Bird's Eye View

Rogersville resident Shannon Killingsworth is often the recipient of drive-by stares and questioning neighbors while he works.

“If I looked out my window and saw this, I’d probably have a few questions, too,” he said.

The whirling of six small plastic helicopter blades sounds a lot like a swarm of bees high in the distance, but Killingsworth assures neighbors there’s no harm, no foul – he’s simply trying to take a picture.

An aerial photographer targeting high-end homes, rural acreage, golf courses, commercial properties and developments, Killingsworth uses a handcrafted “hexacopter” to capture still photos and video images for an increasing number of local real estate agents.

“Aerial photography used to be an unattainable or unnecessary expense for a Realtor,” he said. “Because of emerging technology, the price is coming down, and the service has become attainable for hobbyists like me and Realtors.”

A software engineer for document management provider PaperWise Inc., Killingsworth runs Blue Skies Media LLC as a hobby business – but he’s not the only hobby on the block. Within the past year, another aerial photography businesses targeting real estate work flew into the Ozarks, and the pair join a more traditional operation.

New tech in town
Opening Oct. 4, Blue Skies Media joins Majestic Aerial Video LLC and Ozarks Aerial Photography already on the Ozarks’ blossoming aerial photography scene.

A bike freestyle enthusiast who always filmed friend’s stunts, Willard resident Steven Duffel opened Majestic Aerial Video in July, also as a hobby business. A charge nurse in the emergency room at Mercy Hospital Springfield by day, Duffel uses a four blade Phantom “quadcopter” and a GoPro camera for jobs, mostly in land appraisals.

“People have 40 acres for sale, and they post a picture of a tree,” Duffel said. “Well, that’s not really telling the buyer much. I can fly over the area and get an accurate picture of the acreage, including features like ponds or running water that may go through the property.”

Using a modified consumer-ready device, Duffel said the Phantom cost about $800, but he has placed an order in for a custom-built hexacopter, able to carry a 12-pound load. Duffel said he plans to emphasize real estate photography as he grows the hobby business. While a hard price list isn’t set, he plans to charge $75 for still photos and $100 for video.

Killingsworth spent about $2,300 constructing his own hexacopter, complete with a programmable GPS flying system and a 7-inch monitor attached to the remote control enabling him to view photos and video in real time as the system flies.

Shooting primarily video of friends’ homes to build a portfolio, Killingsworth has started working with a handful of real estate agents to film commercial properties such as America’s Best Value Inn for sale at Highway 65 and Battlefield Road. Blue Skies Media charges $150 for about 100 still photos and 10 edited images, and $200 for a 10-minute video and a 60- to 90-second edited clip.

Plane tech
Marshfield resident Jason Rust doesn’t employ robotic technology in his business, rather he goes about it the somewhat old-fashioned way – by plane.

Opening Ozark Aerial Photography in spring 2011, Rust had recently retired from a 15-year career as a Springfield police officer.

“I got it in my head that I wanted to fly, so I got my helicopter pilot’s license,” he said. “The business sort of started because I already had a passion for photography and I needed to justify the expense of flight school to my wife.”

First publishing a book, “Northern Webster County from the Air,” Rust said he is currently reaching out to real estate agents to expand his hobby business. Working on getting his full pilot’s license, Rust currently contracts with a local pilot for flight time and has worked with insurance companies to survey fire, tornado and flood scenes and has worked with developers for project construction photos, such as a wing at Seminole Baptist Temple, barracks at Fort Leonard Wood and a golf course in St. Robert. Ozarks Aerial Photography ranges from $150 to $400 based on location.

Rust says he’s tried robotic technology, but prefers the freedom of real flight.

“Why drive to Joplin, get out of my car, deploy my drone, do the job and then drive home, when I can simply fly,” he said.

Real estate applications
In the increasingly tech-driven world, more prospective buyers than ever research online before contacting a real estate agent. Blue Skies Media client and Keller Williams Realty commercial real estate agent Chris Taylor said aerial photography could give an agent the edge.

According to the National Association of Realtors 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 90 percent of all buyers research the structure or property online first and of those, 62 percent of buyers then choose a walk-through based on information and photos found.

“If I’m trying to sell a commercial property on a couple acres, a photo of the front of the building means nothing,” Taylor said. “An overhead shot gives perspective, it shows critical areas such as loading bays, and it shows where the property is relative to other buildings and highways.”

A 20-year real estate veteran, Taylor said he’s witnessed drastic changes during the years, evolving from one photo to using overheard shots from Google Maps. Taylor said he believes affordable aerial photography is the next step in the evolution.

“Grabbing an image off Google Maps is quick, easy and cheap,” he said. “Money for aerial photography comes out of the agent’s pocket, so it might not be for every job right now, but for the right one, it can make a lot of difference.”

Taylor recently worked with Killingsworth to photograph a 457,000-square-foot warehouse on 38 acres in Harrison, Ark., and the Americas Best Value Inn property. “While it’s not for all listings, it has many possibilities,” Majestic’s Duffel said. “The technology has caught up with the demand. I think we are only beginning to scratch the surface.”[[In-content Ad]]