Skip links

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about working with us, scheduling, airspace, and deliverables.

WORKING WITH US

We're based in Los Angeles and work throughout Southern California. For the right project we travel anywhere in the US. If you're outside the LA area, reach out and we'll figure it out.

Architects, architectural illustrators, real estate developers, and creative agencies. Most of our work supports visualization: rendering backplates, view studies, and panoramic photography. We also shoot for marketing and construction documentation.

Email or call us. To put together an accurate estimate we need the address and the time of day you're targeting. If you have views or camera heights in mind, include those too. See our Backplate Brief Requirements article for the full list of what helps us plan a shoot. If you're not sure what you need, that's fine too. We can walk through it together.

One hour. Most shoots run longer, but if you have a single location and a clear scope, we can often get it done in an hour.

Yes, and we usually do. A lot of our shoots include backplates and panoramas together. Most video backplate shoots for animations include panoramas as well. We'll plan the shot list to cover everything in one mobilization.

SCHEDULING & LOGISTICS

We can often shoot as soon as the next day if we have availability. Even in controlled airspace, if LAANC authorization is available and we're flying under the posted ceiling, next-day scheduling is possible. For locations that require authorization above the UAS Facility Map grid, add about a week, though we typically get approval within three days. Check the airspace map at the top of our Resources page to see what applies to your location.

Usually not. Most shoots don't require formal site access. The bigger variable on construction sites is crane position and operating schedule. We coordinate around that with you. See our Do I Need Site Access article for a full breakdown by project type.

No. We operate independently and don't need a client rep on location. If you want to be there, you're welcome, but it's not necessary.

Whatever time of day you need. We shoot from morning twilight before sunrise through afternoon twilight after sunset. Nighttime is possible under the right conditions, though we usually recommend twilight for that look. Timing is based on your views, the light hitting specific building faces, or whatever conditions your team needs to match.

We won't fly if the lighting isn't right for your shot or if conditions are unsafe. We monitor weather closely and will reach out early if a reschedule is needed. Most shoots can be pushed without issue and we'll work with your timeline.

AIRSPACE & AUTHORIZATION

Yes. We hold FAA Part 107 certification and handle all airspace authorization ourselves. For most locations we use LAANC, which is automated and available same day. For altitudes above the UAS Facility Map grid, LAANC requires additional details and manual review. We handle that process and it typically takes three days. We let you know during planning if that applies and how it affects your timeline.

It depends on the location, the altitude, and what authorizations are available. Downtown LA, for example, is not controlled airspace. Parts of San Diego are. Beverly Hills and Santa Monica fall under controlled airspace. Every location is different. Check the airspace map at the top of our Resources page and reach out if you're not sure what applies to your project.

DELIVERABLES & TURNAROUND

RAW images and video are available the next day. Edited photos, stitched panoramas, and color-graded deliverables typically take 5 to 7 business days. Rush turnaround is available on request.

Via a Dropbox link. All assets are full resolution. RAW files require compatible software to open. We can convert to JPEG if that's part of the scope.

Rendering backplates are delivered as RAW unless we're editing them, in which case they're typically JPEG. Edited photos are usually JPEG. Gigapans are delivered as TIFF, compressed or uncompressed depending on your needs. Video format is specified at booking. ProRes, H.264, and other formats are available on request.

Yes. Per our Terms of Service, Drone 55 retains copyright on all imagery. Clients receive a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use the work for the purposes outlined at booking. Use in paid advertising requires a separate agreement. Full copyright transfer can be arranged for an additional fee. Full terms are available on our Legal page.

In some cases, yes. If you need a different crop or projection from imagery we've already captured, reach out and we'll let you know what's possible from the existing files.