What’s Possible with a Drone and a Camera

Lesson Objective:

By the end of this lesson, students will understand the full scope of income-generating opportunities and creative possibilities using drones equipped with cameras.

Lesson Overview:

Welcome to the sky-high world of drone photography! In this lesson, you’ll discover the wide range of things you can do with a drone and camera—from capturing breathtaking real estate shots to mapping farmlands and producing cinematic content.

Whether you’re looking to make a side income or build a full-time business, drones open up opportunities in multiple industries.

1. Real Estate Photography & Videography

• Aerial shots that show entire properties and neighborhoods.
• Video flyovers and virtual tours for listings.
• Highly in demand by realtors, especially for luxury or rural properties.

2. Weddings & Events

• Unique overhead shots of outdoor weddings, festivals, and sports events.
• Dramatic cinematic B-roll footage.
• Add-on service for photographers and videographers.

3. Roof and Infrastructure Inspections

• Capture footage of rooftops, towers, bridges, and construction sites.
• Great for working with roofing companies, home inspectors, and insurers.
• Safer and cheaper than using ladders or helicopters.

4. Agricultural and Land Mapping

• Monitor crops, livestock, and irrigation from above.
• Create stitched maps (orthomosaics) and 3D terrain models.
• Work with farms, vineyards, and agricultural consultants.

5. Travel and Adventure Content Creation

• Create stunning visual content for YouTube, social media, or blogs.
• Collaborate with tourism boards or resorts.
• License your footage to content platforms or stock libraries.

6. Commercial and Promotional Videos

• Help local businesses showcase their location or outdoor features.
• Golf courses, resorts, outdoor venues, and restaurants love aerials.
• Can be paired with ground-level footage for full promo packages.

7. Surveying and Construction Progress

• Document construction milestones from a bird’s-eye view.
• Help contractors with before-and-after visuals.
• Can be automated and scheduled weekly for recurring income.

8. Stock Footage Sales

• Sell your drone clips to video libraries like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Pond5.
• Evergreen footage (cityscapes, nature, sunrise/sunset) sells year-round.

9. Disaster Recovery & Humanitarian Work

• Used to assess storm damage, wildfires, or flooding.
• Partner with insurance firms, NGOs, or emergency services.

Lesson Activity:

Assignment:
Research and write down 3 potential industries in your area that could benefit from drone photography.
For each, note:

• What type of aerial shots they would need.
• How you could reach out to offer your services.

Key Takeaways:

• Drones are used across many high-paying industries.
• You can start small (real estate or weddings) and scale into advanced services (mapping, surveying, stock footage).
• The sky isn't the limit—it's just the beginning.