Question for everyone...

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I'm really into aviation photography and have been doing it for a few years now.  This last summer alone I shot over 1,500 pictures over 11 days of fun airshow goodness!  

I came up with a small plan...

At lunch I would take my camera and go stake out different spots around the airport to take pictures of the schools planes coming and going write down the tail numbers and time I took each picture, get them developed (Or at least get them processed and print out one of those larger photo index sheets since I have a film camera), then show them to whoever was flying at that time and see if they would want larger prints...



I'm used to taking pictures of things going at least 300 mph at airshows and have shot a few general aviation planes before... quite fun!  

Here are some examples of pics I have taken...

http://community.webshots.com/user/boss_blueangels

The top gallery "My Best pictures" are mostly of last summer.  All but the black and white.

The gallery below that, "my own pictures" is of pics I have taken, and ones that have been taken of me... the only ones of ME are the ones of the Cessna 150... but are an example of the pics I will be shooting soon.


So my question to you is, would you want to fork out $5 for a picture of you takingoff/landing?  Maybe with a mat or relitively cheap frame?  

The only thing I really am aiming to get out of this is an excuse to take pictures, and something to at least HELP pay for the cost of film/developing.  Anything else would merely be bonus.

Any input/advice is welcome.

[beaky]

I think that's a good idea... but here's a better money-maker: take pictures of landings and ask for money to not make prints...  ;)

[Brett_Henderson]

I think it's a great idea.  I know that if someone had some nice shots of me in any plane, I'd gladly pay ( a lot more than $5) for them.

I've always wanted "that" photo framed and hung.. and if you think about it.. it's a pretty involved endeavor. To plan and do it yourself, with some help, you need to wait for a good day; rent a plane; fly to an airport where your buddy can have free run of runway enviroment; land and let him get situated; take off and fly the circuit a few times. It'd turn out to be a 200 dollar picture  ;)  ..

I'm gonna mention something I'm sure you've thought about. Doing the math, processing 40 rolls of 35mm film by itself would have paid for a good chunk of a nice, digital camera. I've got one of those digital Rebels.. it accepts all of my Canon lenses and allows for all the creative input you're used to.

Anyway.. on this note.. My intrument instructor goes up every now and then to take "commercial" photos. The two areas he's actuall made money were; Automobile dealerships and golf courses. The golf course photos were solicited, but a side thing developed. He got a great shot of some homes along the golf course and sold a couple to the home owners.

I think the trick is having the time, opportunity and means to take the photos in the first place..

[Brett_Henderson]

LOL @ Rotty ...

[beaky]

LOL @ Rotty ...

Go ahead and laugh... from what I've seen, I could collect enough money in 2 hrs on a given Sunday to finance my airplane-renting...
mwahahaha!!! Gotta get a trenchcoat and fake mustache..."pssst..."

[Brett_Henderson]

Oh.. I've not only seen it.. I've demonstrated it, many times. The old.. "Gawd I'm glad nobody saw that".. where the tower can hear the sheepishness in your voice, "umm,,

[beaky]

Amazing how many pilots are also comedians, innit?
My favorite CTAF comment about an early-in-training approach of mine was (after I called final): "Looks more like a strafing run to me..." my CFI was outraged, but I though it was pretty funny.
But that landing was actually not too bad, compared to some others...
Like they say: Your worst landing ever is probably one you haven't made yet.

[Craig.]

Honestly I think its a good idea. However you need to be sure to get permission from the flight schools your taking planes of that they dont mind you selling pictures of their property. I am not 100% clear on the rules for that. But you never know they may even be willing to setup a side business with you, they sell your photos in their FBO for a small slice of the pie. I think you could even get more than your thinking of asking now.

[Brett_Henderson]

I'd imagine it's OK.. especially if you, or the photo-purchasing pilot are renting the plane ( a picture of said plane ). Even if you aren't the renter and let's say you're at an airport and get a beautiful sunset shot with a NWA DC-9 in it..

[Craig.]

Well thats where it really gets tough:)
I know for instance certain aircraft those like Peter Max and the others with the weird art, their designers dont want people selling photos of and some airlines are a little pickey about it too. Usually it isn't a problem though.