PhotoFlight Aerial Media
PhotoFlight Aerial Media is a Connecticut-based drone services company founded in 2014 that provides aerial photography, cinematography, and inspection services to enterprise clients across real estate, construction, film, news, automotive, and marine industries throughout the U.S. East Coast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersManchester, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PhotoFlight Aerial Media does
PhotoFlight Aerial Media is a privately held drone services company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut, operating with 1-10 employees across the East Coast of the United States. The company provides professional aerial photography, videography, and cinematography using DJI Inspire 2 and Mavic 3 Pro platforms alongside custom-built drones carrying RED Professional Cinema Cameras and high-end stabilization gimbals. Service offerings span real estate marketing, construction site documentation and 3D mapping, event coverage, live news broadcasting, film production support, industrial inspection, and marine/shipping operations, with FAA Part 107 certified pilots operating a two-operator model that separates piloting from camera work for cinema-grade tracking shots.
The firm sells exclusively through a custom quote-based professional services model, generating revenue per project rather than via subscriptions or product sales, with free consultation and project scoping preceding each engagement. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales (targeting production companies, real estate firms, construction firms, news stations, automotive brands, and government) with direct-to-consumer/SMB outreach through its website, SEO-optimized state landing pages, and a multi-platform social presence. Multi-million dollar liability insurance and expertise navigating restricted airspace including NYC, JFK, and LaGuardia proximity zones support enterprise-grade engagements.
The customer base is diversified across unrelated verticals with named enterprise clients including Audi Sport, NBC Connecticut, Hartford Yard Goats, Roll Group, Choice Films, Shoreline Aviation, Parsons Engineering, Porsche/WTA, and Airbnb Magazine. The company appears to be founder-led (with cofounder and VP of Operations Mike Gearin named), independently owned with no disclosed external investment, and has expanded its geographic footprint from its Connecticut base into thirteen states while adding specialized capabilities like 30x optical zoom live broadcast, 100W LED night photography, marine chase-boat operations, and 3D modeling for construction clients.
PhotoFlight Aerial Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PhotoFlight Aerial Media
- Legal name
- PhotoFlight Aerial Media
- Website
- https://photoflightam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PhotoFlight Aerial Media is a Connecticut-based drone services company founded in 2014 that provides aerial photography, cinematography, and inspection services to enterprise clients across real estate, construction, film, news, automotive, and marine industries throughout the U.S. East Coast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PhotoFlight Aerial Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Drone Photography and Videography Services
- NAICS
- Commercial Photography (541922), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding) (AFACAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts) (AFACAIAJ)
Keywords
Where PhotoFlight Aerial Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PhotoFlight Aerial Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Aerial Drone Photography Services: Professional aerial photography services including marketing photos, panoramic murals, and specialized twilight/night photography. Pricing varies based on project scope, location, duration, and specific requirements. Quote-based model.
- Drone Videography and Cinematography: Professional drone video services including standard videography, advanced cinematography with RED Professional Cinema Cameras, and expert two-operator team productions. Includes live broadcast drone coverage for news stations.
- Construction and Industrial Drone Services: Construction site documentation, progress monitoring, safety inspections, structural inspections, mapping, and 3D modeling. Includes Orthomosaic, 3D Textured Models, DSM, and 3D Point Cloud mapping capabilities.
- Real Estate Drone Photography and Video: Aerial photography and videography for real estate listings, showcasing properties from unique perspectives. Includes commercial and residential property marketing content.
- Event Drone Coverage: Professional event drone coverage for concerts, festivals, sports events, corporate events, and community gatherings. Includes highlight video production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
PhotoFlight Aerial Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PhotoFlight Aerial Media provides professional drone photography, videography, and cinematography services across multiple industries. The company flies FAA Part 107 certified crews using DJI Inspire 2, DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and custom-built drones equipped with RED Professional Cinema Cameras to deliver aerial imagery, marketing videos, construction progress monitoring with 3D mapping, real estate property showcases, event coverage, and live news broadcast footage for enterprise and individual clients across the U.S. East Coast and nationwide.
Product overview
PhotoFlight Aerial Media is a professional drone photography and videography service company offering a comprehensive portfolio of aerial imaging services. The company operates across multiple industry verticals including real estate, construction, events, news broadcasting, marketing, and industrial applications. Services include aerial drone photography, drone videography, drone cinematography (with RED Professional Cinema Cameras), real estate drone photography, construction site monitoring, event coverage, live news broadcasts, marketing video production, and industrial/engineering inspections with 3D mapping capabilities. The company utilizes FAA Part 107 certified pilots and professional-grade equipment including DJI Inspire 2, DJI Mavic 3 Pro, custom-built drones, RED cinema cameras, and high-end gimbals. Services are available across the East Coast and beyond with deployment capabilities for projects throughout the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial Drone Photography Services High-quality aerial photography services for marketing, panoramic murals, and specialized twilight/night photography using state-of-the-art drone equipment; intended for real estate, commercial, and marketing clients.
- Drone Videography Services Professional drone video services capturing dynamic aerial footage for marketing, events, and commercial productions.
- Drone Cinematography Services Advanced professional drone video services capturing cinema-quality footage with RED Professional Cinema Cameras and expert two-operator teams for film, commercial, and broadcast clients.
- Real Estate Drone Photography and Video Stunning aerial photography and videography for real estate listings, showcasing residential and commercial properties from unique perspectives to drive sales; targets real estate agents, brokers, developers, and property owners.
- Construction Drone Services Professional construction site documentation, progress monitoring, and safety inspections using advanced drone technology, including Orthomosaic, 3D Textured Models, DSM, and 3D Point Cloud mapping outputs; targets construction companies and engineering firms.
- Event Drone Photography and Video Production Professional event drone coverage for concerts, festivals, sports events, corporate events, and community gatherings, including highlight video production; targets event organizers, sports venues, and entertainment brands.
- Live Drone News Broadcast Services Live aerial broadcast services for news stations with DJI Z-30 30x optical zoom stabilized camera capability for breaking news, traffic, weather, and special event coverage.
- Marketing Video Production Services Aerial marketing video production services for businesses and brands, creating commercial content with professional drone cinematography; targets brand marketers, advertisers, and commercial clients.
- Industrial and Engineering Drone Services Industrial drone services including structural inspections, mapping, and 3D modeling for infrastructure and engineering projects; targets industrial facilities, infrastructure operators, and engineering firms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Drone footage can open videos with clear establishing aerial shots, connect different parts of events with overview shots, and help show the flow of people and activity across venues.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PhotoFlight Aerial Media
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
PhotoFlight Aerial Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
PhotoFlight Aerial Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PhotoFlight Aerial Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Skydio: U.S. drone manufacturer with growing autonomy and enterprise inspection focus. Adjacent incumbent whose hardware platforms increasingly compete with DJI gear used by PhotoFlight.
- DJI: World's largest commercial and consumer drone manufacturer; PhotoFlight's primary equipment supplier (Inspire 2, Mavic 3 Pro, Z-30). Acts as an upstream incumbent enabling all commercial drone service providers including PhotoFlight.
- PrecisionHawk: Established commercial drone and aerial data analytics company serving multiple industries. Comparable as a broader incumbent in commercial drone services and inspection/analytics, though PhotoFlight focuses on media rather than data.
Direct peers
- Dronegenuity: Nationwide drone services network offering aerial photography, videography, mapping, and inspection. Closely comparable to PhotoFlight in horizontal multi-vertical drone services delivery across the U.S.
- Helios Visions: NYC-based drone cinematography and aerial photography firm serving film, real estate, events, and enterprise clients with FAA-licensed pilots. Direct competitor to PhotoFlight in the high-end commercial drone content segment.
- Flying Lion: Drone services company specializing in news, public safety, and inspection. Comparable to PhotoFlight in FAA Part 107 expertise, live broadcast capabilities, and enterprise/government client mix.
- Aerial Vantage: Drone photography and videography services firm for real estate, construction, events, and commercial clients. Direct competitor in the same horizontal aerial imaging services space.
- FlyGuys: On-demand drone services marketplace connecting enterprise clients with FAA-certified pilots across real estate, construction, insurance, and agriculture. Closely comparable in horizontal vertical coverage and SMB-to-enterprise client mix.
Emerging players
- DroneDeploy: Drone software and services platform focused on construction, mining, and agriculture mapping/inspection. Overlaps with PhotoFlight's construction site monitoring, orthomosaic, and 3D modeling capabilities, but with proprietary software.
- Cape Aerial Telepresence: Drone telepresence and remote-pilot services for public safety, news, and enterprise. Partial overlap with PhotoFlight's news broadcast and inspection capabilities, differentiated by managed remote operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PhotoFlight Aerial Media social profiles
Digital presencePhotoFlight Aerial Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PhotoFlight Aerial Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PhotoFlight Aerial Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PhotoFlight Aerial Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PhotoFlight Aerial Media
What does PhotoFlight Aerial Media do?
PhotoFlight Aerial Media provides professional drone photography, videography, and cinematography services across multiple industries. The company flies FAA Part 107 certified crews using DJI Inspire 2, DJI Mavic 3 Pro, and custom-built drones equipped with RED Professional Cinema Cameras to deliver aerial imagery, marketing videos, construction progress monitoring with 3D mapping, real estate property showcases, event coverage, and live news broadcast footage for enterprise and individual clients across the U.S. East Coast and nationwide.
Is PhotoFlight Aerial Media a public or private company?
PhotoFlight Aerial Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PhotoFlight Aerial Media founded?
PhotoFlight Aerial Media was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PhotoFlight Aerial Media based?
PhotoFlight Aerial Media is headquartered in Manchester, United States, in the North America region.
How does PhotoFlight Aerial Media make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Aerial Drone Photography Services are the primary driver. The others are drone Videography and Cinematography, construction and Industrial Drone Services, real Estate Drone Photography and Video and event Drone Coverage.
Who are PhotoFlight Aerial Media's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Skydio, DJI and PrecisionHawk. Direct peers are Dronegenuity, Helios Visions, Flying Lion, Aerial Vantage and FlyGuys. Emerging players are DroneDeploy and Cape Aerial Telepresence.
Does PhotoFlight Aerial Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for PhotoFlight Aerial Media.
What industry is PhotoFlight Aerial Media in?
PhotoFlight Aerial Media's product category is Aerial Drone Photography and Videography Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAIAB, Drone/UAS Application Services (Spraying, Spreading, Seeding), with a secondary code of AFACAIAJ, Aerial Surveying & Crop Scouting (Imaging, Mapping, Stand Counts). Its NAICS code is 541922 and its SIC code is 7812.