For most people, the original intent of owning and flying a drone was for ‘recreation, taking some nice photos and just having fun.’ What is your long-term agenda? Is it the same?
This story starts with a family member in Saint John, New Brunswick, who purchased a fairly expensive drone with the intent of ‘recreation and just having fun.’ To his amazement, this part-time flying hobby soon turned into a wanted commodity. ‘But … that wasn’t his original intent!
As mentioned above, this drone pilot lives in a beautiful province along the Bay of Fundy. The breath-taking sights of ocean-going tankers and Cruise Ships coming and going, nice weather and endless sandy beaches. What’s not to like! In my way of thinking, perfect conditions for outdoor out-of-the-norm photography.
In passing, he mentioned that I’m going to seize the opportunity of this magnificent area of Canada and take some award-winning drone videos and photos.
Now I have to admit, just the mention of drones with their state-of-the-art cameras and breathtaking images you could photograph. That’s mind-blowing in terms of the advantages it would have for an amateur photographer like myself.
This person in question has a cool-looking drone that takes him to many out-of-the-ordinary places, and my drone, well, is not so cool. So in reality, I’m stuck with a point-and-shoot camera and photographing …. ‘at eye level shots.’
”From a Hobby to Part-time Business: What Else Can Drones Do in 2025” is the gist of the story.
But today, we wanna-be drone pilots, the rules and regulations surrounding owning and flying a drone are different than yesteryear. Today if your “toy” drone is over a certain weight, it’s mandatory to take a lengthy course to be licensed, certified and trained to operate. Having said that, the myth of a toy vs drone as a description is in not described in the same sentence.
So, my friends, there you have it, once the rules and regulations start appearing, that takes the fun away from your newfound hobby …”Or
Does it?” Read on for the best part of the story.
From a Hobby to Part-time Business: What Else Can Drones Do in 2025
From a Hobby to Part-time Business: What Else Can Drones Do in 2025
Did you know that not long ago, if you wanted to photograph a special location or a building with a bird’s-eye view, it was done by a professional photographer renting a costly airplane? Then you instruct the pilot to keep the Cessna 180 steady at 10,000 ft with a crosswind so you can take that award-winning photo of your client’s farmhouse and property. In the end, it was a tedious, time-consuming and expensive undertaking for you and the client.b
Back in the day, I remember a family member doing such a thing . So, aerial photography was the in-thing (or the only way) years ago and especially farmers wanted a high-quality photo of their farmland and spread.
This simple but high-tech piece of equipment, which some people still call a fun toy,’ that’s a misconception in my books, ‘because these are not toys any longer.’
Taking aerial photography to the next level with a Drone.
And, in case you’re wondering, the standard use of a professional drone could include: videography, surveillance, mapping ot property or even as simple as aerial photography for farm photos, like mentioned above and, taking aerial photography of special outdoor events should not be underestimated. Corporations spend a lot to get a ‘bird’s eye view photo’ of their company picnics
Automotive swap and classic car show and shine are my personal favourites.
But the list of professional drone uses goes on. This fun hobby if you don’t watch out, ‘it could turn into a fun viable business.’
Conclusion;
In the end, I’ve read many questions online for example, “What would you recommend as a hobby or small business. Something that is interesting to do and keeps my mind sharp. ‘Drone photography could be a good starting point for your journey.’
Extra note: If you notice the drone shot at the annual Ribfest in our area, I cheated! I used a telescopic walking stick with a cell phone mount to simulate a high-elevation drone shot. But, as you can also notice, the photo (just a few feet off the ground) gives it a more interesting photo-taking experience. Drone flying for a hobby, business or even a fun pastime, well, folks, you decide.
A word to my family member in Saint John, New Brunswick, happy droneing, (not politically correct) send me some photos of the ‘Princess Cruise Ship’ when it enters the harbour of Saint John. If by chance, any reader living on Canada’s East Coast needs the service of an experienced drone operator. This is the man.
You can reach him by way of his Facebook Page ***True North Droneography. ***
*** There you have it, folks, the fun hobby of drone photography with my final word: ‘Happy Droning.‘ ***
Just in Case; ‘Key questions to ask when purchasing a drone.’
Flight time:
* How long can the drone stay in the air on a single battery charge?
* Camera resolution: What is the camera megapixel count and video resolution?
* Gimbal stabilization: Does the drone have a gimbal for smooth footage?
* Flight range: How far can the drone fly from the controller before signal loss?
* GPS functionality: Does the drone have built-in GPS for accurate positioning and return-to-home features?
* Obstacle detection: Does the drone have sensors to detect obstacles and avoid collisions?
* Wind resistance: How well does the drone perform in windy conditions?- Portability: How compact is the drone when folded or stored?
Controller features: What kind of controls does the controller have (sticks, buttons, dials)?
App compatibility: Does the drone come with a user-friendly mobile app for settings and live view?
Battery life: How many spare batteries are included, and how long does it take to recharge?
Avoidance sensor…a must!!
* Drone Photo Parts list compliments of SlidingMotion.com/Pinterest *
