Is Doonbug Aerial certified to provide commercial drone photography?
Yes. Commercial real-estate photography is a non-recreational drone operation. Doonbug Aerial & Photography operates under FAA Part 107 requirements with an FAA-certified Remote Pilot in Command.
Can you fly a drone at every property?
Not necessarily. Airspace restrictions, temporary flight restrictions, weather, obstacles and other conditions can affect whether or how a property can be photographed from the air. Airspace is checked as part of planning the flight.
What if the property is near an airport?
Being near an airport does not automatically prevent drone photography. Some controlled airspace requires FAA authorization and may impose altitude restrictions. When authorization is available, we handle that process as part of flight planning.
How high does the drone fly?
FAA Part 107 operations are generally limited to 400 feet above ground level, but most real-estate photography is captured considerably lower. The objective is to create useful perspectives of the property and surroundings — not simply to fly as high as possible.
Should I tell my neighbors that a drone will be flying?
You aren't expected to notify the entire neighborhood. However, if you know your immediate neighbors,
it's always appreciated if you give them a quick heads-up that a photographer will be flying a drone around the property. A simple “Just a heads-up — we're having real-estate photos taken and the photographer will be using a drone for some aerial shots” is plenty. It can prevent unnecessary concern and lets them know why an aircraft may temporarily be visible nearby.
Are you photographing neighboring properties?
The purpose of the flight is to photograph the subject property and relevant surroundings — not neighboring residents or activity inside neighboring homes. Some surrounding property will naturally appear in wider aerial views used to establish location and neighborhood context.
What happens if the weather isn't suitable?
Rain, thunderstorms, excessive wind, poor visibility or other conditions may make aerial photography unsafe or impractical. Southwest Florida weather can change quickly, so the aerial portion of an appointment may occasionally need to be delayed or rescheduled even when ground photography can proceed.
What about trees, power lines and other obstacles?
Every property is evaluated individually. Trees, power lines, buildings, towers and other obstacles affect available flight paths. The Remote Pilot in Command determines where the aircraft can safely operate and may modify a requested shot when necessary.
Do I need to prepare anything for drone photography?
Very little. When practical, moving vehicles from the driveway and putting away trash cans, hoses and obvious outdoor clutter will improve the photographs. Please also make sure necessary gates are accessible and let us know about unusual access or community restrictions before the appointment.
Who decides whether it's safe to fly?
The FAA-certified Remote Pilot in Command has final responsibility for the safety and regulatory compliance of the flight. A flight may be modified, postponed or discontinued when conditions make the planned operation inappropriate.
Is aerial photography an additional charge?
Not for standard residential photography packages. Professional aerial property images are included with Doonbug's residential packages at no additional charge. Vacant-land packages also include aerial photography, with the number and type of images determined by the selected package.
Why use a professional commercial drone operator?
Real-estate photography is a commercial drone operation, not recreational flying. Working with a Part 107-certified operator means the flight is planned with applicable aviation, airspace and operating requirements in mind.
