I’m 17 and a licensed drone pilot with a Part 107 certification. I’ve been flying for a few years and have experience editing photos and videos using Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop/Lightroom. I have a DJI Air 3, social media accounts with some content, a website, and I just got my business cards printed.
Now, I’m trying to figure out what to do next. People have told me to start networking in person, but I’m not sure if that’s the only way. And the business side is kind of confusing… like, should I set up an LLC? What should I know about taxes?
Any advice would be really appreciated! Thanks in advance!
The problem is ‘drone business’ is too broad. You need to decide what you want to do. Are you aiming for weddings, real estate, selling prints, or mapping?
Sia said:
The problem is ‘drone business’ is too broad. You need to decide what you want to do. Are you aiming for weddings, real estate, selling prints, or mapping?
I’m thinking digital media, like selling photos and videos. This could work for real estate, weddings, stock sites, and more. I’m planning to offer professionally edited work. Should I stick with this or explore other fields too?
@Mai
How do you plan to offer professional color grading? Based on experience? No offense, but you’re 17 without formal training. Are you a paid editor or someone with Adobe software and plugins?
What do you think I should do? I’m really passionate about digital media and want to make a career out of it.
You’ll need a strong background in general photography, videography, and editing. A drone is just one tool among many. Most jobs won’t be just about drone shots; they often expect a full creative package. There are a ton of YouTube videos on how to make money with drones. Take in as many opinions as you can. Starting out, you might need to do a bit of everything—events, inspections, stock footage, and more. It’s all about finding what works best for you.
@Corey
I’m more into the engineering side, using drones for data and analysis. There’s good money if you can deliver actionable info from the data. I have a full-time job managing a team and make about $165K a year, plus I charge $250/hour for side gigs.
If you’re leaning toward digital media, try networking with people who need drone pilots but don’t have a Part 107 themselves. Offer your services as a subcontractor, meaning you work for them, not directly for the client. An LLC is a great starting point; it helps protect you legally. You’ll also need a tax ID for the LLC. Have a solid portfolio, look at what others are doing, and don’t get discouraged. Contracts are super important—they help protect your business from overwork or legal issues. And know your worth. Better to have a few clients who value your work than many who don’t.
Always deliver quality work, make the process easy for clients, and be nice. I started a few years back, mainly doing real estate, but now I take all kinds of jobs. My clients care about fast and easy service more than price. Over-deliver by adding extra shots or rescheduling if conditions aren’t perfect. Different things work for different people, so find what works for you.
Mai said: @Elliot
Thanks! Just curious, why do you say not to bother with contracts when most people recommend them?
If a client cancels last minute, I don’t sweat it. It’s not worth losing a good client over small stuff. I’ve never been ‘screwed over’ by a client. It’s about building trust and being seen as part of their team. I focus on getting the job done well, not spending hours on contracts.