From Snowboarding Photographer to Commercial Drone Pilot

05Dec2023

An interview with Andrew Crozier

Andrew Crozier, a customer of Drone Pilot Academy, is a photographer and drone pilot. He has been operating his very successful business Insight Photography in the UK for the last 15 years and has been a full-time photographer for 22 years.

Prior to photography and drones, Andrew had a varied career. After finishing his degree in business studies, he moved to Orlando, Florida to work at EPCOT Walt Disney World. Whilst there, he met a Canadian girl and ‘the rest is history’ as they say! Andrew moved up to Canada to begin a new life. At first, he ran hotels and restaurants before retraining to become a High School Teacher.

In this interview, we talk to Andrew about his path to becoming a photographer, and how the introduction of drones has benefitted his business.

How did you become a photographer?

I’d become interested in photography during my time down in the States as I had always dreamed about turning my passion into a career. It was only when a divorce took me across the country to Whistler, British Columbia that I was able to make that dream a reality. I secured a job as a photographer working within the ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb, chasing Japanese tourists around the mountain with a camera while snowboarding. What’s not to like about that!

After two seasons of mountain life, I moved to Montreal, Quebec where I continued my photographic career, this time as a wedding photographer during the industry’s transition from film to digital.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself back in the UK, starting Insight Photography from scratch.

Why did you start using drones?

Drones came into my business about seven years ago – pretty much by accident. As a wedding photographer, I had noticed that videographers who had drones on their tables at wedding exhibitions were having way more conversations with men than I was.

Typically, men are not particularly bothered about going to wedding fayres so the interest that drones were drumming up made me think!

After mulling it over, I bought a second-hand DJI Phantom 3 Pro and proved my theory correct – I started to have way more chats with potential grooms, so I thought ‘I better learn how to fly the thing’!

After researching the training academies available to get the Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) qualification, I came across Drone Pilot Academy and I was sold on the residential nature, the inclusion of practical flying tuition and the assistance with the Ops Manual – exactly what I needed.

Discover our range of courses here.

How have drones benefitted your business?

Gaining the PfCO opened a load of new opportunities for me and it wasn’t long before the drone was being used in commercial work – particularly in civils and construction.

The rabbit hole that opened up allowed me to push my business in a bunch of different directions and diversification became a key strategy for growth but also for security when the dreaded pandemic hit.

COVID Pivot

When the global pandemic hit in 2020, my business was operating across four areas – weddings, commercial, portraits and events. As soon as the government locked the country down, we immediately lost the ability to operate in three out of those four areas and my only opportunity was to try and develop the commercial side of the business.

I was already about nine months into a new five year business plan with the end goal being to flip weddings and commercial around from a 70/30 split and turn that on its head. Having been involved in the wedding market for fifteen years, I was starting to tire of working every weekend but didn’t think an event like COVID-19 would be the catalyst for widespread change in my business!

Staff were put on furlough, and we locked up the studio – we didn’t know what would happen – would I lose the business?

As we had commercial premises, we were fortunate enough to be given a government grant pretty much straight away, so I immediately invested that money into new equipment including a new drone (Mavic 2), a 360 VR setup and a set of time-lapse cameras.

I knew that the construction industry would be the last to close and the first to re-open so I developed a short-term business plan around selling virtual tours which I was able to deploy in about three weeks.

It wasn’t long before I was back out on the road when most of my colleagues and peers could not work and the integration of 360 VR tours with the drone offering became totally central to my survival and ultimately thriving through a very difficult time.

Continued Growth post-pandemic.

The momentum we were able to gather during the pandemic did not stop when the world reopened. I brought the staff back to work, reopened the portrait studio and jumped straight back into a full wedding photography diary. The growth we had achieved in the commercial side of the business meant that we were working doubly hard to pre-pandemic days and this proved challenging at times – outsourcing and bringing in freelancers helped us through that period but it was pretty dicey with plenty of 18-hour days needed to be put in to get through the backlog that seemed to be eternally there.

Drones were becoming increasingly important for commercial work – I took DPA’s surveying course and collaborated with Jim’s team to facilitate some lucrative surveys local to me. I added drones to the fleet as I grew and as market opportunities presented themselves.

I started doing quite a bit of work in the office fit-out and interiors world, and that led me to buy the DJI Avata to focus on indoor flight – a great tool to add to my stable.

My wedding work was impacted by drone use too. Historically, you would find me hanging out of windows or perching on ladders to get a group shot of the whole wedding party. By the time the 2020s rocked around – venues did not want us doing these dangerous approaches so being able to send up a DJI Mini 4 pro to get those shots quickly and easily has been a game changer for us.

Working with Drone Pilot Academy

Right from the start, working with Jim and DPA has been great. Not only have DPA kept me legal every year (we use their Ops manual update service) but there have been so many other benefits!

During our early years of operating, I had lots of questions about procedures and seemed to be constantly anxious about the missions that came my way – Jim and his team helped me through all of these times with enthusiasm.

As my drone business grew, so did DPA’s and along with that – I joined Jim’s list of preferred pilots. Jim sent some cracking opportunities my way and my experience grew quickly as I broadened my horizons and the types of jobs I was doing.

As a photographer at heart, videography then became a new pursuit and over time – Jim introduced me to several of his clients to help them with their image-making and cinematography – including post-production.

All in all – my relationship with DPA has been great and I have been able to recommend them on several occasions.

The Future…

We continue to develop our service offerings here at Insight Photography and drones are central to the mixed bag of content we capture.

We love intertwining photography, videography, time-lapse VR and drones to give us the edge, and can’t wait to see how we might keep pushing that forward.

We’re excited to see what might happen in the industry over the next 5 years. The drones are so good now – it’s difficult to understand where the innovations and improvements may lead us. I for one would appreciate longer-lasting batteries – especially for FPV drones!

In conclusion, drones have become like all the other tools we have in our content toolbox – essential items that we would probably find difficult to replace now we have become reliant upon them.

After 7 years – we still get an enormous thrill out of flying and I am definitely excited about what the future holds.

A Word From Jim and DPA

We’re proud to have worked with Andy from the early days of his drone business. He’s a shining example of how to adapt and grow a business when faced with unprecedented challenges and evolve with technology to stay ahead of the competition.

Andy is also acutely aware of the power of social media for promotion and has built an outstanding personal brand – we look forward to featuring him as a speaker at our next industry day!

Would you like to introduce drones into your business?

For information on how to introduce drones into your business please contact DPA to speak with a member of the team.

Contact Drone Pilot Academy.

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“I Booked on to the Combined A2 CoC and GVC course provided by Drone Pilot Academy. I was very satisfied with the quality of the instruction and service. the course took place over 3 days and all requirements were catered for within the course fees. The teaching and Practical flying was covered within the time of the three day course and although this was intensive, it was made enjoyable by the first rate facilities and accommodation on site. on the final day we were able to sit the two exams required and flight assessments. flight assessments are of course weather dependent but the controllable factors were delt with very well. After concluding the teaching and assessment, there are log books operations manual and risk assessments to submit. These had to be done after the course was delivered. the correspondence with the the instructor and training coordinator was fast and professional and they provide all the material they can to get you/your company CAA certified. Overall i was very satisfied with the company and the staff. If I require further professional UAV instruction I would likely use this company.”

“Might be able to fly a drone but can't drive! Cutting up a 44t Truck cos you can't plan in advance to exit. Absolute idiot! People like you cause accidents!”

“Richie and Chris delivered the course with expertise and professionalism. They covered a lot of ground in the three days, and the pre-prepared documents and assistance with the Ops Manual were invaluable.”

“Fantastic Company. Since completing my GVC course with Drone Pilot Academy I've been able to maintain great communication with the course instructor who has been really helpful where we fall short of the knowledge. Would really recommend Drone pilot academy to any one who's looking to get into the industry.”

“I took a GVC course earlier this month. Really knowledgeable, helpful and experienced team. Information for tests is presented in a really efficient way. It was fun to be there. Thank you, Chris”

“I did the A2 COC and GVC corse. Absolutely fantastic experience, our tutors Billy and Richard, were both first class instructors extremely knowledgeable and made you feel at ease giving me what ever support i required, even if that ment repeating and going over the parts of the subject I was not grasping. From my experience I would recommend Drone Pilot Academy to any one, they are just what the industry needs, they are always there for help and support what ever your problem. Once again a big thank you to Billy, Richard and the team.”

“If you're looking to up skill with theory and practical knowledge with Drones, then Drone Pilot Academy are the guys. James, Chris and Bill are knowledgeable, friendly and teach at a pace which suits all.”

“Having just completed the A2 and GVC 3 day course in a very sunny Motherwell. I would have no hesitation at all in recommending this very well structured and taught course. There is a lot to learn in a short space of time but thanks to the patients and clear teaching style of our instructor Jim Ixer I not only passed but have confidence that I can fly my drone safely and to follow all the regulations!”

“Purchased DJI mini 4 pro and signed up for intro flying course from this company. During the course, Jim set up all aspects of the drone for me, explained the operations, rules, regulations and functions of the drone before the flying lesson. Fantastic service, really knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff. The location for the course was fantastic too. I would recommend Drone pilot academy to everyone either new starters or experienced. Would have given more than 5 stars if possible. Can’t thank Jim and his team enough.”

“Excellent experience with DPA at Milton Keynes earlier this year. The instructors (Chris) and examiners (James) were both excellent, supportive and clear communicators. The venue at Cranfield was great and the post course support to get the Operational Authority issued with the CAA has been beyond what I was expecting. I really felt like the DPA team was there to help me get all requirements satisfied and 3 months on I am feeling confident that I can go and set up a job to get some filming done. Highly recommend and hopefully will be sending some colleagues soon.”

“As someone with no previous drone experience this course (A2COC and GVC) was very welcoming and interesting throughout. Our groups instructor, Chris, taught the material thoroughly so it was fun and easy to learn for everyone. I would recommend this company to anyone who is interested in drones out there.”

“Fantastic course with very experienced instructors. Highly recommended.”

“Very good experience with the Drone Pilot Academy. As someone who had never operated a drone before, I was a bit apprehensive about piloting. However, the quality and experience of the instructors, especially Chris, were crucial in teaching the basics of flying a drone safely, which greatly boosted my confidence. The entire course was well organized and of high quality, showing great attention to the students. Jim and the team deserve congratulations for this.”

“Chris Wright the Head of Training is extremely knowledgeable and fluid in his teaching. He has the answer to every possible question and helped everyone pass the exams first time. Highly recommend.”

“Very easy comms with Jim to organise the DJI mini 4 drone training. He sent through a lot of info about what IDs and Apps are needed or recommended. Great place for the training, we had a great time and are much better prepared and confident as a result. No showing off with the drones, just a straightforward professional person. 5/5 👍”

“Myself and two colleagues attended the 3 day GVC training course to obtain our GVCs in 2023. All accommodation, food etc. was all included in the price which made for a very enjoyable experience. Chris and Richie are very knowledgeable, helpful and approachable. There were full days of teaching the required theory and practical flights, however on the last day we had adverse weather so couldn't complete the FA. A year went by and we still hadn't due to various work commitments etc.. but they were very understanding and accommodating of us and over a year later were happy to support, meet and ultimately guide us through in obtaining our GVCs. I can't rate these guys highly enough and would not hesitate in recommending them for any drone training you would want to undertake.”

“Highly Recommend! Top-Notch Training! I recently completed the residential A2CofC and GVC course with Drone Pilot Academy, and I can't recommend them enough! Pros: Immersive Learning: The residential format provided a focused learning environment, allowing me to fully grasp the course material. Expert Instruction: Chris our instructor was ex-RAF with a wealth of knowledge. His revision exercises in the classroom were invaluable for exam preparation. Convenient Exams: Taking both exams in the classroom after the course was a huge plus. It eliminated any time lag and was good to crack on an get the exams completed. Flight Assessment: There was plenty of time included for practical flight training and practice. I had my FA on the same day of the exams but there is no pressure to do that, it was convenient for me and I had enough flying hours to progress. Streamlined Process: Drone Pilot Academy took care of everything, making the entire experience smooth and hassle-free. Overall: This residential course was the perfect choice for me. It offered intensive training, expert guidance, and a convenient exam process. If you're looking to get your A2CofC and GVC in a supportive and immersive environment, Drone Pilot Academy is the way to go!”

“Thoroughly enjoyed the course, very professional, the instructor’s knowledge in this industry is second to none. Highly recommend”

“I found this course disappointing. Despite being in a group with six others from a different company, I received less flight time compared to them. The course structure felt disorganised, and the instructor appeared frustrated as I struggled to grasp the material.”

“From taking on their courses and their additional advice and support given in regards to setting up afterwards has all been very thorough and helpful. Such a great and professional team to know as they never fail in steering you in the right direction with whatever it may be you seek within the drone industry!”

“Totally recommend! Thanks Chris. Very patient and takes time to explain ! ( yes Totally recommend for that matter, I have already sent a friend of mine your way. He will contact you soon.)”

“From Mike Ghent. A joy to be trained by professionals. With a real passion for the subject matter and the skills to impart knowledge and confidence. A great training experience with continuous assistance and support through the course, assessment, and beyond. Many thanks”

“I need a GVC qualification to work on the UK's Polar research vessel in the Antarctic and Arctic. I was a little nervous about the subject matter of the course and my capacity to learn all of the info in just 3 days but Chris at DPA was simply excellent with his course plan and delivery/time management. It was a thoroughly enjoyable course and I would recommend, 10/10 training provider. Additionally if you are staying at the hotel the food/lunch is excellent.”

“Great instructors making a lot of hard info go in. Excellent company.”

“I deliberately chose a face-to-face training course for my GVC; for me there is massive value in having the ability to ask the tutor questions as they arise, and DPA organise things so that you can continue in the bar after the teaching has closed for the day. Hard work for an old man who has forgotten how to concentrate in a classroom, but ultimately successful. Chris Wright is very knowledgeable and experienced, a good teacher most generous with his time . Highly recommended.”

“I wanted to expand my understanding of Drone operations, so I booked a GVC with the Drone Pilot Academy. An excellent three day course, delivered with great instruction (patient and very knowledgeable) at a great venue. Course material was very good and post course support was excellent. If you are considering doing some Drone training then this is place I would recommend.”

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“I am really happy with the course and the instructors on the course, learned a lot, and have helped me achieve what I need to go further. Greatly appreciated.”

“Wanted to try a bit of a taster session flying drones and seeing the art of the possible. Jim was excellent, and provided lots of knowledge and guidance, completely made me feel comfortable with my first drone flight. Would highly recommend!”

“It has been a pleasure working with Drone Pilot Academy from the very first day. HVAC Communications was looking to introduce drones into the business and Jim from DPA spent time with us explaining what we would need to operate, demonstrated different drones and set everything up for us. The GVC course was delivered very professionally by Chris over three days with him going above an beyond to answer any questions put forward. The guys are very knowledgeable and their experience and previous RAF careers show through. The post course support has been great. We will definitely continue to use DPA in the future.”

“Completing a PFcO to GVC course in November 2023, with The Drone Pilot Academy, who I had also got my original PFcO drone licence with previously. 1 day course with James Ixer, who has a professional and friendly approach to his courses. I would recommend this company, for those considering getting into the Drone sector, for qualifications and training etc.”

“I attended the PfCO to GVC conversion course with Drone Pilot Academy last week and have to say how professionally it was put together. Jim is extremely knowledgeable and passionate, he gets the lesson across expertly and immediately putting you at ease. This is the second time I have gone to DPA for training and wouldn't consider going anywhere else. I can highly recommend them to anyone who has an interest in Drones. Thanks Jim and all at DPA”

“I was looking for a course to obtain my drone qualification to help with roof surveying and I was recommended to attended the 3 day course for the GVC and A2 CofC. On attendance the course was very educational by providing a full understanding of the requirements for drone flying. The material was easy to follow and any questions we had were promptly answered. There was a test on the third day which the whole class had passed. After the test we attended a field near by to practice flying a drone. After the class, the service was still present with help organising the flight test and the paperwork required to submit to the CAA. I would highly recommend attending a course via the Drone Pilot Academy if you require a qualification or are a beginner to drone flying. I will definitely be attending the infrared foundation course in the near future.”

“I have recently completed Drone Pilot Academy's A2 CofC and GVC courses along with several colleagues. A special shout out to Richie for sharing his experience, knowledge and skills, ensuring you're well-prepared for your journey into the skies. From understanding airspace regulations to mastering flight maneuvers, it's a fantastic experience. They've incorporated all the right elements for success. Highly recommend for all aspiring drone pilots!”

“I recently attended the GVC drone pilot course with Drone Pilot Academy. Thoroughly enjoyed the three day course. My instructor was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, would defiantly recommend to anyone who has interests in drones, whether commercially or just for fun.”