FAQs

Q?

How much do your aerial photos cost?

A.

Because there are so many variables, we aren’t able to publish one fixed price for aerial photography. Your site’s location, the number of prints and digital images that you need, the size of your prints, the intended use of the images, the number of sites that you need captured and the complexity of the project are all considered in the quote. All of our work is guaranteed and your satisfaction is critical to our success!

Q?

What geographic area do you cover?

A.

We fly at least once a week out of the Hanover County Airport which is just North of Richmond, VA. We primarily cover Central Virginia and the Tidewater area. We also fly to Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Roanoke on a regular basis. Through our affiliation with PAPA (Professional Aerial Photographers Association) we can leverage a network of professional aerial photographers across the country and have them take pictures of your site, wherever it may be. So whether your site is in Richmond or Rhode Island, Williamsburg or Wyoming, give SkyShots a call and we can help you get the aerial images that you need.

Q?

What type of aircraft do you use?

A.

We have access to a wide variety of aircraft depending on the specific photo mission. Helicopters are useful when we need to stay low to the ground and maneuver in restricted airspace or close to tall buildings. We use the two-person Robinson R-22 for local sites or the four-person Bell JetRanger for more distant sites. Highwing airplanes like our Cessna 182 provide an economical and stable platform for most aerial photography. Our Cessna has an FAA approved camera port in the belly of the plane which allows us to capture true vertical images.

Q?

What type of camera do you use?

A.

At SkyShots, we use the top of the line Canon Digital Single Lens Reflex along with a wide assortment of professional grade lenses to create high resolution images.

Q?

What does Copyright mean?

A.

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship”, such as photography. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to do the following:

  • To reproduce the work in copies
  • To prepare derivative works based upon the work
  • To distribute copies of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending
  • To display the copyrighted work publicly.

Basically, SkyShots Photography original photographs and derivative images belong to us, and you may not use them in any way without our agreement. We provide our clients with a license to use the images they have purchased, although we remain the copyright-holder.

Q?

Can I come along for the flight?

A.

From time to time, we have people ask if they can come along for the flight. We discourage this for several reasons. First, the sharp turns and other flight maneuvers that we make can be disconcerting to the passenger and even cause vertigo or airsickness. Secondly, the aircraft that we usually use often has the back seat removed so that we have access to the vertical camera port. This means that we don’t have a seat for any passengers. However, at SkyShots, we do love to share our view of the world with others and offer our clients a free sightseeing tour several times a year. These are usually 30-45 minute flights in the late afternoon (when the winds are calm). Contact us to get your name on the list for our next sightseeing flight.