Lunar Aerial Imaging

What Lunar Aerial Imaging does

Lunar Aerial Imaging is a privately held UK professional services company that delivers drone-based aerial photography and videography to film, television, property, construction, events, and public-sector clients. Founded in 2015 by Greg and Jinny Chivers and headquartered in Bollington, Cheshire, the company operates a fleet of DJI multi-rotor platforms (including the Inspire 3 with X9 camera, Matrice 4E with RTK3 Multistation, Mavic 3 Pro Cine, and FPV rigs) capable of delivering up to 44MP RAW stills and 8K ProRes RAW video with 14+ stops of dynamic range. The company holds enhanced UK Civil Aviation Authority permissions, including an Operational Safety Case (OSC) that enables operation closer to people, buildings, and large gatherings than standard rules permit, plus night flying authorization and indoor operations coverage. Ancillary offerings include a 16-metre telescopic camera pole for drone-restricted zones, fixed-point time-lapse monitoring for multi-year construction documentation, 3D modelling from overlapping aerial captures, FPV cinematic work, and a pre-captured stock footage library covering major UK cities.

The business operates on a sales-led, project-based professional services model with pay-as-you-go unit pricing. Standard half-day rates are approximately £550 for still photography and £590 for video, with minimum engagements starting around £300, while longer-duration recurring engagements such as multi-year construction time-lapse contracts generate managed-services revenue alongside transactional project billings and stock footage licensing. Customers include major UK broadcasters (BBC, ITV, ITN), property developers and construction firms (Bayscape Cardiff Marina, PH Properties/DWM Civil Engineering, ESB), film production companies (Minnow Films, Not a Number Productions), corporate and event clients (Andritz, Manchester International Festival, One Love Manchester), and government / BID bodies (Marketing Manchester). Marketing is portfolio-driven, anchored on broadcast credits, case studies, and the stock footage storefront, with the 2024 addition of a mobile drone operations van supporting efficient multi-site deployment. The team is small (1–10 employees) and the company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Lunar Aerial Imaging

Legal name

Lunar Aerial Imaging

Website

https://lunar-ai.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lunar Aerial Imaging is a UK-based drone aerial photography and videography services company serving broadcasters, property developers, construction firms, and event clients with CAA-licensed, OSC-certified drone operations, 8K-capable imaging, and ancillary pole, time-lapse, and 3D modelling offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Drone Photography and Videography Services

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG), UAS Payloads (EO/IR, LiDAR, SAR, SIGINT) & Gimbals (IMABAIAI)

Keywords

• Drone aerial photography
• Drone videography services
• Aerial filming services
• Construction site monitoring
• Stock aerial footage

Headquarters

HQ city

Bollington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Drone Photography Services: Time-based professional services for still photography using drone-mounted cameras. Pricing starts at approximately £300, with standard half-day rate of £550 for still photography. Includes drone pilot and equipment.
2. Drone Video Services: Time-based professional services for video capture including pilot, observer, and dedicated camera operator. Half-day rate of £590. Can include editing and post-production services.
3. Stock Footage Library: Pre-captured aerial footage and photography of UK cities (Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Bristol) available for licensing to production companies and media buyers.
4. Time-Lapse Documentation Contracts: Long-term monthly site visit contracts for construction projects, generating recurring revenue over project lifecycles (e.g., 3-year Cardiff development).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lunar Aerial Imaging is a UK CAA-registered drone operator providing professional aerial photography and videography services across film/TV, property marketing, construction, events, and city-promotion sectors. The company captures still imagery up to 44MP RAW and video up to 8K ProRes RAW using multi-rotor drones with advanced camera systems, and supplements drone work with a 16-metre telescopic camera pole, fixed-point time-lapse monitoring, 3D modelling, and a licensed drone fleet for night and indoor operations.

Product overview

Lunar Aerial Imaging is a professional drone aerial photography and videography service company based in Bollington, Cheshire, UK. The company operates a fleet of multi-rotor drones with advanced camera and imaging systems, offering both drone-based and telescopic camera pole alternatives. Core services include aerial photography (44MP RAW), videography (8K ProRes RAW video), fixed point time-lapse photography, 3D modeling, and specialized capabilities including night flying, indoor operations, and FPV cinematography. The company serves diverse industry verticals including film and television (BBC, ITV), property marketing, construction and utilities, events and sports, and city promotion. Equipment portfolio includes DJI Inspire 3 with X9 Camera, DJI Matrice 4E with RTK3, DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine, and DJI FPV systems. The company holds CAA Permission for Aerial Work with enhanced OSC, is licensed to operate UAVs up to 20kg day and night, and maintains £10 million public liability insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drone Aerial Photography Still aerial photography service using CAA-registered multi-rotor drones, capturing high-resolution images up to 44MP RAW for film/TV, property, events, and marketing clients.
• Drone Videography Aerial video recording service capturing up to 8K ProRes RAW video with full-frame sensor and 14+ stops dynamic range, with live video downlink for real-time client review. Crew includes pilot, observer, and dedicated camera operator.
• Drone Stock Footage and Stock Photos Pre-captured aerial stock footage and photographs of UK cities (Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Bristol, Bath) available for licensing to production companies and media buyers.
• Property Marketing Drone Services Drone aerial photography and video services for property developers, estate agents, construction companies, and architects needing aerial imagery for marketing, CGI backgrounds, and estate-agent listings.
• Film and Television Drone Services Professional drone aerial photography and video for film, television drama, documentary, and news productions. Delivered footage for BBC2's The Detectives, ITV's Cold Feet, ITN news packages, Minnow Films documentaries, and the horror film 'Habit'.
• Event and Sport Drone Coverage Aerial photography and video coverage for weddings, Asian weddings, golf tournaments, soccer tournaments, and festivals.
• Construction and Utilities Drone Services Drone services for construction, utilities, and facilities: site surveys, progress documentation, time-lapse photography, safety inspections, and volumetric measurements.
• City Promotion Drone Services Aerial footage and photography to promote city centres and towns for marketing campaigns, tourism promotion, and property conferences such as MIPIM.
• Fixed Point Time-Lapse Photography Construction site monitoring combining monthly drone visits with fixed time-lapse cameras using GPS-programmed positioning to capture consistent monthly images from identical vantage points, often across multi-year build programmes.
• Telescopic Camera Pole Service 16-metre telescopic camera pole service providing 4K Ultra HD video and RAW photos as an alternative to drone flight in no-fly zones, near electric lines, crowds, or built-up areas. Mounts SLRs or DJI OSMO with Zenmuse X7 camera on tripod, tow bar, or specialized stand.
• 3D Modelling Using Drones Creation of 3D building models from systematic overlapping drone photography processed through specialized software, used for property showcasing, documentation, archaeological mapping, and CGI integration.
• Drone Van Mobile Operations Service Mobile operations service using a dedicated van equipped as a battery charging station with permanent drone storage, dedicated equipment lockers, on-site footage review office, and solar panel charging, enabling efficient movement between sites without dependence on third-party power.

Quantifiable outcome

• Captured Didsbury aerial footage within 6 hours of client request for ITV's Cold Feet
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• First Option Safety GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2018Listed on First Option pre-vetted contractors list - the leading provider of health & safety advice, training & equipment to the Broadcast, TV, Film, and News industry across the UK. Inclusion is essential for contractors working with major film and video production companies.
• DJIcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing drone platforms and flight control systems. DJI provides unlock codes for flights in restricted airspace (airports, prisons, stadiums) upon verification of operator credentials and flight coordinates.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Parrot: European drone manufacturer operating broadly across consumer and commercial drone hardware, with subsidiaries in professional mapping (senseFly) and commercial inspection. Comparable to Lunar only at the category level as the alternative-platform provider whose hardware competes in the same operating environment.
• PrecisionHawk: Commercial drone analytics platform offering data capture and processing services for enterprise verticals including utilities, construction, and agriculture. Comparable to Lunar on the aerial data capture value chain, with materially larger scale, software focus, and enterprise customer base.
• DJI: World's largest commercial drone manufacturer and provider of the underlying platforms (Inspire, Matrice, Mavic, FPV) that Lunar and other operators depend on. Operates broadly across consumer, enterprise, and surveying drone categories; provides airspace unlock services for restricted-area operations.

Direct peers

• HFS Helicopter Film Services: Long-established UK aerial filming company supplying helicopter- and drone-based cinematography to film, TV, and commercial productions. Directly comparable to Lunar on broadcast and event aerial work, with deeper helicopter-platform heritage and similar UK customer base.
• Heliguy: UK-based integrated drone retailer, training academy, and professional services provider offering both consumer/enterprise drone sales and contracted aerial services. Comparable to Lunar on UK commercial drone operations, with broader training and hardware distribution attached.
• Aerial Camera Systems: UK-based aerial filming specialist serving major broadcasters and production companies with stabilized camera platforms and drone operations. Directly comparable to Lunar on broadcast-grade aerial service delivery, with longer heritage in mounted rather than pure-drone services.
• Flying Pictures: UK-based specialist in aerial filming and photography using helicopters, gyros, and drones for film, TV, and commercial productions. Most comparable to Lunar on broadcast client access and a multi-platform aerial offering for UK productions, with deeper helicopter capability.
• Coptrz: UK drone services and training company operating an enterprise drone-as-a-service platform for surveying, inspection, and aerial imaging. Comparable to Lunar on commercial drone operations in the UK, with a stronger emphasis on training and enterprise SaaS attachment.

Emerging players

• Kespry: Industrial drone-based aerial intelligence platform for mining, construction, and insurance inspection. Comparable to Lunar on the integration of drones into B2B inspection and asset documentation workflows, with stronger surveying/industrial focus over media/entertainment.
• Airvuz: Global online marketplace and community for drone video and aerial stock footage, serving production companies and content buyers. Directly comparable to Lunar's stock footage library revenue stream, operating as a platform intermediary rather than drone operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lunar-aerial-imaging
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5IZ
• Xx.com/Lunaraerial

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lunar Aerial Imaging