Eyes in the sky: Rockwell couple start out drone photography business enterprise – Salisbury Post

Eyes in the sky: Rockwell couple start out drone photography business enterprise

Published 12:ten am Saturday, March 25, 2023

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The historic 1st Presbyterian Church bell tower is noticed from a drone. Submitted image

Jacob Warner and his wife, Hali, have began a drone photography business enterprise named Droney Island. Charlie Drape/Salisbury Post

Drone view of Rockwell — submitted image

ROCKWELL — At the start out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Jacob Warner located himself like a lot of other folks: quarantined, not functioning, nowhere to go and, frankly, bored.

Warner normally had an interest in drones and with all that time on his hands, he decided to get a toy version from Amazon. He would fly the drone about his property and in his yard to practice, gradually beginning to perform his way up to larger and larger drones.

Now Warner, along with his wife Hali, have began a drone photography business enterprise named Droney Island. It was Hali’s dad, Gregory Paleologos, who definitely pushed the couple to start out the venture. He not too long ago died, and now Warner and Hali view the business enterprise as a way to retain his memory alive.

“He was 1 of the individuals that was like, ‘Just do it, you guys got it,’ ” Warner mentioned.

But flying drones recreationally is distinctive from flying them as aspect of a business enterprise. You have to have a drone pilot license if you want to start out promoting photos and footage. To develop into a pilot, you have to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Portion 107 Exam. Immediately after a year of studying, Warner traveled to Alpha One particular Air Service in Concord to take the test. He passed and received his license on July 29, 2022.

Considering that then, Warner and Hali have been functioning non-cease to get their business enterprise up and operating. They believed about hiring other folks to aid, but decided the two of them can deal with it. Droney Island is a loved ones business enterprise.

“He does the flying and I make the calls,” Hali mentioned.

The Rockwell couple have two drones: a smaller gray version named the DJI Mini three Pro and a bigger 1 named the Autel Evo Light Plus. Each have tiny cameras that can rotate and Warner utilizes them to hover more than events and take aerial images and videos. They not too long ago booked the town of Mooresville’s 150th birthday celebration, with events all year lengthy. Warner flew his drone in the course of Mooresville Day on March four and took images of the big crowds that have been gathering, as effectively as the fireworks show at the finish.

With summer season coming up, Hali mentioned they count on to book far more events since the climate will be nicer and clearer for the drone’s photos. The strategy is to continue to retain browsing for other events on-line, make calls telling individuals about the business enterprise and provide their solutions. They especially want to target genuine estate agents, building jobs and contractors due to the fact these places generally will need drone footage.

The general dream for the business enterprise is to obtain adequate clientele to be a complete-time job.

“We want to do the business enterprise all the time and not have to do any other jobs and actually just concentrate on the drone perform,” Hali mentioned.

Warner mentioned he also desires individuals to appreciate their photography.

“I want to provide definitely very good photos at an very affordable price, letting individuals appreciate our photography and general assisting individuals out,” Warner mentioned.

For far more data, get in touch with Droney Island at 704-213-9443.