Why Can't I Fly There... Without a Waiver

Vagabond Photography(VB): It’s great day, we at Vagabond Photography now offer UAV(Drone) services to our clients and we can fly anywhere we please. Today we’re going to fly the port of Milwaukee.

FAA Rep: Not so fast Mister.

VB: why?????

FAA: because where your client would like you to fly for their assignment in located inside a restricted flight area. You’ll have to apply for a waiver.

The above is true for a Part 107 pilots, as certified pilots we cannot just fly anywhere we or a client would want us too. In much of the Greater Milwaukee area we have to work around controlled airspace via General Mitchel Airport(class C), Timmerman Airport(class D) and Waukesha Co Airport(Class D with a Class E extension) (see map 1).  To fly in those areas, we would need to obtain a FAA waiver under part 107.41 requesting airspace authorization.

Restricted flight map of Milwaukee

Say a client was to approach us and says we would like you to photograph our new building project on Jones Island and can you do this in the next 20 days? First, let’s refer to the map the little red dot in the shaded purple circle represents where said client would like us to fly. This helps us answer our clients question a little, the right off the bat answer is no not currently. To fly in that shaded area we must apply for a waiver from the FAA. Then provided the FAA gives us permission the answer is yes but it sill could exceed the 20 days the client had requested and take as long as 90 days for a yes, no answer. Also the waiver is time sensitive which mean the pilot in control has to fly at the time requested on the waiver or on the backup date during the approved time.

You may ask what does a waiver do for us and why does the FFA require us to obtain one? For the proposed Jones Island assignment there are a few answers. 1. Provided we are granted a waiver, it allows the FAA and air traffic control to notify incoming and outgoing air traffic there is an unmanned aircraft working the vicinity of the airport to the Northwest. If you refer to map 1 again, you will notice that the proposed location is adjacent to the inbound flight line for runway 19R(marked in gray). 2. In the waiver we must explain to the FAA how we plan to ensure safety going above and beyond what part 107 requires. This can be done by adding additional spotters to notify the done pilot of incoming aircraft or by making the drone more visible to oncoming traffic and explain that we do not place to fly outside of a certain radius keeping us away from inbound traffic. Also, that we are not a distraction to other pilots.  3. It saves the pilot and customer from a fine from the FAA if caught flying without a waiver. Through some research the fines that have been given out range between $400 to $18.700 with one outlier being levied at $1.9 million (story here) and also for the pilot it can also mean revocation of his/hers certificate.

We've obtained a waiver now what? Great the FAA decided to grant us a waiver and now we can fly, though there are going to be some stipulations on the when and possibly from how long. Also make sure you have planned for a secondary date encase of inclement weather.

I understand the a potential client this may seem like a lot of work just to go though to fly around and photograph/video a building or a job site. Though, it is something unmanned pilots and I know is necessary, for safe flight operations for those on the grounds and flying in the sky and at the end of the day you’ll be happy you have an unmanned pilot that took the time to do it right.    

Holiday Events

     Every year at Vagabond Photography we get asked to cover a few corporate Christmas/holiday parties which start in December and can run through mid-January. Its always a good time for the employees and for us as well. It’s a night that everyone knows they are appreciated and the stresses of work get left at the door and on occasion there is a chance to win some prizes put up by work.

     If your company has a yearly Christmas/holiday party consider using Vagabond Photography for your party photography services. This way it allows your employees in marketing or human resources a night off as well. We know they spend a lot of time organizing these events and are normally handling some project/s at the event and it gives them one last thing to worry about. It also is good for in house and out of house marketing tool when recruiting new employees to show that your company is more than just a business to work for, but you represent a family that values their employees.

Things I didn’t know I needed to know when getting into photography

     Over the past few years as Vagabond Photography expanded I found there was a lot of things I didn’t know I needed to know. I knew the basics, at least I thought I did while I was cannon balling into the deep end of the pool with the big boys, but then I quickly found out WOW there is still a lot to learn. So here are a few of the things I learned when I went from being a part time on the side business(off the books) to operating as an actual business.

Gear
     Buying gear can sink a new company, everyone’s thinking they have to have the newest and best gear out there. In reality, you only need what you are going to use on a regular basis.  There is a lot of gear I have bought over the years and all it does is collect dust and some of it I have sold and some of it I still have. Don’t worry about what John Doe Photography has across town. As long as you have a solid camera and lens’s, with a few hot shoe flashes you can photograph pretty much anything you need to.
     Also if you are a little bit on the handy side you can make some of those expensive reflectors or soft boxes you may need/want.

You're more than a photographer
     Yep that’s right, we are the people with many, many hats. You will be doing so much more than just shooting and editing photos for your clients. It involves being the bookkeeper, appointment keeper, website guru, marketing master, social media GOD, customer service rep and any other hat you can think of.
     It also turned out I had a lot more to learn when I moved to doing wedding photography a few years back. I learned, one has to create interesting and captivating albums. Also, when showing clients their photos, I now create slide shows and if you want it to pop, mix audio in as well so it pulls at the heart strings of your clients a little more.   

Branding over Paper
    When I first started I thought I needed have all these flyers, pamphlets and business cards. Well you really don’t, it’s all about getting out there and branding yourself but make sure you have a business card. Portray yourself as your business, dress the part and let your work speak for itself, create something that is personal so people remember you.
     Though most other marketers and branders will say paper is dead I still find it handy to have a handful of business card on me because you never know when it will be useful. Information on one side a photo on the other and make it a photo that is appealing and makes a client want to look at it.

Taxes
    So it turns out the government wants to know how much you are making off your business. Initially when I was starting I thought it was just like reporting our regular taxes. You do it at year end and hey you’re good to go until next year. Turns out Uncle Sam wants to know a little more often than that. One reports once a quarter in our state and let them know hey we made some money this month or no we didn’t. it is quite easy once you get used to them.

Insurance
    Before I started my business the only thing I really worried about was what happens if my gear breaks or gets stolen. I had a rider on my home owner’s insurance policy that if the gear was destroyed in say a house fire, home robbery it was covered but if I was out on my own and something happened like I was robbed, it fell in a lake or other I was basically S.O.L.  When I joined the Professional Photographers of America(PPA) they offered basic equipment loss and it was cheaper and covered more than what the rider on my insurance policy covered.
   Also, PPA offers general liability insurance starting at relatively reasonable rates, which covers you if you tell the model to back up and they fall into scenery, hurt themselves resulting in medical bill, PPA insurance also has you covered if multiple of other event happen that allows you to keep working.

Off Season Income
     Vagabond Photography is a Wisconsin based photography company and I am very proud to hang my shingle here and say we are open for business. Though Wisconsin has one major drawback for being an on-location photographer. Clients don’t like to be cold and it is pretty cold here from November through March.
     The first year I operated I thought I could make the transition from shooting sports, portraits, corporate work for nine months of the year and be able to sit tight for a quarter and live off my earnings from the other nine months. I was sorely mistaken. I ended up back at where I used to work in the winters while in college at a small ski resort. It is nothing to be ashamed about but it something you might have to considers if there is a lengthy off period in were you decide to operate.

Be willing to evolve
     Even though you may say I am a Senior Portrait photographer and this is what business is going to be, don’t be surprised if your business and clientele have a different plan for you.
     For example, I originally wanted Vagabond Photography to be an alternative sports, music and portrait company but over time morphed into something else. Some of my sport and music clients became my corporate clients because they saw me on the weekends and had a need for me during the week in their business world. Then after a few more years my portrait clients became my first wedding clients and my company evolved into what it is today. So don’t be afraid of a little change it can open up a whole new photography world for you.  

Ask your clients for Referrals
     Referrals are key in this business, if your clients are happy they’ll talk about you to their friends and that will help you with more business. Don’t be afraid to ask your clients to help get your name out there. It might involve giving away a couple of prints to a client from a session or doing a quick family photo during a senior portrait session but the money/time you spend on the little things like that will pay larger dividends in the end.

Find Local Professional Photographer Mentor
     Most new photographers I have met over the years myself included, seem to think they have it handled and they know what they are doing. Though the truth is you are going to need some help. I found a local studio whose owner was willing to give me solid advice to keep me from making some of the common mistakes that a lot of us make when still starting out.
     Over the years they become good friends and they can also help get you some additional work if they trust you. I can say without a doubt I would not be in business today if it wasn’t for their help.

Be willing to take Constructive Criticism and learning from it
     When I started I thought my work was great and up there with the pro’s. I became friends with some of the local photographers and joined a few photo clubs and the first thing I did was asked, “hey what do you think of this one(photo)?” Oh my god I thought I was done for by the time those three photographers were finished going over my work. Though they did finish with you have a good start keep at it.
     In reality though, this is the best thing for beginning photographers who are just starting a business moving from being an amateur to pro or even for an average Joe who is just pick up a camera to hear.
    Now take what that photographer said and find a way to build from it. It may be hard to hear but it is the best thing to hear, it should make you want to do better and elevate your work.
   it pains me to say this but if you have thin skin and can’t take the CC well this is not the business to be in because as photographers we are constantly being judged by the current about their photos, next client who sees your work hanging on a wall or a photographer who you are talking to about your work or sees your work someplace.

Find time to shoot for fun
     The last thing I would like to leave you thinking about, is find the time to shoot just for you. As photographers in the business we spend so much time shooting for other people, doing their projects, portraits, wedding, etc that we can easily forget why we started in this business. So, take some time at least once a month to work on your own personal project it doesn’t have to be for publication necessarily but it does have to be for you to keep your creative juices flowing.

The Water Council - Water Leaders Summit

On May 23rd and 24th we had the privilege to cover The Water Leaders’ Summit for The Water Council of Milwaukee.  It was a great couple of days working in downtown Milwaukee at the Pfister Hotel.
Over the course of the two days while photographing the event we had the ability to hear Mayor Tom Barrett speak at lunch the first day and many other great speakers and panels. Topics ranged from providing clean water in developing countries to being better stewards of our water use here in the developed world. The evening reception was great fun and it gave us the ability to get some good photos of guest interacting with each other.

Love is in the air or is it cabin fever?

It’s that time of year where love is in the air or maybe it’s the cabin fever or some form of both.

For us at Vagabond Photography it’s where we come out of our winter hibernation and start gearing up for spring/summer weddings, corporate events, senior portraits and so much more. Also, we will be traveling around to a few of the areas comic cons for fun.

It’s been a long, kind of dull winter here in Southern Wisconsin. We have had a lack of snow and an abundance of rain and abnormally high winter temps. It seems though, weather is finally starting to change for the better, hopefully, and we would like to reach out to the recently engaged or couples looking to have a unique on location photo session. There is still some snow in parts of Wisconsin so if you were thinking “hey I’ve always wanted pelt my significant other with a colored snow ball (provided we still have snow) or ice skate on a lake” for a photo session we can help with that. The joys of Wisconsin the possibilities are endless you just need to have a love of outdoor spaces and the willingness to brave the cold.  As spring progresses and it gets warmer out we can even change it up to suit you and your significant others outdoor activities. That could be anywhere from activates on the lakes and waterways, to the riding trails of Northern WI or relaxing on the beaches of Lake Michigan/Superior to the cities Madison/Milwaukee or anywhere/anything in-between.

This spring we are also looking forward to getting back to some of our fun personal projects and we will be looking for some people to collaborate with to create some new and exciting photos. We’ll discuss those more at the spring rolls along.

We look forward to hearing from you and bringing your dreams and imagination to prints that will hang on your walls. We also hope that you and your loved ones have a great Valentines Day.