Mastery of Aerial Photography

Go beyond the basics in this 2-day workshop in-flight training that will build your skills and hone your expertise.

Go beyond the basics with the Mastery of Aerial Photography

What this is

Two days of hands-on aerial photography in the airplane for photographers ready to launch a new career.

Enjoy two flight sessions per day
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 that will build your skills and give you the practiced expertise to do it right.

2-Day Mastery of Photography Course

$4,500

per participant

What You'll Do

Day 1 — Foundations of Aerial Photography

Ground School

Shooting for commercial 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 THE COAST – weather permitting

Potential photo opportunities:

Santa Cruz Beaches, The Boardwalk, Lighthouses, Piers, Harbors, and watch for whales

Land for Lunch at a Coastal Airport

Watsonville Airport or Monterey Airport

Alternative for weather:

Wine Country and lunch at a local airport

afternoon PHOTO Flight

fLYING along the coastline

Potential photo opportunities:

Monterey Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Cypress Point Golf Course

Pebble Beach Golf Course

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Day 2 — Advanced Commercial Shooting + Stock Portfolio Building

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

EACH DAY AFTER FLYING

Post-Processing

Final Session

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:

Who this course is for

Designed for serious photographers

Ideal for:

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-Day Mastery of Photography Course

$4,500

per participant

Optional Add-Ons

Helicopter Aerial Photography

Introduction to Aerial Mapping

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.