Frequently Asked Questions
Why Heron Aerial Photography?
According to The National Association of Realtors, 73-percent of homeowners are more likely to list their home with Realtors that use video. However, only 9-percent of Real Estate companies use video to sell properties. That means that Heron Aerial can give you a competitive edge over 91-percent of your competitors!
Why should I use Heron Aerial Photography when my nephew has a drone and won't even charge me for the footage?
Aside from the over 35 years of photography experience, Heron Aerial Photography has different equipment for interiors and exteriors. More importantly, your nephew isn't a licensed drone pilot. The FAA is cracking down on un-licensed drone pilots and are handing out hefty fines for realtors that use them to promote their listings. Any realtor who hires an UN-licensed drone pilot can be fined $11,000 for each instance. The drone pilot can be fined $1,100 for each instance. It's the same as hiring a truck driver without a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) Furthermore, if a realtor has their own UN-licensed drone, they are then responsible for BOTH fines.
Who is this Ken Heron person?
Ken Heron is a career radio host and producer. He has had a love of photography and video editing since the early 1980s. Ken's grandfather was a real estate appraiser and President of the Philadelphia Board of Realtors. As a child, he accompanied his "Pop-Pop" on real estate appraisals and took pictures for him to use in his reports. Ken has always been fascinated by the incredibly beautiful properties he and his grandfather would visit. Today Ken is privileged to allow others to visit beautiful properties through his lens.
Why should I hire Heron Aerial Photography vs other companies?
Heron Aerial Photography is licensed, insured, and will travel most anywhere for a project. Ken, along with being a technically professional editor, knows how to tell the "story" of your property in a compelling way. His entertainment experience is not lost on the video showcases he produces.
How much is this going to cost?
Prices are fair, negotiable and available upon request.
Can a Realtor get into trouble by hiring a Non-Licensed drone pilot?
The short answer is, YES.
Federal law prohibits anyone from flying drones for compensation unless they hold a valid FAA Remote Pilot license. If your photographer is providing "aerial" images for you and a drone is being used, make sure he or she is licensed. It's very easy to check their license status. Click the FAA link below and enter the pilot's Last name, First Name, state and or "Country".
If the pilot has a drone license, you'll see a document indicating that they hold a current FAA issued UAS license. Fines for the unlicensed pilot and the person hiring the pilot can be quite substantial. The fine is $1,100 per occurrence/flight where imagery is used commercially. More importantly perhaps, the fine for a real estate agent who contracts an unlicensed pilot is $11,000. Of course, if you’re an agent who bought a drone and took the photos or video yourself, you will be liable for both fines. If your photographer's name doesn't show up in the database, you may want to question your photographer about his or her FAA remote pilot's license.
https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/