Yes, you CAN run a successful Drone Photography and Videography Business with a DJI Phantom

Anyone who has spent time looking around the web at various drone/UAV forums has probably noticed that there is a stigma against DJI Phantom pilots. We're claimed to be uneducated, unskilled, impatient, and dangerous. This is probably because the DJI Phantom is one of the most successful consumer-level drones on the market, and anyone can get ahold of one, new or used, for well under $1000. Yes, thousands of these drones are in the hands of irresponsible (and sometimes plain dumb) operators, and thus, the drones themselves take on a reputation of being "toys" that are for the newbie drone pilot. But there are also thousands of us who read the manual, practice our flying, exercise extreme caution, and follow all of the rules. Regardless, the current narrative is that if you fly a DJI Phantom, you don't know what you are doing, and you're not to be taken seriously - especially if you have the nerve to try to make money with your drone.

With this kind of attitude in the community, how could one possibly hope to make money off of one these "toys"? But it gets worse. Impressive octocopters, slung with a Panasonic GH4 on a beautifully expensive Zenmuse gimbal are the dream machine of today's drone photography world. You had better show up to the shoot with that DJI S1000+ rig, hexacopter, or at the very least, a DJI Inspire 1. Yes, these are all incredible tools for a drone photography or videography business, and if one has the means to acquire one, there are few reasons not to. But these tools are expensive, heavy, and can be much more difficult to fly than a DJI Phantom. That must make them "better," huh?

WRONG. Dead Wrong.

A drone is a tool - and no tool is right for every job

Guess what? I could not have created my most successful drone video with anything BUT a DJI Phantom. An Inspire or a S1000 would have been much too heavy and clunky to pack into the Siskiyou mountains on my back. I had to climb over 3000 vertical feet on my bike throughout multiple shoots to get the shots I needed. My DJI Phantom packed up wonderfully well into my affordable yet very durable backpack (yes, it only cost $45, but the pack - and more importantly my drone - survived 3 wipe outs on my mountain bike... talk about well-made!) while I rode around in through the mountains. The DJI Phantom just fit the bill: it was small enough, light enough, and filmed very well in a variety of diverse conditions:

The video above was featured on Outside Magazine's website and social media feeds. It was also featured by Dirtrag, Mountain Bike Action, and a bunch of other world-renown bike publications - and every bit of the aerial footage was filming using the DJI Phantom 3 Pro exclusively. I even held the drone in my hands for alot of the ground-based shots, as I had yet to acquire the fantastic new DJI Osmo.

My drone photography and videography business has used the DJI Phantom exclusively from day 1, and I have had clients of all different types who have had nothing but great things to say about the quality of the footage after they see it. The final product always leaves them saying "wow," and even during situations when I insisted on reshooting a shot, my client was too infatuated with the image quality to care.  

I've come to realize that the only people are care what drone I use are my competitors - or those who wish they were my competitors

The above statement sounds somewhat self-inflating at first, but that is honestly the best way that I can describe it. I remember filming at an event alongside a guy (who was not a pilot, not FAA exempt, and did not carry insurance) who was filming with a DJI Inspire. I was the paid provider, and this guy had just shown up unannounced but was allowed to help out. His Inspire drew the crowds because it was "bigger and cooler looking." I agreed. But at the end of the day, I was the one who took the check home from the shoot, and I was never being paid for "bringing the coolest looking drone" to the event; I was being paid to film and photograph it. 

I've also had employees of my clients make comments about my use of the DJI Phantom in my drone photography business. "Oh," they would sigh, "I was expecting one a little bigger." 

One older gentleman (who may or may not have been intoxicated, as this was at a beer-centric event) commented,"I've owned all the DJI Phantoms. They're children's toys. Garbage. I only fly Hex and Octocopters." THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHTFUL COMMENT. I was pretty irritated at first, but kept my mouth shut. I remember doubting myself for a moment. Was I providing my clients with something that was worth what they were paying? Did I really have any business selling my skills as an aerial photographer and videographer if I was using the lowly DJI Phantom?

The answer is yes.

I absolutely was providing my clients with something of value, and I absolutely had just as much right to offer my services as anyone else. I've put in the time and sweat learning how to fly my drone, film and photograph, and edit my material. I know what I am doing. I have the pilot's license, FAA exemption, and insurance to protect myself and my clients. I have the portfolio and list of clients who loved my work, and I have a tool that allows me to capture high quality photographs and video footage. Who was this old jerk to tell me otherwise? For that matter, who is anyone to tell me otherwise? My business is between myself and my clients, and as long as my clients are happy, I am happy. Period. 

Some closing thoughts

• When the master carpenter finishes his bookshelf, it doesn't matter what his tools were - the end product is what counts.
• If a $5,000 camera is placed into the hands of an amateur, the resulting photographs will not be that great.
• When a $100 guitar is placed in the hands of one of the world's best guitar players, he can make it sound amazing.

No matter how you look at it, a drone is just a tool and can be as good as or as bad as the person operating it.