How we work
Ten years of shoots, one process
Good creative work depends on the parts nobody sees: permits filed, airspace checked, releases signed and files delivered the way your team needs them. This is exactly how we run a project.
Step 01
Discovery
Twenty to thirty minutes, and you leave with a direction even if you never hire us.
- What the work needs to do: sell, lease, fill a room, launch, recruit
- Where it will run: website, listings, feed, ads, broadcast, a lobby screen
- Locations, dates, deadlines and anything that cannot move
- A budget range, so we design the right project instead of the biggest one
Step 02
A fixed quote
Built from the bottom up, presented in plain packages.
- Every deliverable listed: counts, lengths, formats and aspect ratios
- Crew, shoot days and what each day covers
- What a revision is, and how many rounds are included
- Weather days, rescheduling and cancellation terms in writing
- Usage rights, music licensing and talent terms spelled out
Step 03
Pre-production
Everything that can go wrong on a set gets solved here.
- Creative brief, script or outline, storyboard where it matters
- Shot list tied to the deliverables, so nothing is missed on the day
- Location scouting, property permission and a prep checklist for your team
- Detroit Film Office, Riverfront Conservancy or DNR permits when a site requires them
- Appearance releases for talent, staff and recognizable guests
Step 04
Flight planning
For every drone and FPV job, before we arrive.
- Airspace check: much of downtown is uncontrolled below 400 feet, while Coleman A. Young’s controlled airspace begins north of roughly I-75
- LAANC authorization where the site requires it
- Stadium game-day restrictions around Comerica Park and Ford Field, and any special-event restrictions
- Launch and landing permission, a safety perimeter and a visual observer when the shot needs one
- A certificate of insurance for the venue or property owner
Step 05
Shoot day
A crew sized to the job and a schedule that respects your business.
- One named approver on your side, so decisions take minutes
- Shoots timed for light and planned around your service or operating hours
- You see images and footage on set and approve as we go
- Footage backed up to two places before anyone leaves the location
Step 06
Post-production
Where the work becomes the finished piece.
- Edit, color, sound mix, captions and graphics
- Vertical and horizontal versions cut for how each platform is watched
- Broadcast and streaming spots finished to the loudness and file specs your placement requires
- Defined revision rounds, with change orders approved in writing before extra work
Step 07
Delivery and distribution
Organized files and, when it fits, an audience.
- Labeled folders by use: web, listings, social, ads, press, print
- Stills typically within days, video usually within about a week
- Optional placement on our own Detroit channels, a disclosed paid feature reaching 245,000+ people
- Reporting on what the work did, when distribution is part of the project
FAQ
Before we start
How fast can you start?
Many drone, photo and social projects can be scheduled within one to two weeks of approval. Commercial productions with scripts, casting or permits usually need three to six weeks.
What happens if it rains?
We watch the forecast and reschedule when weather is unsafe or would hurt the result. Weather days and rescheduling terms are written into every quote, so there are no surprises.
Do we get the raw footage?
Finished edits and selects are always included. Raw footage can be included or added; the quote spells out which, along with how long you can use everything.
Are you insured?
Yes. We provide a certificate of insurance to venues and property owners before the shoot, and our drone pilots hold FAA Part 107 certificates.
Have a project in mind?
Tell us what you are working on. We reply within one business day with next steps, a rough budget range and the right people for the job.
Start a project