Capturing large buildings and campuses can be difficult without the help of a drone. While nearly anyone can fly one in their backyard or local park, commercial use of drones—such as aerial photography—requires pilots to follow safety regulations and procedures.

Paul and I are both certified by the FAA to pilot drones for commercial use. In addition to passing the initial exam, we renew our certifications every 24 months to stay up to date on regulations and aeronautical knowledge. In addition to piloting responsibly, the certification exam covers maintenance and inspection, radio communication, emergency response procedures, and more. There’s even a section on flying at night, which is particularly useful when photographing at twilight.

Several factors must be considered before starting any drone shoot. The winds cannot exceed 20 mph, and special permits are required when shooting in airspace. After those criteria are satisfied, though, there isn’t much we can’t do. As certified pilots, we can fly nearly anywhere and shoot from almost any angle with enough lead time, far beyond what an amateur with a box-store drone can access.

In addition to keeping up with FAA regulations, we also update our equipment as technology improves. Drone photography has already replaced helicopters due to expense and ease of access, and updating to the latest models also improves our access to areas restricted by geofencing.