so ive been doing drone work on the side for about two years now, mostly real estate and some construction progress shots for a local contractor who found me on instagram of all places. i have my part 107 and a pretty solid kit - mavic 3 pro plus a mini 4 for tighter spaces - and im honestly wondering if its time to just go for it full time.

my day job is fine but its not going anywhere and the drone stuff has been picking up enough that i think theres something there. last month i pulled in just over $1800 from side gigs which i know isnt crazy money but it felt real, like actual demand not just friends doing me favors.

the thing im not sure about is how to find more consistent work. real estate is kind of feast or famine depending on the market and i dont really know how to break into other verticals. has anyone here made the jump to full time and actually sustained it? what did the first year look like? any verticals you'd recommend trying to get into

yeah i made that jump about three years ago and honestly the first six months were rough. real estate alone probably wont cut it, you're right to be thinking about other verticals. for me the thing that changed everything was getting in with a couple inspection companies - cell towers, rooftops, that kind of thing. it pays way better than real estate per hour and the work is more predictable once you have a relationship with them.

the other thing i'd say is dont underestimate how much of the job is just sales and staying in peoples minds. i send a quick check-in email to past clients every couple months just to stay on the radar. sounds basic but it works. also look into whether theres any agriculture stuff in your area, that market is growing fast and farmers tend to give you repeat seasonal work which is golden when you're trying to build something stable.

not full time myself yet but following this thread closely lol. $1800 in a month on the side is actually really solid imo, especially if thats without really pushing it. curious what your real estate clients typically pay per shoot if you dont mind sharing