Opportunity for aerial landscape photography, etc.

I've struck up a conversation with someone who owns a local helicopter operation and we are going to meet to go over a business plan to market photos of our area. Maybe you've never used a helicopter but I'm just tossing around ideas on how to utilize such a venture for the market.

Before I meet with him I'd like to have an idea in my head on how we would approach marketing those type of shots to local businesses, retail shops, hotels, etc.

I also have a working relationship with a local framing/matting company.

Idea #1
Local landscape photos and then market to area businesses and hotels. They need art/photos and it would be nice to have an ongoing relationship with them to where they continually update their photos. Should I hang and price (initial cost to me) or have the businesses pay upfront and then they can mark them up if they sell them. If they don't sell them in a reasonable amount of time I buy them back and refresh the photos every so often. They take the initial hit and I only have to continual update the prints (cheapest way for me).

Idea #2
Realty photographs of property. Not only get a pitch toward doing houses but also market that we can do aerial photography of the property/houses. Mostly higher end stuff.

Idea #3
Start to market the shots to magazines, etc. There's a couple in our area (Columbia Gorge) that use top notch photography. Get an in with them.

Idea #4
Private sales of photos to those who own the house/land. Go to the houses with nice views. Take a photo, contact the owner, and try to sell. I'm not too fond of this but it could work.

Are there some other ideas I'm missing? What would you do if you had a relationship with someone who has a helicopter and they would want to use photographic services to bring in a bit more revenue? I do have a landscape gallery here if you're wondering if I'm biting off more than I can chew. I believe something new/different is doable and no one else in my area is doing such a thing to my knowledge: http://fainphoto.zenfo​lio.com/p4969534

You get my respect if you make a profit from something like this. Helicopter operating costs are astronomical.

That's why I'm meeting with him. It was his idea so I'm at least going to see what can come of it. No loss/gain for me really except my time and maybe a headache or two. If he's willing to eat that cost I'll take the helicopter ride and see how it pans out

trick might be to go with a flying school. Plenty of pilots needing flight hours - between the pilot and your business the expenses could certainly be reduced.

I have received sample post cards of my property in the mail from someone local. Nice idea but the images they supplied are no more impressive than what I can download from Google Earth or Maps.

Have any of you tried aerial photography for extra bucks?

Justaddwata wrote in post #13742030
trick might be to go with a flying school. Plenty of pilots needing flight hours - between the pilot and your business the expenses could certainly be reduced.

I have done plenty of aerial work and the last thing I would do is go up with a student or brand new pilot. I like to use the same pilot all the time if possible so that you develop a relationship in knowing what each other wants. It can get pretty noisy in a cabin with the door off so we have developed some hand signals so the pilot knows what I want. I would hate to do that with someone new each time.

What you have to charge for an aerial photo of someone's farm or business is high in order to cover your costs and make a good profit. I have done some of that and sales are pretty thin and that was when the economy was vibrant. I usually was able to do some of this kind of work on the tail end of a paid assignment for someone else. It is a tough sales road but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I would seriously consider using a fixed wing aircraft as their hourly operating costs are normally less. Plus they don't drop like a rock if you lose an engine.