Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Stephens.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I was always very math and science-oriented which ultimately led me to an engineering degree and a career in oil and gas. Over the years working in the engineering field, I found myself growing weary of constantly dealing with numbers and processes, so I slowly started to look for ways to tap into a creative side that I felt had been neglected. That search led to me buying a video camera to film a family vacation and doing some very simple editing with the footage. As I experimented more and more with videography, I purchased a drone to give my videos a new viewpoint. After my first flight, I was instantly hooked on flying and the new perspective it allowed me to explore. It was a perfect combination of my technical background and my creative ambitions. I wanted to challenge myself to fly as much as possible, so I created always look down and made a commitment to myself to post a new image every day.
Has it been a smooth road?
I quickly learned that photography is extremely complicated and doing it from the air adds even more complexity to setting up and executing a great image. Like any beginner, when I look back at some of my earlier images it makes me cringe a bit but it’s a great reminder of how much I’ve learned a lot over the past couple years and keeps me motivated to continue to grow both creatively and technically. Drones have become so available for the everyday consumer that it takes a lot of effort to stand out in some way. This is a constant struggle but it makes it all the more worth it when you create something unique to share.
There is also a learning curve when it comes to flying drones and it can be difficult to keep up with the constantly changing regulations in the industry. Luckily, today’s top drone manufacturers (specifically DJI), make highly intelligent products that help successfully operate their drones while maintaining safe flying practices.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Up until recently, I mainly just enjoyed the creative outlet that aerial photography provided and worked to become more proficient at it. After a while, I started to have a few opportunities come organically which made me realize that there was some value to what I was creating. I have mainly specialized in taking aerial photos/videos for various businesses that have built something they want a new perspective on. I’ve worked with all types of clients, from construction companies to playground equipment manufacturers, and have enjoyed the process of working with them to capture and share the new perspectives.
I still tap into my engineering background when it comes to the technical aspects of flying and I am meticulous when it comes to researching new spots to photograph from the air (hint: I use google maps a lot!). Learning to blend the technical with the creative is something I feel has helped in my successes so far. I really look forward to developing the business into something larger and opening myself up for future opportunities.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The drone industry has seen exponential growth over the past five years and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Drone’s are becoming more and more apart of people’s everyday life and are now being used for everything from roof inspections to emergency response. I really believe we are just starting to tap into the true potential of how drones can help our society.
Along with that progression of the industry as a whole, I believe we will continue to see drone manufacturers push the envelope when it comes to the type of photography/videography capable with both consumer and professional drones. I believe we will continue to see better camera equipment and more intelligent flight capabilities available for drone operators to use.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alwayslookdown.pixieset.com/
- Email: always.look.down.pro@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/always.look.down/
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