Drones and drone photography has come a very long way in the last few years, but with that also have come an abundance of new rules, regulations and controls. No longer can you ask your "mate with a drone” to pop along to take some nice drone shots of your project.
Who can operate a drone?
Your drone operator needs to be registered with the CAA, since the start of 2026 they will need a Flyer ID and an Operator ID and very importantly, good comprehensive commercial drone insurance
Drone preflight procedures.
Before they even contemplate the drone flight and photography, they will need to check with the various authorities if they can fly at your intended location be it a building or construction site, a demolition site or a nice newbuild warehouse for a commercial estate agent.
If the site happens to be in a restricted flying zone, depending on who's authority it comes under you may have to contact Air Traffic Control, the control tower of the local airfield or airport or the local police authority etc.
Recently I had to talk to the MET and the London City Airport for a shoot in Canary Wharf and on another occasion to the RAF 2FTS for a flight near an old WW2 aerodrome.
But you don't just want a drone operator that can fly a drone legally, to achieve hassle free captivating images of your project, you really do need a drone operator that is also a very experienced commercial photographer that knows the difference between an OK image and a "WOW" image, an operator that knows the best times of day to capture the best lighting, that understands composition and importantly, because drones fly in a three dimensional environment, perspective will be the difference between a boring image and a brilliant one. All of the above will create the kind of image that will sell your products and services.
What to look for when choosing your drone operator and photographer?
You most definitely need a registered and insured drone operator, but that’s just the basics.
You need a supplier that adheres to all the commercial drone flying rules and regulations but also has experience of working in hazardous, stressful fast moving construction and demolition environments, from the basics of PPE, including hi vis clothing, hard hats, boots, gloves and eye protection where needed and importantly completing detailed risk assessments of the specific sites in question.
When choosing your supplier, the above technical and legal issues are crucial but to seriously create images that will sell your product or service, be it scaffolding, roofing, brickwork, cladding, concrete laying or demolition work, you need a supplier that has in depth experience in not just taking a photograph but a supplier that knows how to create the best possible image for you by taking into account the correct time of day for the best lighting, the best angles that will enhance the look and feel of your project and composition that will attract your potential client’s interest to you and away from your competition.
About Mike Green Photography
I have all of the CAA requirements for the type of drone I’m flying, I have comprehensive commercial insurance, I have ten years’ experience of flying RC aircraft, giving me a unique feel for dealing with adjacent airspace and potential hazards.
Possibly most importantly, I have over thirty years of professional photographic experience.
Experience of creating captivating images for my wide variety of clients, from small local businesses, medium sized building companies and up to clients that work on much larger projects.
Proven Experience in Construction & Property Drone Photography
I’ve worked in subterranean sewers in the Southbank of London, I’ve had to lean over scaffolding (tethered of course) in tower blocks, wade through mud in Wimbledon and hang out of Piper Cubs over the Mediterranean Sea, all that just to capture the perfect image for my client.
So, next time you want some extra special images of your construction or demolition project, feel free to give me a call.
My service comes with a completely hassle free experience and importantly for those urgent social media posts, with extremely fast turn around times of less than 48 hours from start of the shoot to supplying the final images.
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