S1/EP 8: Bill Pendley from Billy Productions
Drone to 1K Podcast by Drone Launch Academy6 Aug 2019

S1/EP 8: Bill Pendley from Billy Productions

Bill is a Certified Drone Pilot and co-owner (with his wife, Laura) of Billy Productions, capturing the beauty of a home’s property and location, providing real estate agents, clients, and developers a more robust appreciation for each home’s unique character.

Bill is located in ChicagoLand area, Naperville, IL. His main focus for past 20 years has been financing mortgages. The last year has been a bit more difficult in terms of compliance for the bank he works for. He needed to pick up something that would be an offshoot of that business. He picked up drones and started shooting as a hobby. After a small bit, the agents he worked with asked him to shoot a house. After a while, it was taking a lot of time from his other business. Once he got his license, that business has taken off with shoots for agents. People had seen his drone shoots and because of the synergy of the drone shoots with his previous line of work, it’s been easy to do.

Bill says if you’re looking for a business, don’t go too far off, or outside of, your knowledge base, from your current knowledge base or business. David agrees that drones are a tool that is only as good as the business you’re already familiar with. It’s best have a warm audience instead of starting from scratch. Bill has always been intrigued by photography and the technology of drones makes it more attractive—they sky is the limit. Other people are interested too; people area always coming up and asking how they work. It’s an easy in to offer so many ways to shoot something. And the topic of drones is always spurning new ideas from other people. He, though, has tried to keep his focus in the real estate business. To be successful you have to develop a specialty and build out your niche.

There is a nice learning curve to be leveraged when you’re out there shooting. Six to eight months ago, a developer contacted him to shoot several lots. Bill then had to create new pricing for him because he didn’t understand how drone shooting worked. Bill also had to learn how to price a new account with several lots, instead of houses. Also, if a developer isn’t aware of the issues with his property, he could end up owing the town, or being sued, so it’s worth it to them to pay for the drone shooting. It’s like an insurance policy for them. There’s evidence so there’s no argument of the value.

As a way to pan out a new niche in travel, Bill shot his nephew’s wedding, but that didn’t work out as well so he’s continued to stay with real estate. He’s also hired someone to edit. Bill says a key to success is to understand that time is money and you should find others to perform services, like editing, that are time-consuming. Editing and posting to social media is one of those things. For real estate, Bill charges $250 for video; photos are $125, shooting stills is 30-40 minutes. He may charge for a travel fee so he tries to stay within a local area. Bill is always thinking of those people who can bring clients into his other business. In terms of business, winter is always slow, but things really pick up in spring. He charged $750 for an interior/exterior shoot for a $2.5M home in Springfield.

“Build a signature; Create a Brand”

Bill values his connections. He’s formed one of his most important agent relationships through people he knew. He admired the photography work of one agent and that photographer didn’t work with a drone pilot. He offered to promote her business and now they work well together, helping each other grow their business(es). He learned you have to be able to turn around work quick and, ideally, make it work for you and another person. Bill’s advice for someone who may want to break into real estate drone business is:

“You have to like working with the drone and learning about drone technology. Don’t be afraid of giving a free shoot or two to someone who would like what you do and be able to use you. Give to get but be authentic.”

The most difficult part of starting his business is learning video and photography settings. You have to make things short and sweet. You don’t always know what will look good from out in the field. Find the settings that will work to produce the best results. If Bill were starting over, he doesn’t know what he’d do differently. He says it’s fun learning, and he’s still learning. But finding out what his biggest distraction is and staying away from that has been the thing to do. He says that distractions can keep him from his end goal. He’s gone into a few other areas and has had to learn how to stay focused. His advice is:

“Always have fun ... don’t be too hard on yourself with the learning. As you’re developing your skill, share with others, because they will see your enthusiasm.”

Connect with Bill Have a Drone Business? Want to be Interviewed for Season 2? Training from Drone Launch Academy Other Places to Listen

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S7/EP 7 Jeremy Proctor of Central Texas Aerials

S7/EP 7 Jeremy Proctor of Central Texas Aerials

In this episode of the Drone to 1K Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Proctor, owner of Central Texas Aerials. Jeremy shares his remarkable journey of turning a therapeutic hobby into a thriving drone business that generated nearly $70K in revenue during his first full year.After being laid off from his corporate tech job in July 2023, Jeremy transformed his drone side hustle into his primary source of income. Based in New Braunfels, Texas, he strategically positions himself to serve both the San Antonio and Austin markets, capturing lucrative construction progression documentation contracts.Jeremy reveals how he:Used Bark.com as his primary lead generation tool, investing $4-5K to secure approximately $70K in businessBuilt relationships with construction companies, universities, and solar farmsSecured recurring contracts worth $10-12K each from clients like Texas A&M University and SeaWorldCreated impressive time-lapse progression videos that won him new clientsPlans to scale his business nationwide by hiring pilots in other citiesWhether you're just starting your drone business or looking to take it to the next level, Jeremy's practical advice and inspiring success story demonstrate how determination and strategic positioning can lead to significant growth, even in challenging circumstances.Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video to help other drone entrepreneurs on their journey!https://www.centexaerials.com/

4 Mars 40min

S7/EP 6 Michael Lilley of Wet Dog Drone Serivces

S7/EP 6 Michael Lilley of Wet Dog Drone Serivces

Join us for a conversation with Michael Lilley, founder of Wet Dog Drones, as he shares his journey from drone enthusiast to successful construction site documentation specialist. Michael reveals how he built a thriving drone business while working a full-time job in the construction industry.In this episode, Michael discusses:His unconventional 1AM workday schedule and how he manages his drone business on weekendsHow he convinced his employer to become his biggest client after initially facing resistanceThe specifics of construction progression monitoring and how drones save clients thousands of dollarsHis approach to building recurring revenue with strategic flight schedulesPractical advice for drone pilots looking to break into the construction industryWhether you're interested in the construction world, progression update photography, or building a drone business with sustainable income, Michael's story demonstrates the power of persistence and industry expertise.Get the Progression Shots workshop for just $1 here- https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/how-to-take-project-progression-shots?coupon_code=WETDOG&product_id=5946200 Connect with Michael: https://wetdogdrones.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/wet-dog-drone-services/https://www.linkedin.com/in/wetdogdrones/

25 Feb 29min

S7/EP 5 Cody Retlich of Midwest Aerial Productions

S7/EP 5 Cody Retlich of Midwest Aerial Productions

In this episode of the Drone to 1K Podcast, host David Young talks with Cody Retlich about:Acquiring a drone service business (MKE Drones) for minimal upfront costGrowing revenue by 30% through strategic business acquisitionTips for new drone entrepreneurs on client acquisitionBuilding a successful drone service business from scratchKey Insights:Negotiated a 2-year payment plan with the previous business ownerFocused on expanding existing client base and service offeringsImportance of knowing your niche and building relationshipsLearn more about Cody's drone business journey and strategies in the Drone to 1K course! https://dronelaunchacademy.com/drone-to-1k-2023/ Connect with Cody:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-retlich/https://www.droneadair.com/https://www.midwestaerialproduction.com/

11 Feb 31min

S7/EP 4 Jon Jeffress of Deep South Focus

S7/EP 4 Jon Jeffress of Deep South Focus

In this episode, we dive into Jon Jeffress's incredible journey from weekend car show photographer to a successful real estate media production entrepreneur. Learn how he transformed his business, navigated the challenges of growth, and built a half-million-dollar company in Mobile, Alabama.📸 What You'll Learn:How Jon pivoted from automotive to real estate photographyThe power of networking and strategic partnershipsInnovative approaches to service delivery in the photography businessScaling a business from $35K to $540K in just a few yearsInsights into drone photography and real estate media productionConnect with Jon:https://www.deepsouthfocus.com/https://www.instagram.com/deepsouthfocus_re/https://www.instagram.com/deepsouthfocus/Get the workshop for just $1 here- https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/landing_real_estate_clients_through_instagram?coupon_code=PODCAST&product_id=4832523

4 Feb 34min

S7/EP 3 Brandon Beal of Elevation Aerial Application

S7/EP 3 Brandon Beal of Elevation Aerial Application

Our guest for this episode is Brandon Beal of Elevation Aerial Application. 🚁 Highlights from this episode:Getting Started: Brandon came from a traditional aviation background working with helicopters before transitioning to drones in 2017. He moved to Virginia during COVID to pursue his dream of agricultural drone operations.The Business: Starting with a $50,000 loan, Brandon and his business partner launched Elevation Aerial Application, focusing on spraying and fertilizing Christmas tree farms, corn fields, and pastures using DJI Agras T40 drones.Growth & Impact: In their first year, they generated $50,000 in revenue. By their second year, they've expanded to three drones and reached $170-180,000 in revenue. Their services help farmers reduce chemical usage by 30% and decrease reliance on manual labor, particularly in Christmas tree operations.Innovation: They're now developing a client portal where farmers can track their fields, request services, and manage application records - showing how they continue to evolve and improve their agricultural drone services.Get the Introduction to Drones in Agriculture workshop for just $1 here- https://sso.teachable.com/secure/58782/checkout/4832513/intro-to-drones-in-agriculture?coupon_code=PODCAST

28 Jan 49min

S7/EP 2 Matt Nugent of Wing Walker Aerial Photography

S7/EP 2 Matt Nugent of Wing Walker Aerial Photography

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Nugent, founder of Wing Walker Aerial Photography in Seattle, who shares his journey from reluctant police drone operator to successful drone business owner. Matt reveals how he built a thriving side business generating $5,000+ monthly while maintaining his full-time career in law enforcement.Learn how Matt:Transitioned from basic police drone work to specialized photogrammetryAdapted his business after losing a major clientDeveloped unique nighttime drone mapping techniquesBuilt recurring revenue through civil engineering and development clientsRecently landed his biggest month ever at $20,000Whether you're just starting your drone business or looking to scale existing operations, Matt offers practical insights on finding your niche, building client relationships, and delivering professional results.Connect with Matt:https://www.wingwalkerphotos.com/Instagram: @wingwalkerphotosEmail: matt@wingwalkerphotos.comFREE TRAINING: How to Start a Drone Business in 2025 — Even If You Have NO Experience:https://training.dronelaunchacademy.com/free-drone-business-training-2025/  _____Use the code PODCAST300 to get the Drone to $1k Course with a $300 discount! https://dronelaunchacademy.com/drone-to-1k-2023/ _____

21 Jan 43min

S7/EP 1 Chris Knipp of SkyMedia 423- From Church Pastor to $1,000 Drone Jobs

S7/EP 1 Chris Knipp of SkyMedia 423- From Church Pastor to $1,000 Drone Jobs

We're excited to announce that Season 7 Episode 1 of the Drone to $1K Podcast is out!Our guest for this episode is Chris Knipp of Sky Media 423. Highlights from this episode:Unexpected Beginning: Chris's drone journey started with a Mavic Mini purchase in late 2019 for his church's kids ministry during COVID, creating engaging online content by incorporating aerial footage into their productions. His background in film industry work and storytelling through children's ministry laid the groundwork for his visual style.First Commercial Success: Without even planning to start a business, Chris landed his first paid drone job filming an 880-acre property for developers, earning his first $1,000. This unexpected success opened his eyes to the commercial potential of drone services.Business Evolution: Sky Media 423 has grown into a diverse media company, offering real estate photography and videography, event coverage, family portraits, and branding videos.Be sure to check out the full episode to learn more about Chris's journey!Get the Drone 101 course for just $1 with a coupon code SEASON7 here- https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/drones-101?coupon_code=SEASON7&product_id=1893165

14 Jan 35min

S6/EP 10 Juan Quinones of LuxyDrone

S6/EP 10 Juan Quinones of LuxyDrone

We're excited to announce that Season 6 Episode 10 of the Drone to $1K Podcast is out!Our guest for this episode is Juan Quinones of LuxyDrone.https://www.instagram.com/juan.c.quinonez/ Juan Quinones, founder of FPV Creator Pro and Luxy Drone, shared his journey, highlighting his transition from videography to FPV drone flying.🚁 Highlights from this episode:Discovering FPV: Juan's fascination with FPV drones began when he witnessed an impressive aerial display at a yacht party. Persistence and Learning: Despite numerous setbacks, including struggling with the simulator for about 90 hours over a year, Juan navigated through challenges like understanding LiPo battery safety and repairing drones.Skills Development: Juan improved his skills in repairing drones and mastered FPV flying techniques which led him to landing gigs in luxury real estate.Business Expansion: Juan used his skills to expand his business ventures with FPV Creator Pro and LuxyDrone. He started offering courses and services in the FPV industry.And much more!

12 Mars 202449min

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