About Southern Oregon Drone
Southern Oregon Drone was founded in the Rogue Valley with this specific goal in mind: provide Oregon with exceptional aerial photography and videography. We've worked with companies such as Garmin, Lexus, Sotheby's, HGTV, and John L Scott to travel all over the state, and because we're committed full-time to what we do, we're able to put our clients' needs first.
Here is what makes Southern Oregon Drone your best choice for aerial drone photography:
Southern Oregon Drone can film or photograph just about anything you need. Some examples include hotels and resorts, golf courses, wineries and vineyards, mobile home parks and campsites, car dealerships, water sports, real estate and property, apartment complexes, sporting events, cars & boats for sale, concerts, and even infrastructure inspections. If your project requires footage from the ground (or under water!) as well, Southern Oregon Drone has professional DSLR and GoPro equipment available.
We can work with practically any budget, so please reach out to us by calling 541.326.1745 or send us an email. Whether you require Rogue Valley drone photography or you need it elsewhere, don't worry. If we can't help you, we will refer you to someone who can!
Here is what makes Southern Oregon Drone your best choice for aerial drone photography:
- Smooth Camera Footage - Guaranteed. A 3-axis gimbal system keeps our drone's camera level. Your videos will come out smooth and level every time.
- We're Experienced. We're experts at flying and filming smoothly, and our portfolio is incredibly diverse. We challenge you to challenge us.
- We're Insured. We know being protected is important, and our insurance gives all parties peace of mind.
- We're Legal. Our drone pilot is a licensed commercial airplane pilot and possesses a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAA Part 107.
- We Travel. Though our roots are in Southern Oregon, the majority of our work comes from all over the state.
- Our Camera is AWESOME. Up to 4K Ultra-High Definition is available - that's 4x as crisp as 'regular' 1080p High Definition.
- GPS Stability. Our drone combines up to 36 GPS signals with an optical sensor to hold location and altitude - think of this as an autopilot. This means that we can focus on capturing the shot instead of battling wind.
- We can fly - You can film. Our drone allows someone other than the pilot to control the camera, so you can film exactly the shot you had in mind. This is optional!
- From the Ground Up. Because of how advanced our drone's control system is, we can fly within 1-3 feet of the ground and other objects safely. This means we can capture liquid smooth footage that would appear bumpy if filmed from a hand-held camera.
- Long Battery Life. The batteries our drone uses last up to 23 minutes. Though we carry additional batteries, this relatively long flight time allows our drone to complete long missions without interruption.
- High and Fast. During calm winds, our drone can reach up to 43 mph. Height limits vary depending on location, but the FAA currently prohibits drone flight that exceeds 400 feet above the ground.
- We Deliver. Video and photo can be in raw form, or we can edit and finalize the material for you. We'll deliver your media via any medium you'd like, including DVD, flash drive, YouTube, or hard drive.
Southern Oregon Drone can film or photograph just about anything you need. Some examples include hotels and resorts, golf courses, wineries and vineyards, mobile home parks and campsites, car dealerships, water sports, real estate and property, apartment complexes, sporting events, cars & boats for sale, concerts, and even infrastructure inspections. If your project requires footage from the ground (or under water!) as well, Southern Oregon Drone has professional DSLR and GoPro equipment available.
We can work with practically any budget, so please reach out to us by calling 541.326.1745 or send us an email. Whether you require Rogue Valley drone photography or you need it elsewhere, don't worry. If we can't help you, we will refer you to someone who can!
We Operate Legally

In addition to possessing an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, our drone pilot is a licensed commercial airplane pilot. Drones can be dangerous if flown with bad judgement, and though one no longer needs a pilot's license to operate a drone for hire, the knowledge and thinking patterns learned through airplane flight training definitely can make the difference between pushing the limits for a shot and going to far.
Camera Specs
Be sure to check out our portfolio to see some of our past work. Our DJI Inspire is now equipped with the DJI X5 camera, which features the following impressive specs:
Available Video Formats (.MOV or .MP4)
The camera is mounted onto a 3-axis gimbal, which provides incredible image stability even in the windiest of weather. This gimbal is mounted to the drone with very soft and impact-absorbing silicon buffets, which neutralize vibrations created from the 4 motors.
All media is recorded onto a Class 10, UHS Class 3 micro-sd card. Up to 32GB of footage may be acquired before a required download.
Available Video Formats (.MOV or .MP4)
- 4K Ultra-High Definition: 4096x2160p at 24 frames per second at 60Mbps
- 4K High Definition: 3840x2160p at 24/30 frames per second at 60Mbps
- 2.7K High Definition: 2704x1520 at 25/30 frames per second at 45Mbps
- 1080p High Definition: 1920x1080p at 60 frames per second at 40Mbps (by FAR the most popular)
- 1080p High Definition: 1920x1080p at 30 frames per second at 25Mbps
- Single Shot
- Burst Shooting: 3/5/7 shots
- Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5
- Time-lapse (5/7/10/20/30 second intervals)
- 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio
- Max Photo Size: 4608x3456 (16MP)
- Lens: 1.7F-16F 15mm, 72° FOV
- ISO Range: 100-6400 (video) 100-25600 (photo)
- Shutter Speed: 8s -1/8000s
The camera is mounted onto a 3-axis gimbal, which provides incredible image stability even in the windiest of weather. This gimbal is mounted to the drone with very soft and impact-absorbing silicon buffets, which neutralize vibrations created from the 4 motors.
All media is recorded onto a Class 10, UHS Class 3 micro-sd card. Up to 32GB of footage may be acquired before a required download.
We fly the drone - You control the camera
Our drone allows anyone to control the camera while the pilot flies the drone. This allows you to choose the angles, pans, light settings, and ultimately keeps you the director. This can be a very powerful tool for directors and producers with a very specific vision and can save lots of time. You will be viewing the live video stream in real time at a crisp 720p, and you will be able to view it immediately after the shot is captured, giving you instantaneous feedback. Doesn't look right? No problem - within a moment or two, we can fly back into position and start again.
Michael Carlini - Owner and Pilot
Michael acquired his pilot's license in 2011 at the age of 18 while attending South Medford High School. He then attended the University of Oregon and completed his marketing degree in just over 3 years. College degree in hand, it was time to get back into aviation. Over the next couple months, Michael went on to complete multi-engine airplane training and was on his way to a career flying airplanes when an opportunity to fly drones and capture aerial photos and videos for a real estate agent came up. Having enjoyed photographing his outdoor adventures, Michael decided to give aerial real estate photography a shot until his flight training was complete.
The aerial video he was capturing while piloting a drone had a purpose: it needed to sell a house. It had to look good and It had to be easy to watch - abrupt pivoting and fisheye panning induced nausea, and no one was about to buy a house when looking at it made them feel sick. Michael flew hundreds and hundreds of hours filming real estate, all the while refining his drone-piloting and filming technique until he decided to branch out. He then purchased his own drone and began to build up his portfolio.
Today, Michael has devoted himself full-time to capturing aerial photos and videos for Southern Oregon Drone's clients. He continues to fly airplanes and works part time as a commercial contract pilot and airplane flight instructor.
The aerial video he was capturing while piloting a drone had a purpose: it needed to sell a house. It had to look good and It had to be easy to watch - abrupt pivoting and fisheye panning induced nausea, and no one was about to buy a house when looking at it made them feel sick. Michael flew hundreds and hundreds of hours filming real estate, all the while refining his drone-piloting and filming technique until he decided to branch out. He then purchased his own drone and began to build up his portfolio.
Today, Michael has devoted himself full-time to capturing aerial photos and videos for Southern Oregon Drone's clients. He continues to fly airplanes and works part time as a commercial contract pilot and airplane flight instructor.
Southern Oregon Drone Operational Guidelines
- The client's vision is our vision, i.e. give them what they want, but provide professional advice and direction when asked
- Comply with all FAA regulations that pertain to UAS and commercial UAS operation
- While safety remains paramount, be innovative and provide the highest quality service possible to clients
- Make it happen. If Southern Oregon Drone can't do it, we'll find someone for you who can
- Be passionate about flying