Arial progress photos allow clients to see the big picture as their project develops.
A licensed pilot, Merrell started taking his own aerial project photos about three years ago. He uses a digital camera to snap the photos while flying. He welcomes “confident” passengers along for the ride, but usually prefers to go alone, lest he scare them by slowing to a crawl while snapping away. “People get pretty nervous when you go that slow in the air,” says Merrell, who typically circles the property three or four times and takes dozens of shots of every project in its starting, middle, and finishing stages.
The photos are particularly useful for long-distance clients; Merrell e-mails them digital photos so they can track their project's progress. “They get pretty excited when they see the pictures,” he says, noting that some also want to go up and see the view firsthand at no charge. (The FAA states that only commercial pilots can charge a fee for flying passengers.)
To nonpilots who want to add aerial photography to their portfolios, there are companies that will handle the task. George Combs, president at Easton, Md.–based remodeling company George W. Combs Inc., pays about $1,000 for a photo shoot that spans 12 to 30 months, depending on the project. He's been using a local firm's services since 2000, and uploads the pictures to his company's Web site.
“We list them as ‘works in progress,'” Combs says. “We also have hard copies in our portfolio, for use when we meet with new architects and clients.” By complementing the typical interior and exterior shots with aerial views, Combs says his company can more accurately track — and show to others — the entire remodeling process, from concept to completion.
Bridget McCrea is a freelance writer based in Dunedin, Fla.