Two Paths, Same Sky
New drone operators ask me some version of this question constantly: should I be chasing union work, or is non-union the smarter path? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on what kind of work you want to do and where you’re trying to do it, and CineDrones has spent over a decade flying both sides of that line. We run Local 600 union crews for productions that require them and non-union crews for the work that doesn’t, and understanding the difference has been just as important to building this business as learning to fly well.
What Union Membership Actually Changes
Local 600 is the International Cinematographers Guild, and it covers camera department work on a huge share of studio film and television production. Booking union jobs generally means guaranteed minimum rates, defined turnaround and meal-penalty rules, health and pension contributions, and a level of on-set standardization that bigger productions expect. It also means working within a call sheet, a chain of command, and a production culture that’s built around decades of established protocol. For a studio feature or network series, this isn’t optional - the production is union, and every department, aerial included, falls in line with that.
What Non-Union Work Still Offers
Almost everything outside a studio call sheet - independent film, live events, real estate, corporate video - runs non-union, and that’s not a consolation prize. It’s where most operators actually build their first real client relationships, because the barrier to entry is lower and the relationship with the client is direct instead of filtered through a production office. Non-union work also tends to pay per project rather than by guild scale, which can work for or against you depending on how you negotiate. It’s faster to break into, it rewards a strong reel and good communication more than tenure, and it’s where a huge amount of the aerial work in real estate and live events will always live, regardless of how big the union side gets.
How CineDrones Runs Both Sides
We didn’t pick a lane - we built the capability to serve both, because the demand for aerial work doesn’t sit neatly on one side of that line. A network drama needs a Local 600 crew on set next week. A boutique real estate brokerage needs a non-union operator who can turn around a listing video in 48 hours. A concert promoter needs someone who can move fast on a live event timeline without a full union call. Having both options available is part of what’s let CineDrones stay booked across film, events, and real estate at the same time instead of specializing so narrowly that slow seasons in one market sink the whole business.
How to Decide Which Path Fits You Right Now
If you’re early in your career, non-union work is almost always the faster way to get flying, get paid, and build a reel that actually reflects real client work instead of test footage. Union access typically comes later, once you have hours, references, and often a geographic reality to deal with - it’s a different calculus in Los Angeles than it is in Las Vegas or Atlanta. Don’t treat this as a permanent choice. Most operators who last in this business end up working both sides eventually, the same way we do.
Work With Me
If you’re trying to figure out which path makes sense for where you are right now, or how to start building relationships on either side of that line, I’m glad to walk through it with you directly. Get in touch with CineDrones to book a 30-minute strategy call with me for $99, or a full hour for $189, and we’ll dig into your specific situation. Get in touch with CineDrones.
