If you’re looking for drone pilots near me to collect high-caliber footage or aerial shots for your project, it’s important to realize that not just anyone can do the job. Aerial photography and cinematography is a complex art form that takes years of practice and experience to perfect. This is not to mention that successfully piloting the drone itself takes education, proper licensing, and more! That’s why it’s important to hire a professional drone pilot who knows what they’re doing. In this article, we will discuss the top five reasons why you should always go with a pro when it comes to drone footage–and how it can save you time, energy, and even expense!

Top 5 Reasons to Hire Professional Drone Pilots for Your Aerial Footage Needs
There’s no denying that investing in quality aerial footage or photography can help your brand stand out in a competitive workplace, attract potential clients or business partners, or even dramatically increase your odds of closing a sale. However, if you’re hoping to get the aerial footage without hiring a professional drone pilot to do the job, there are some factors you’re going to want to consider first—that may even end up costing you more money than getting the job done right the first time! Here are the top five reasons to hire professional drone pilots “near me” rather than attempting the project yourself as an amateur:
It's Less Work
Piloting a drone and taking a few photos or videos—how complicated could it be? Well, it turns out piloting a drone—especially in heavily regulated airspace such as above NYC—can get quite complicated quickly. A commercial drone pilot must not only go through the schooling necessary to pass the “Unmanned Aircraft General—Small (UAG)” exam from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but they must become licensed in their region as well. Licenses must be renewed every two years, and certificate-holding drone pilots must complete continuous recurrent training with each license renewal.
Part of the responsibility of holding a drone piloting license is being aware of local laws and legislation surrounding air space safety and developing regulations. Especially as drone technology continues to advance and more and more businesses are utilizing professional drone cinematography services to stand out from their competitors, the rules around drones sharing airspace are continually in flux. A good drone pilot will be on top of industry changes and alterations to local legislation to ensure they’re always operating within the limits of the law.
It's Less Risk
To become a drone pilot, you will not only have to go through the proper schooling, licensing process, and commitment to renewal, but you will also have to research and purchase a drone. With so many different drone models out there, it can be overwhelming to choose one that will do the best quality job at the lowest price. Even if you find a high-value drone, there is no guarantee you will be able to skillfully pilot it within the time frame you hope for. For example, if you were to misstep while piloting your new drone, you might inadvertently destroy it in a crash—and then you’re out the investment of your time, energy, and finances on your new drone and license. As such, it is far less risky to hire an experienced pilot to get the job done safely on the first go around versus navigating potentially costly trial and error with an expensive and sensitive drone.
Experienced Pilots Are More Likely to Produce Quality Output Quickly
It can take years of gaining an intimate knowledge of your equipment to be proficient at creating visually appealing and interesting aerial photos or cinematography. While it can be tempting to think that you’ll save the expense of hiring an experienced drone pilot by teaching yourself how to operate a drone, something you might not be considering is how much thought professional drone pilots put into composing their aerial shots. From pre-flight planning to executing a wide array of different camera angles, perspectives, and techniques, a good commercial drone pilot is also an accomplished photographer and cinematographer as well.

Additional Services, Like Image Editing or Retouching
It’s one thing to be fully licensed and capable of handling a drone—but the job doesn’t stop once you have the raw aerial footage! Professional commercial drone pilots like those at Xizmo Media offer a full-service experience to their customers, including manipulating footage or photos until clients are happy with them. Especially for business owners or specialized professionals who do not have a background in this type of work, outsourcing this photo editing or retouching can be a huge relief, saving time and energy. This can put your project on track on a quicker timeline too, which may help to yield a return on your investment even faster.
Customer Service
A quality drone pilot will actively listen to your needs, desires, and ideas to help bring your project to life. They understand your goals for collecting high-definition aerial photography or footage center on career advancement, building your brand, and establishing credibility in your field. The best drone pilots “near me” in NYC will put the customer’s quality of experience at the forefront, executing their vision with no stress at all on the part of the client, and will even find ways to increase their service value for their customers.
Drone Pilots Near Me with NYC's Xizmo Media
In the developing field of commercial drone photography and aerial drone footage, more and more businesses are getting on board with the benefits of investing in professional drone pilots in their area. Aside from sidestepping the expense, time commitment, and constant educational efforts on emerging technology and drone legislation, hiring a professional drone pilot can also ensure your job gets done right, the first time—and safely too.
If you’re looking for some of the best professional drone pilots “near me,” look no further than NYC’s Xizmo Media. With years of experience in the industry and some of the best pilots in the game, our aerial footage can help you take your career to the next level and set you on the path to success! For more information on how we can best serve you, please contact us today!