ok so I passed my 107 a few months ago and have been trying to figure out how to actually get paying work. I've got a mini 3 pro and a mavic 3 classic, done a few free shoots for friends to build up some footage but every time I try to reach out to real estate agents or small businesses I either get ignored or they say they already have someone.

I live in a mid-size city so its not like theres zero opportunity but I also cant figure out how to stand out. do people actually cold email? go door to door to businesses? I tried making an instagram but honestly its slow going. I see people talking about drone job marketplaces online but honestly some of those look sketchy or the pay seems really low. just wondering how other people got their first few real paying clients because right now it feels like a wall

networking honestly. like actual in person networking, which i know sounds lame but it worked for me. i started going to local business association meetups and just talking to people, not even pitching just like genuinely talking. ended up getting connected to a property management company that needed regular aerial stuff for their listings and maintenance documentation. that one connection basically kept me busy for months.

the job marketplace sites are hit or miss, some of them are fine but yeah the rates can be brutal especially when youre competing with people who already have 500 reviews. i'd focus local for now, you have the home field advantage and smaller clients often prefer hiring someone they can actually meet. also dont underestimate local videographers and photo studios — some of them outsource drone work rather than doing it themselves and might want a reliable sub-contractor

honestly took me almost a year to land consistent work so dont get too discouraged. the thing that helped most was just being really specific about what i was offering instead of saying i do drone photography. like i started pitching specifically to roofers and contractors for inspection documentation and that immediately felt different, people got it right away. general drone content is a harder sell, specific solutions to specific problems is easier