You may be wondering how to make money with a drone? Here are 10 ways to use your camera drone to earn a full-time income.
How to Make Money With a Drone: 10 Ways
Choose one or more of these options to start earning with your drone camera.
1. Photography
Photography with a drone can generate a great income if you market your pictures in the right way.
There are many outlets online nowadays to create products such as mugs, calendars, and stickers with your own photography.
Some individuals sell their prints through an online store as well.
2. Connect With an Architect
Architecture firms have started to hire drone photographers to capture their designs.
With each finished building, the photos are added to their portfolio both online and in print. Architects will pay quite a bit for drone footage or pictures that demonstrate their work.
3. Real Estate Marketing
Real estate agents rely heavily on marketing. Their online presentation of a home is crucial to their sale.
With drone footage, home buyers can experience a virtual walk through before stepping foot on the property.
If you can contract with a real estate company or perhaps just a few real estate agents, you could potentially have a steady stream of income from your drone.
4. Videography
Videography from a drone is a unique way to capture moments. Some wedding photography businesses now offer drone videography to give couples a breathtaking view from above.
It would be a good idea to offer local photography businesses drone videography for their events.
5. Rent Your Drone
Just like high-end photography equipment, drones can be rented out to people.
If you have money to invest in an excellent drone, real estate agents, photographers, and vacationers could be interested in just renting it for their own personal use.
In this case, you could be earning steady income just by owning a drone.
6. Organize a Class
If you’ve had some time on your hands to operate a drone with precision, perhaps you could teach others how to use them. This could go hand in hand with the rental business.
You can charge a bit more for your rentals if a customer wants a lesson on how to use a drone.
Or alternatively, you can create a video of how to fly a drone and put it online using sites such as Teachable.
7. Make Deliveries
Drones are recently being used to drop deliveries to people and businesses. This is a relatively new process and therefore could give you plenty of business.
Amazon is one company that has begun to implement drone deliveries. However, you must be an expert drone operator to do this because they have been shot down by looters.
8. Become a Drone Surveyor
Land surveys are used for many different things in the real estate business. Drones have become a very useful tool for surveys.
Becoming a drone surveyor could supplement your income. You can create a business card and hand it out to real estate offices and brokers.
When their clients need surveys completed, they will have your information ready for them.
9. Get Into Sports
More and more sporting events have been using drones to capture the games. The National Football League uses drones to capture plays.
When there are challenges on the field, they will use the footage to replay the situation in question.
Perhaps you can offer these same services to local high school sporting teams or recreation center.
10. Consider YouTube
YouTube is a modern day outlet that can be used to make money from home. How to make money with a camera drone is to create videos or take photographs and upload them to YouTube.
Once you have gained popularity, YouTube will enter your page in their program where you’ll earn money.
Try to focus on one topic when creating your videos and pictures, that way to keep people returning to your YouTube videos and increasing your watch time.
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Best Drone to Make Money With
How to make money with a camera drone is to have the best drone possible.
There are countless drones you can buy, so what makes a drone the best? Multiple factors play a role in a good drone: speed, camera quality, durability, and affordability.
Let’s see what sets the best apart from the rest.
What is the Best Drone on the Market?
According to CNET, the best overall drone you can buy right now is the DJI Air 2S. It is roughly $1,000 currently.
The camera is the best there is for drones with 5.4k resolution for videos and 20 megapixels images.
Flying this drone is easy for beginners with special modes you can set. The drawback about this drone is the camera will not flip to change orientation of pictures.
What is the Best Drone for Beginners?
If you’re a beginner at handling drones, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is at the top of the list for easiest to fly.
It features sensors that warn of collisions in three directions; a rotating camera for different picture orientations; and a clear video for capturing the best footage.
In addition, its 34 minute battery life is long enough to practice every day. Perhaps the biggest con is the price tag.
What is the Best Drone for Kids?
Although you might think drones aren’t for kids, they are an excellent tool for teaching.
A drone is a physical example of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) being used together to create a vehicle.
Kids will need to learn how to control and maneuver the drone so it doesn’t break. It is also great for kids who are interested in photography.
Consumers are happy with the Ryze Tello for kids over 13. This drone is durable, particularly the camera.
It features guards around the propellers in case of crashes and in terms of technology, it uses Scratch, a system for users to learn programming through a laptop or tablet.
Kids can learn even more programming from the Ryze Tello EDU version.
Do You Need a License to Pilot a Drone?
Piloting a drone does require a license. The FAA or Federal Aviation Administration offers a Remote Pilot Certificate.
You must be 16 or older to apply. In addition, you need to be able to speak, write, and understand (written and oral) English.
You will have to pass the Unmanned Aircraft General Small UAG exam that assesses your aeronautical knowledge.
Furthermore, you’ll have to renew every 2 years with a training program.
However, if you are looking to just fly your drone for fun and not use it to make money, you do not need a license.
Turning it into a business will require the license.
In Conclusion: How to Make Money With a Camera Drone
When you look at them as money makers and not toys, drones are worth the money.
Even if you have no idea how to make money with a camera drone, seek out ideas and you’ll be on your way to making some cash.
Once you decide what services you want to offer, market yourself to the local area.
There are limitless possibilities from freelance drone jobs to contract work with businesses.
You can turn your drone photography business into a full-time job or just a side gig.
With determination and a great business approach, you can make a living with your drone.