Houston company teaching classes in drone photography

Slideshow: Awesome photos shot with drones



A drone company in the Heights called Arch Aerial is holding an introductory class to drone photography this coming Saturday afternoon at its shop. The outfit’s event coordinator Kelly McClinton says that would like to do these classes at least twice a month. The last few mini-courses have attracted a dozen or so students. They are expecting over 30 this weekend. less Slideshow: Awesome photos shot with drones



A drone company in the Heights called Arch Aerial is holding an introductory class to drone photography this coming Saturday afternoon at its shop. The outfit’s ... more Photo: Arch Aerial Photo: Arch Aerial Image 1 of / 132 Caption Close Houston company teaching classes in drone photography 1 / 132 Back to Gallery

If you have ever wanted to learn how to take epic drone photos a class in Houston this weekend will try and do just that.

Drone photography has exploded in the past few years with some talented Houstonians, like Pete Molick, capturing views of Houston from high above that dazzle the eye.

After the beginning of the new year there will more than likely be a few more amateur drone pilots taking their devices to the air to take photos.

A drone company in the Heights called Arch Aerial is holding an introductory class to drone photography this coming Saturday afternoon at its shop. The outfit’s event coordinator Kelly McClinton says that he would like to do these classes at least twice a month. The last few mini-courses have attracted a dozen or so students. They are expecting omore than 30 this weekend.

Houston is in a sweet spot when it comes to drone photography, as McClinton says oil and gas companies are keen on using it for surveying of property. It was the robust energy industry that lured the company’s founders to Houston from Austin two years ago.

As for the classes, students can expect to learn about advances in technology, safety, best practices, and the advantages to using drones. Many real estate agencies are enlisted drone photographers to document property for prospective buyers. Right now the classes are half hobbyists and half professional photographers looking to bolster their bag of tricks for clients.

“There are lots of applications where there is a lot of acreage that you need to show a customer,” McClinton says. “You gain a whole new perspective on a property.”

Arch Aerial CEO Ryan Baker tells classes to always defer to the FAA's materials on drones.

The company is expecting a surge in business after the first of the year once people start using the drones they received as presents. They have been rated as one of the top gifts for the holiday season. The company also manufactures octocopters and quadcopters drones which can have custom mounts added for various GoPro and DSLR cameras.

Rigs that can “broadcast” real time footage back to a tablet or smartphone on the ground are also becoming more sophisticated so shots can be better composed.

Baker says that for those starting it's best that they have an understanding of those FAA rules, stay aware of restricted airspaces, and stay away from roadways and highways. It's always best to have a spotter with you to keep aware of your surroundings as well.

In the next five years Baker says that drones will only continue to proliferate. The genie seems to be out of the bottle.

"The user experience will only get better over the next few years with more people getting the technology in their hands," says Baker. "You will see them adopted more for precision agricultural and scientific research."