Learn Aerial Photography from Aircraft, Taught Through Real Flight Experience

Learn to capture professional aerial images from real aircraft in a hands-on, 2-day immersive workshop. Shoot from airplanes. Learn from real-world experience. Build a portfolio that stands out.

What This Is

This is not a drone course.

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 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 — not classroom theory.

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 Sites:

Santa Cruz Beaches, The Boardwalk, Lighthouse, Piers, Harbors

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 Sites:

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 Sites:

Apple SpaceshipGoogleplexLevi’s StadiumStanford UniversityFacebook Campus

Land for Lunch at San Carlos Airport

afternoon PHOTO Flight

fLYING to san francisco

Potential Sites:

Downtown San FranciscoPier 39Fisherman’s WharfGolden Gate BridgeSan Francisco Airport (SFO)

All locations are subject to changedue to weather or airspacerestrictions

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:

Optional upgrades include helicopter sessions for advanced shooting.

Who this course is for

Designed for serious photographers

Ideal for:

Not ideal for

2-Day Aerial Photography Intensive Course

$4,500

per participant

Optional Add-Ons

Helicopter Aerial Photography

Introduction to Aerial Mapping

Location & Details

Where

San Martin Airport, 13025 Murphy Ave., San Martin, CA 95046

When

See Available Dates below

Available Workshops & Dates

June 14–15, 2026

July 19–20, 2026

June 14–15, 2026

Meet Your Instructors

Pat and Julie Belanger are the owners of The 111th Aerials, a premier aerial photography company serving the California Bay Area and beyond since 1994.

Julie comes from a family deeply rooted in aviation. Flying is part of her heritage. Her mother was a pilot, her brother is a pilot, she married a pilot, and now their daughter, Niki, proudly continues the tradition as a pilot herself.

Pat Belanger is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and highly experienced aerial photographer with a career spanning both military and commercial aviation. As an F-16 pilot, he developed the precision, discipline, and situational awareness that now define his work behind the camera. Pat is also a Certified Flight Instructor, bringing a strong teaching background to his instruction.

In 1994, Pat and Julie combined their shared passion for aviation and photography to create The 111th Aerials. What began as a passion project quickly grew into a trusted and respected name in aerial imaging.

Today, they are committed to passing on their expertise to the next generation. Their workshops, the first of their kind, are designed to teach the skills and techniques that have made them award-winning aerial photographers.

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.