Learn Aerial Photography from Aircraft, Taught Through Real Flight Experience
Learn to capture professional aerial images from real aircraft in a hands-on, 1-day immersive workshop. Shoot from airplanes. Learn from real-world experience. Build a portfolio that stands out.
This is not a Drone course.
What this is
This is a hands-on aerial photography workshop designed for photographers who want to go beyond drones and ground-based photography and learn how to shoot from real aircraft.
- Enjoy two flight sessions
- Shoot from fixed-wing aircraft in real conditions
- Learn how to work with pilots to capture precise compositions
- Manage motion, vibration, and changing light
- Create professional aerial images for commercial, stock, and portfolio use
This is practical, in-flight training — not classroom theory.
$2,500
per participant
- Only two participants per workshop
- Includes
- Flight Time ~ Two Photo Flights
- Ground Instruction
- Materials
- Lunch
What You'll Do
Learn the Foundations of Aerial Photography
Ground School
- Shooting for Commercial Clients
- Shooting Stock Aerial Photography
- Finding the location before you take off and on-the-fly
- Airspace and legal considerations
- Communication with your pilot (when to speak up and when to keep quiet)
- Camera setup and aerial shooting techniques
- What clients want to see
MORNING PHOTO Flight
FLYING TO SILICON VALLEY
Potential photo opportunities:
Apple Spaceship, Googleplex, Levi’s Stadium, Stanford University, Facebook Campus
Land for Lunch at San Carlos Airport
afternoon PHOTO Flight
FLYING TO SAN FRANCISCO
Potential photo opportunities:
San Francisco Skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Oracle Park, Chase Center, SFO
All locations are subject to change due to weather or airspace restrictions
ALTERNATIVE PHOTO FLIGHT LOCATIONS
Coastal or Wine Country Flight and lunch at a local airport
AFTER FLYING
POST-PROCESSING
- Introduction and Practice specialty techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop
- Quick fixes for: crooked horizons, hazy skies, dull colors, target not centered, etc.
FINAL SESSION
- Portfolio review
- Sharing your images
What You Walk Away With
Portfolio-Quality Images
Leave with a strong collection of professionally captured aerial images from real flight sessions. Each shot is carefully composed and edited, giving you high-quality visuals ready for your portfolio, client work, or commercial licensing opportunities.
Complete Aerial Workflow
Understand the full aerial photography process from planning to execution. Learn how to prepare before takeoff, shoot efficiently in the air, and organize your workflow afterward for consistent, repeatable results on every project.
Optimized Camera Settings
Master the ideal camera settings for shooting from aircraft. Learn how to adjust shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to handle motion, vibration, and changing light, ensuring sharp, well-exposed images in challenging conditions.
Post-Processing Techniques
Gain hands-on experience editing aerial images using professional tools. Learn how to fix horizons, enhance colors, reduce haze, and bring out detail to create polished, high-impact images ready for delivery or publishing.
Real Flight Experience
Build confidence through real in-air shooting sessions. Experience working inside an aircraft, directing pilots, and capturing shots in dynamic environments—skills that go far beyond studio or ground-based photography.
Confidence to Shoot Independently
Walk away with the knowledge and confidence to plan and execute your own aerial shoots. From booking flights to directing shots, you’ll be ready to handle real-world projects and deliver professional-level results independently.
Flight Experience
All participants will shoot from a fixed-wing aircraft during the workshop. Flights are designed to provide:
- Optimal lighting and routes
- Multiple passes for refined compositions
- Hands-on experience in real shooting conditions
Who this course is for
Designed for serious photographers
- Must have own camera gear
- Recommend: professional or prosumer 35mm camera with lenses between 24 and 200mm
- Must be 18+ and in good physical condition
- Able to climb in and out of a small aircraft
Ideal for:
- Photographers ready to go beyond drones
- Landscape and commercial photographers
- Pilots interested in aerial imaging
Not ideal for
- Complete beginners
- Casual hobbyists
- Anyone prone to motion sickness
- Anyone with a fear of heights or flying
- For safety and aircraft limitations, we are unable to accomodate passengers over 300 pounds.
- All flights and passengers acceptance are subject to total aircraft weight and balance requirements.
$2,500
per participant
- Only two participants per workshop
- Includes
- Flight Time ~ Two Photo Flights
- Ground Instruction
- Materials
- Lunch
Optional Add-Ons
Aerial photos
Take Your Photography to the Next Level
Aerial photography from real aircraft offers perspectives and opportunities that cannot be replicated from the ground or by drone. This workshop is designed to give you the skills, experience, and confidence to capture those images.