FAA Part 107 licensed aerial photography for Chicago properties, venues, and construction sites. LAANC authorized for downtown’s controlled airspace. Most aerial photography work pairs with related videography commissions, but standalone aerial-only shoots are also welcome.
What makes Chicago aerial work different
Most of the city sits inside Class B airspace because of KORD and Midway proximity. Commercial drone work here requires both a Part 107 certificate and LAANC authorization for the specific flight area, often with altitude restrictions. Operators without those credentials are flying illegally and uninsured — which becomes the property owner’s liability the moment anything goes wrong. We hold an active Part 107, carry $1M general liability plus drone-specific aviation insurance, and route LAANC authorization for every commercial flight.
What we shoot
Commercial real estate including office buildings, retail centers, multi-family residential, and industrial sites. Construction documentation including progress monitoring, completed-site photography for marketing, and inspection assistance. Event venues that need aerial marketing photography for booking pages and printed collateral. Architectural photography pairing aerial perspectives with traditional ground photography for portfolios. Property listings priced at the luxury tier where aerial context meaningfully changes the buyer’s understanding of the property.
Deliverables and turnaround
A standard shoot yields 20-40 edited high-resolution aerial photos, color-corrected and delivered in 24-48 hours via a private branded gallery (downloadable in multiple resolutions). Twilight and golden-hour shoots are available for an upcharge and pair beautifully with luxury real estate and venue photography. Same-day rush turnaround is available for active listings and time-sensitive marketing windows.
- FAA Part 107 licensed flight
- LAANC authorization for controlled airspace
- 20-40 edited aerial photos in 4K
- Multi-angle coverage
- Delivery via Dropbox or branded gallery
questions, answered
Are you FAA-licensed for downtown Chicago?
Yes. FAA Part 107 licensed and LAANC authorized for Class B Chicago airspace including downtown. We file authorization for any flight that requires it.
What if the weather is bad on shoot day?
We reschedule to the next available clear day with no fee. FAA rules require specific minimum visibility and wind conditions — we won't fly outside them.
Can you fly over crowds or events?
Not directly. Standard Part 107 prohibits flight directly over non-participants. We can fly over the venue, perimeter, and outdoor activations — just not over seated crowds.
aerial photography in chicago in your area
Based in Jefferson Park, working across the city and the inner suburbs. A few of the neighborhoods and towns where Em has filmed recent projects:
selected projects
also offering aerial
FAA-licensed drone services for Chicago commercial, construction, and events. LAANC authorized for Class B Chicago airspace.
explore drone services →