Two Sides of the Same Craft
Running a drone cinematography business and flying a genuinely great shot are two different skill sets, and most people trying to break into this industry only ever get taught one of them. I built CineDrones by learning both, often the hard way, over more than a decade of flying film sets, live events, and real estate listings across the country. CineDrones University is my way of handing over what actually mattered - not just how to fly, but how to build something that lasts.
What I Can Teach on the Business Side
This is usually where new operators struggle most, because nobody teaches it in a flight course. I can walk through how to get properly licensed and insured so productions take you seriously, how to price and quote a shoot so you’re not underselling yourself in year one, how to land your first real clients through referrals instead of cold outreach, what union versus non-union work actually means for your career, and how to build a demo reel that gets you hired instead of just admired. This is the part of the business most new operators skip past, and it’s usually the part that determines whether you’re still flying in five years.
What I Can Teach on the Cinematic Side
Once the business fundamentals are in place, the craft is what separates a hobbyist from someone clients call back. I teach how to read a script or shot list and know which one or two moments actually deserve an aerial shot instead of flying everything just because you can. I cover shot composition from the air, working within a director’s or client’s vision instead of just chasing a cool angle, timing a shoot around light for real estate and events, and coordinating with a ground crew so aerial footage cuts together with everything else instead of standing apart from it. None of this is gear-specific - it’s craft that holds up no matter what you’re flying.
Live Events, Real Estate, and Film - Applied Differently
Part of what I can offer is how these fundamentals shift depending on the work. A stadium shoot has different airspace and timing pressure than a luxury listing, and a low-budget indie film calls for different judgment than a studio production. I’ve built CineDrones across all of these markets, and I can walk through what actually changes about your approach, and your pricing, depending on which lane you’re working in.
How a Session Works
These aren’t canned lectures. Bring your specific situation - a quote you’re not sure how to price, a reel that isn’t landing you meetings, a business decision you’re stuck on - and we’ll work through it directly. Some people need thirty minutes on one question. Others want a full hour to go through their whole business.
Enroll in CineDrones University
If you want to talk through where you’re stuck, or just get a real answer instead of another forum thread, get in touch with CineDrones to book a 30-minute session with me for $99, or a full hour for $189. Get in touch with CineDrones.
