kind of photos and videos are needed. But I have no idea how to get clients. Do I need to make my own website, or is it possible to reach out directly to real estate agents? Could I just show them some sample shots?
All the videos I find online just focus on what gear you need or how to pass the Part 107 test. Any help or advice would be great.
I have a DJI Air 2S. Things are getting tight for me financially, so I’m really hoping this could work out.
You might want to check out Dronebase or droners(dot)io. They’re like Uber but for drone pilots, and they actually pay pretty well. I just started with them and typically make $150-200 for 30-60 minutes of work (not including the drive, but it’s worth it if you’re not driving too far).
@Max
I signed up for Dronebase about a month ago, but I haven’t seen any jobs yet. I’m in Southern California. Do I need to reach out to Dronebase to start getting job offers?
Mica said: @Max
I signed up for Dronebase about a month ago, but I haven’t seen any jobs yet. I’m in Southern California. Do I need to reach out to Dronebase to start getting job offers?
Did you fully finish your profile, including uploading a photo of your physical Part 107 license?
Mica said: @Max
They asked for my certification number but not a photo. I’ll double-check and see if I missed anything. Thanks for the tip!
Yeah, same happened to me. I didn’t get anything for a month, then I emailed them, and they said I needed to upload a photo of my license. Getting that from the FAA took forever—like 5 months after my test. Once I uploaded it, I had to send a few emails to get them to start my training and background check.
Max said: @Max
Yeah, it picked up after I got everything sorted out. It took a while, but now it’s steady.
It was tough at first—dealing with the heat, my phone overheating, and figuring out the apps for mapping. But once you get the hang of it, it’s smooth sailing.
Honestly, just start calling realtors in your area and see if they’re interested in your services. If you’ve got aerial photos already, that could help show what you can do. Just make sure you’re not taking random photos of people’s homes without permission. Maybe start with your own house or those of friends and family.
By the way, how was the process of getting your Part 107? Was the test hard? I’ve been thinking about it myself.
Nico said: @Kingsley
If you have an aviation background, it’s pretty easy. It took me and a friend just one afternoon to prepare.
If you don’t have that background, expect to spend around 10-20 hours studying. A lot of it involves learning to read sectional charts and stuff that isn’t directly related to drones.
@Kingsley
It wasn’t too hard if you study. I used this practice test that costs about $20, and you can take it as many times as you need. It really helped me get ready.
I just called every real estate sign I saw and asked if they needed photos.
Most said no, but I eventually got my first client after giving them a few free shots on a CD. It turned into a regular gig. Now, it might be easier to go directly to real estate offices since drone shots are more common these days.
@Emerson
Thanks for the advice! Did you take photos of a property without asking first just to have samples, or did you reach out to agents beforehand?