Davenport Aviation markets counter-drone system to Texas DPS By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Given the rising number of incidents in which drones have interfered with manned aircraft carrying out emergency and law enforcement missions, many public agencies are looking for systems that can help them avoid such potentially dangerous encounters. To meet that […]
The post Texas DPS Tests Aircraft-Mounted Counter-Drone System appeared first on DRONELIFE.
Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about how to start a drone photography business. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I fell in love with photography back in 2018 and have been doing it as an amateur ever since. I’m currently overseas with the military and have decided that I want to get into drone photography when I get back home to help supplement my income while I go through school.
My current thought is to start out combining usage of a drone and my handheld camera to do real estate photos. I already have my Part 107, and I am thinking about purchasing the DJI Air 3 to start. But how do I get established? Should I put together a portfolio and start contacting potential clients? How should I start putting myself out there for more creative stuff? My biggest fear is that I invest the money into the equipment, but it doesn’t end up taking off because I didn’t prepare properly.
This question gets at the heart of what many drone-curious creators struggle with: how do I go from hobbyist to professional? Here’s my advice after more than a decade of working with people who have successfully started a drone photography business.
Real estate is one of the smartest entry points into drone photography. Realtors constantly need new photos and video, and they usually don’t have the time or skills to do drone work themselves.
If you can offer both aerials and ground photography as one package, you’re instantly more valuable than if you can only provide one type of image format. Clients love the convenience of one photographer handling everything.
Related read: The best indoor drone for real estate agents
Before reaching out to clients, get some solid sample work. You don’t need dozens of shoots; even 3–5 polished property galleries will help. Offer to shoot a friend’s home or ask a local realtor if you can shoot one of their listings for free (or discounted) in exchange for using the photos in your portfolio. Keep the focus on quality over quantity.
When choosing homes to film with your drones, seek out homes with compelling features that are best shown from a bird’s-eye view, like an epic pool or solar panels lining a roof.
Realtors are busy. They’re not scouring Instagram hashtags; they just want someone reliable nearby. Sure, you could try to make it back on TikTok and Instagram, but it’s going to take a lot of work (and luck).
Setting up a Google Business Profile is one of the easiest wins. That way, when someone searches “real estate drone photographer in [your city],” your name pops up with photos, reviews and contact info.
Yes, start contacting realtors. Don’t overthink your pitch. A short message like:
“Hi, I’m a licensed drone pilot and photographer based in [city]. I’d love to help capture your listings with both aerial and ground photography. Here’s my portfolio.”
That’s enough. If your images are good and you present yourself professionally, many will give you a shot.
The “fun” work — travel films, brand partnerships, event photography — usually comes later. Still, you can start building that side now. Share your most creative shots on social media. Enter drone photo contests like DJI’s SkyPixel competition. Those efforts add credibility and can lead to unexpected opportunities.
The DJI Air 3 (or the DJI Air 3S, which is the new and improved model) is a fantastic choice for someone starting out: professional-quality output without being prohibitively expensive. The truth? Clients don’t care which drone you’re flying. They care about sharp, compelling photos delivered on time. Buy a drone you’re comfortable flying and confident carrying around.
One more thing: though it’s not required to fly commercially in the U.S., you may want to carry drone insurance. This protects yourself from any liabilities (like if your drone accidentally crashes into one of the home’s new expensive windows). I recommend going with hourly plans through a company like SkyWatch when you’re getting started rather than committing to a full annual plan upfront.
It’s normal to worry that the business won’t “take off.” The key to reducing risk with your drone photography business is to keep the barrier low. You don’t need dozens of clients or tons of gear. Start with one realtor and one drone (again, the DJI Air 3S is a relatively affordable gateway). Do one shoot. Deliver great results. Word of mouth is powerful (especially in tight knit fields like real estate). One good job often leads to referrals.
If you’re considering drone photography as a side hustle, there are a few steps to take. Get licensed with the FAA, choose a clear entry niche like real estate, and prepare with a small but polished portfolio. From there, the path is less about fancy gear or big marketing campaigns, and more about consistency and reliability.
Running a drone photography business is one of those careers where your first step feels intimidating, but once you book that first paid shoot, the momentum starts building quickly.
The post How to turn your passion into a drone photography business appeared first on The Drone Girl.
One of Russia’s largest drone manufacturers, AO Kronstadt, is on the verge of bankruptcy after months of financial turmoil and mounting lawsuits, Russian media reported. According to CNews, the company has faced dozens of debt claims in recent months, with more than 600 million rubles ($7 million) sought since the beginning of summer. The largest […]
Naval aviators need to be able to trust any future drone wingmen as much as their human counterparts, a U.S. Navy strike fighter tactics instructor has told TWZ. This echoes past comments from members of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps, and is set to be a critical factor in turning the Navy’s […]
– Heven, has announced a strategic collaboration agreement with NextTech Solutions (NTS), a systems integrator and federal technology provider based in the United States. Under the agreement, Heven will serve as the primary unmanned aerial systems (UAS) partner for NTS in Group II and Group III drone platforms, supporting a broad range of defense, public […]
Russia has significantly reduced the unit cost of its long-range Shahed-type attack drones over the past three years, according to Ukrainian intelligence and independent defense analysts. In 2022, leaked documents from the Iran–Russia drone cooperation project showed that Russia was initially paying over $370,000 per unit for the Shahed drones. These costs reportedly dropped to […]Japanese drone maker ACSL is sharpening its pitch to U.S. enterprise and public safety customers with some bigs news this week, including the debut of its NDAA-compliant TAITEN smart controller and a new deal with Teledyne FLIR, which is an American company that leads in the thermal camera space. There’s also some new upgrades to its SAMO thermal payload.
All of these moves underscore ACSL’s strategy to gain a stronger foothold in the U.S. market, where NDAA-compliant drone alternatives (and in particular, drones that are not made in China) are in growing demand.
The TAITEN controller, which features a 7-inch, high-brightness display and rugged IP54 weather resistance, is set to launch in September. Pricing is still under wraps, though ACSL CEO Cynthia Huang said in an interview with The Drone Girl that it will be announced once customs and tariff calculations are finalized (likely in September).
It’s designed to work with ACSL’s flagship SOTEN drone, which launched in the U.S. in early 2024. The NDAA compliant SOTEN drone stands out for its strict security standards and features, including the option to encrypt collected photo and video data before it’s recorded to the on-board memory card. Meanwhile, communication between the drone and the controller is always encrypted. There’s also a proprietary controller.
Some of SOTEN drone’s other specs include:
The controller is the next expansion of ACSL’s lineup of Japanese-made drone products. And though it’s currently only compatible with SOTEN Huang noted that won’t always be the case.
“Yes, currently only compatible with SOTEN, but we are looking to enable compatibility across our ecosystem. More to come on that in the future,” she said in an interview with The Drone Girl.
That ecosystem strategy also extends beyond hardware. Huang confirmed ACSL is actively working to open its platforms to outside developers through an SDK and third-party payload integrations. Though little details were given, she said the company was actively working to enable more options and collaboration opportunities.
ACSL, which is already Japan’s largest drone manufacturer, has been steadily building traction in the U.S. over the past year.
For now, ACSL is particularly focused on the energy and public safety sectors. While Huang didn’t confirm specific contracts, she pointed to increasing adoption.
“We have seen tremendous increase in momentum with energy companies as well as public safety customers in recent months,” she said, adding that ACSL will be co-releasing case studies and white papers with customers later this year.
That focus tracks with broader market demand: U.S. utilities and first responders have been under pressure to replace Chinese-made drone fleets with NDAA-compliant alternatives. With this, it’s clear that ACSL hopes SOTEN — and now its TAITEN controller — can fill that gap.
A central pillar of ACSL’s U.S. strategy is its newly announced collaboration with Teledyne FLIR under the Thermal by FLIR program. FLIR is a thermal sensor maker based in Oregon, and it has provided sensors for many drones including DJI enterprise drones.
Related read: Radiometric thermal cameras from FLIR level up capabilities of drones
The new partnership integrates FLIR’s Hadron 640R thermal module and MSX® imaging capabilities into ACSL’s SAMO payload, offering operators sharper thermal and optical data.
Huang called the FLIR relationship “an important part of our U.S. growth strategy,” explaining that the collaboration brings more than just superior thermal performance.
“Not only does it give us the obvious benefit of integrating industry-leading thermal hardware and software, but it also helps build brand recognition and trust,” she said. “By working closely with such a reputable company like FLIR, we can give end users even more confidence in adopting our drone solutions. Together, we’re pairing ACSL’s continuously evolving drone technology with FLIR’s proven imaging capabilities to deliver a combination that’s both familiar in performance and innovative in form factor.”
The key question looming over ACSL’s U.S. expansion is the regulatory landscape. Lawmakers have floated additional restrictions on foreign-made drones beyond existing NDAA compliance rules.
Though most of those restrictions focus on Chinese-made drones (in which case ACSL drones to not apply), it’s still a tricky time for drone companies. Many businesses (and even Drone Girl readers) are only interested in purchasing drones made in the U.S.
Though ACSL launched in the U.S. in 2023 with a subsidiary in Santa Clara, California, its drones are still made in Japan.
On this point, Huang was cautious.
“Because U.S. drone legislation remains in flux, we don’t have a comment to share right now, though we’re obviously tracking everything closely,” she said.
ACSL will showcase the TAITEN controller and updated SAMO payload at Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, which runs from September 2-4, 2025.
Besides that, ACSL’s key priorities arecourting U.S. agencies and enterprises seeking NDAA-compliant alternatives. With growing momentum in energy and public safety markets — and the credibility boost from Teledyne FLIR — the company is betting its Japanese pedigree and focus on security will resonate with American buyers.
The post ACSL debuts TAITEN smart controller with FLIR as U.S. expansion gains momentum appeared first on The Drone Girl.
Japanese drone developer ACSL made several announcements today, including the launch of its new NDAA-compliant smart controller, TAITEN, upgrades to its advanced SAMO thermal camera payload for the SOTEN drone, and official collaboration with Teledyne FLIR’s Thermal by FLIR Program. NEW TAITEN SMART CONTROLLER TAITEN, an NDAA-compliant smart controller, features a high-resolution 7” built-in display […]
The post ACSL Announces New TAITEN Controller, New Thermal Tech via Flir appeared first on DRONELIFE.
The California Supreme Court has declined to take up Castañares v. Superior Court, effectively maintaining the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s 2023 ruling that requires police departments to assess drone footage on a case-by-case basis under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) rather than issuing blanket denials. Case Background & Legal Framework Initiated in 2021 […]
The post California Supreme Court Declines to Review Drone Footage Disclosure Case, Leaving Framework Intact appeared first on DRONELIFE.
Hyderabad-based UAV developer and pilot educator Marut Drones recently announced that their Skyswift 56 compact quadcopter has received type certification from the Indian civil air authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The Skyswift is designed for a range of applications, including surveillance, high-precision mapping, and field training. The system supports flexible payloads including an […]
The post Marut Drones Unveils New Compact UAV appeared first on DRONELIFE.
