Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Olson.
Hi Kevin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started doing drone photography in early 2020 during the pandemic. I was becoming super bored just being at home all day, so I decided to buy a drone not knowing what I was actually getting myself into. Once I got it, I just started flying it around my backyard and at local parks. I had no experience in photography or videography before this, but I just kept flying the drone taking photos and videos of things around my area and around the state of Maryland. I would pre-plan short trips to local landmarks around the state to get photos and videos that I wanted. I started watching a lot of YouTube videos about photography and videography and started to learn the skills on my own. I eventually took some online courses specifically about aerial photography and videography, and just kept improving my skills and kept practicing. Eventually, I started to do some free work for other people and small business in the area just to build my portfolio. That’s when I decided to study for and take the test to get my commercial remote pilot certificate from the FAA. Once I received that certificate, I was able to use my drone for commercial purposes, and that’s when I officially stared my company, Maryland Drone Guy. Since then, I have been working a closely with a lot of local business to get some amazing aerial photos and videos, and it’s just been something I’ve enjoyed doing. I love being able to capture images of things that most people don’t get to see from the ground. You get a whole new perspective on the area around you when you can see it from a different angle.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been entirely smooth. I had to learn everything from scratch on my own, which was challenging in itself. I had to be patient with myself and had to constantly look things up or learn how to do something I’ve never done before. I’m always trying to lean new things when it comes to photography and videography. Also, starting and running your business isn’t easy either. People think it’s just quick easy money, and it is not. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people don’t even know about. There were times that I didn’t even want to start a business just because the additional things you have to do with it like bookkeeping and collecting sales tax.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer/videographer that specializes aerial photography and videography. I absolutely love being able to capture images and angles that you can only get from the air. You get to see things in a different way that you can’t see from the ground. I love waking up early in the morning and capturing a timelapse of the sunrise or a sunset in the evening. The biggest thing I am proud of is when someone sees one of my photos or videos online or on Instagram and asks if they can buy a print from me. I set up a print store on my website, and every time someone purchases one, it makes me happy knowing that someone appreciates my work enough to buy a physical print of my work and hang it up in their house or business. I think what. Sets me apart from others that I have an eye for seeing things from the ground and knowing that it would look even better from the air. Something things that look mundane and boring from the ground like a boat dock or empty field, can look absolutely amazing from above.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the mix go having everything you need as far as stores a restaurants within a 10-minute drive but then also being able to enjoy beautiful parks and lakes. It’s a good mix of being in a city but also in the suburbs as well. What I like least is the traffic sometimes.
Pricing:
- Framed photo prints start at $57 and up depending on size.
- Canvas prints start at $25 and up depending on size
- Full photography and videography packages start at $200 depending on the amount of photos and videos you are interested in
Contact Info:
- Website: marylanddroneguy.com
- Instagram:instagram.com/marylanddroneguy
- Facebook: Facebook.com/marylanddroneguy
- Twitter: twitter.com/MD_Drone_Guy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marylanddroneguy
- Other: tiktok.com/@marylanddroneguy
Image Credits
Michele Correnti
