Ever wish you could get a bird’s eye view of things?
Dylan and Kathleen Berghauser can provide that perspective through their drone photography business, Skinny Owl Media. They offer a wide range of drone photography and video services, including aerial inspections, real estate photography, event coverage and remote monitoring of construction sites.
The business has been operating for a little over a year now. Dylan Berghauser first got the drone bug when he was introduced to them by a friend.
“At first, it was just as a hobby; but it quickly grew into something more,” Berghauser said.
The pair recognized that there was a hole in the marketplace that they had the skills to fill.
“When me and my wife identified that this was a needed service, we knew it would expand. We wanted to get started on the right foot,” Berghauser said. The pair knew that they needed the proper training and licensing.
“Something different about our business is that we use FAA Part 107 licensed drone pilots, which allows us to use our images for business purposes,” Berghauser said.
“Companies who use our services can rest easy knowing that we are entirely legal and the images they receive from us can be used however they want to,” he added.
According to FAA regulations, those operating a drone without a license are considered hobbyists. They cannot use the images they have generated in any way other than personal use. Those images may not be used to produce revenue of any kind.
“The FAA hasn’t really started cracking down on the hobbyists yet, but I am sure they will in a few years. They are still adapting to this new technology,” Berghauser said.
Berghauser explained that the test he took was a regular pilot’s test which had been retrofitted for drone pilots. Although challenging, Berghauser said that the test taught him a lot of valuable knowledge about airspace and drone laws.
“The drone we use is not just a toy, it has three different cameras on it and is remotely identified in any airspace it uses,” Berghauser said.
“We produce 4k Ultra HD, movie-quality video. Our still images are all scaleable to the size of a billboard without losing an ounce of quality,” he added.
Some of the projects that they have worked with include creating images of Bradford Regional Medical Center, Pine Acres Golf & RV Resort and the Marilla Trail Race.
“We also have used our drone for roof inspections, survey work, progress reports for construction sites and orthomosaic mapping,” Berghauser said.
Orthomosaic mapping is the process of combining many images to create one highly detailed 3D model.
In addition to safety and professionalism, the Berghauser pair prides themselves on creativity and care put into all their projects.
“My wife and I have four kids and we both have full-time jobs, so this business is a labor of love for us,” Berghauser said.
“I try to go that extra mile and tailor every project so that it isn’t just documenting an event or area,” he said. “I want it to have an artistic feel to it as well.”
