How to turn your passion into a drone photography business

Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about how to start a drone photography business. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

I fell in love with photography back in 2018 and have been doing it as an amateur ever since. I’m currently overseas with the military and have decided that I want to get into drone photography when I get back home to help supplement my income while I go through school.

My current thought is to start out combining usage of a drone and my handheld camera to do real estate photos. I already have my Part 107, and I am thinking about purchasing the DJI Air 3 to start. But how do I get established? Should I put together a portfolio and start contacting potential clients? How should I start putting myself out there for more creative stuff? My biggest fear is that I invest the money into the equipment, but it doesn’t end up taking off because I didn’t prepare properly.

This question gets at the heart of what many drone-curious creators struggle with: how do I go from hobbyist to professional? Here’s my advice after more than a decade of working with people who have successfully started a drone photography business.

1. Start with a clear niche

Real estate is one of the smartest entry points into drone photography. Realtors constantly need new photos and video, and they usually don’t have the time or skills to do drone work themselves.

If you can offer both aerials and ground photography as one package, you’re instantly more valuable than if you can only provide one type of image format. Clients love the convenience of one photographer handling everything.

2. Build a small but strong portfolio

Before reaching out to clients, get some solid sample work. You don’t need dozens of shoots; even 3–5 polished property galleries will help. Offer to shoot a friend’s home or ask a local realtor if you can shoot one of their listings for free (or discounted) in exchange for using the photos in your portfolio. Keep the focus on quality over quantity.

When choosing homes to film with your drones, seek out homes with compelling features that are best shown from a bird’s-eye view, like an epic pool or solar panels lining a roof.

Aerial view of a Solar photovoltaic panels on a wood house roof surrounded by green vegetation

3. Make yourself findable online

Realtors are busy. They’re not scouring Instagram hashtags; they just want someone reliable nearby. Sure, you could try to make it back on TikTok and Instagram, but it’s going to take a lot of work (and luck).

Setting up a Google Business Profile is one of the easiest wins. That way, when someone searches “real estate drone photographer in [your city],” your name pops up with photos, reviews and contact info.

4. Reach out — keep it simple

Yes, start contacting realtors. Don’t overthink your pitch. A short message like:

“Hi, I’m a licensed drone pilot and photographer based in [city]. I’d love to help capture your listings with both aerial and ground photography. Here’s my portfolio.”

That’s enough. If your images are good and you present yourself professionally, many will give you a shot.

5. Plant seeds for creative work

The “fun” work — travel films, brand partnerships, event photography — usually comes later. Still, you can start building that side now. Share your most creative shots on social media. Enter drone photo contests like DJI’s SkyPixel competition. Those efforts add credibility and can lead to unexpected opportunities.

6. Don’t stress too much about gear

The DJI Air 3 (or the DJI Air 3S, which is the new and improved model) is a fantastic choice for someone starting out: professional-quality output without being prohibitively expensive. The truth? Clients don’t care which drone you’re flying. They care about sharp, compelling photos delivered on time. Buy a drone you’re comfortable flying and confident carrying around.

One more thing: though it’s not required to fly commercially in the U.S., you may want to carry drone insurance. This protects yourself from any liabilities (like if your drone accidentally crashes into one of the home’s new expensive windows). I recommend going with hourly plans through a company like SkyWatch when you’re getting started rather than committing to a full annual plan upfront.

7. Start small, scale naturally

It’s normal to worry that the business won’t “take off.” The key to reducing risk with your drone photography business is to keep the barrier low. You don’t need dozens of clients or tons of gear. Start with one realtor and one drone (again, the DJI Air 3S is a relatively affordable gateway). Do one shoot. Deliver great results. Word of mouth is powerful (especially in tight knit fields like real estate). One good job often leads to referrals.

Final thoughts on launching a drone photography business

If you’re considering drone photography as a side hustle, there are a few steps to take. Get licensed with the FAA, choose a clear entry niche like real estate, and prepare with a small but polished portfolio. From there, the path is less about fancy gear or big marketing campaigns, and more about consistency and reliability.

Running a drone photography business is one of those careers where your first step feels intimidating, but once you book that first paid shoot, the momentum starts building quickly.

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