Skip to main content

Aerial photography industry expected to grow despite drone regulations

faa drone regulations relief efforts sporting events 48970013  aerial view of photography over land transportation background
Kahunaspix / 123RF
Drone technology is expected to boost the aerial photography industry by 12.9 percent over the next six years, according to market research. The same research, however, indicates that growth is restricted by government regulations. Based on its recent study, Allied Market Research estimates that aerial imaging will be a $2.8 billion industry worldwide by 2022.

The study attributes the industry’s growth to technology including drones, 360 cameras and 3D-mapping software. The research group suggests the 12.9-percent anticipated growth is being restricted by government regulations, however. The U.S. recently adapted new commercial drone regulations that require pilots to pass a test before flying, for example, among other limitations.

Recommended Videos

Ironically, the study also shows that the government sector took up the biggest piece of that industry in 2015 and will continue to grow by about 10.9 percent annually. New ways to use aerial imaging in homeland security, environmental studies, urban planning, and disaster management have led to the government’s large footprint in the sector, the study suggests.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

While government took up the biggest chunk of the industry last year, the energy segment will grow the fastest, the research group says, with a 14.4 percent growth rate over the same six-year period. Energy companies are finding additional ways to use aerial videography with drones to inspect transmission lines, gather data for new wind and solar farms, and provide security for existing power plants.

North America currently holds the biggest share of that market, and will continue to hold that spot for the next six years. The study’s authors said that, while the projected rates will keep North America responsible for a majority of that market, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the fastest. “Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing aerial imaging market during the forecast period due to the increase in economic growth, rapid industrialization, and growth in number of natural disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, and floods in countries such as India, China, Japan, Singapore, and others,” said Pankaj Lanjudar, Allied Market Research’s lead analyst for the media division.

While the study took into account a variety of different types of aerial imaging, including media and entertainment, geospatial mapping is expected to bring in the most revenue over the next six years. The growth of aerial imaging in advertising, cinema, and commercial photography, along with the use of drone video for habitat distribution and power line management, will boost the expected revenue for commercial aerial videographers by about 14 percent annually.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Capture all the action with the GoPro HERO12 Black — $150 off today at Amazon
The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition set up on a small tripod on the beach.

In the moment, when you're blasting over that jump on your dirt bike, catching that killer wave, or jumping off of whatever insane cliff you've found, you don't necessarily think about capturing it all. But one of the best ways to make that happen is to strap on an action cam, like a GoPro. You can capture all of the action, and it's relatively low-lift. You wear whatever unique mount is best for the situation and the camera does all the work. There's just one issue, action cameras can be expensive especially if you're on a budget. However, today, Amazon has the GoPro HERO12 Black for $150 off. That brings it down from its normal price of $400 to $250. You can use that extra money to grab an accessory and you're good to go. GoPro HERO12 Black captures it all in 5.3K or 4K so you can rewatch the glory over and over.

 
Why buy the GoPro HERO12 Black? To capture the action, that's why
An action camera like a GoPro makes it possible to capture the action, in full detail, no matter what you're doing. You don't even have to be doing crazy stunts either. A common misconception is that they're only useful for outdoor activities, but no they work for filming just about anything. Even if you're having a barbecue, or a birthday party, or want to see what your roaming cat sees throughout the day -- a GoPro is what you need.

Read more
NASA astronaut Don Pettit talks photography from the space station
NASA astronaut Don Pettit discussing his photography from aboard the ISS.

NASA ASTRONAUT DISCUSSES PHOTOGRAPHY IN SPACE WITH NASASPACEFLIGHT.COM

NASA astronaut Don Pettit arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in September on his fourth orbital mission in 22 years. Besides working on various science projects on the space-based facility, Pettit is also known for his keen interest in photography, and he regularly shares his impressive efforts -- including rivers, clouds, star trails, and high-speed spacecraft -- on X and Instagram.

Read more
Target has great deals on the Fujifilm Instax cameras today
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 on a white background.

If regular camera deals look a little overwhelming or too expensive, you should check out what Target has to offer. Right now, there are some great deals on Fujifilm Instax cameras, which are perfect for those times you want to take some quick snaps and not worry about fancy settings. The deals include the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 and the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera. Let’s take a look at both cameras and see which will suit you best. Each camera is a great gift for someone this holiday season, but it’s also a fun way of snapping anything you want during the festive period.
Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera -- $140 $150 7% off

For that instant retro look, check out the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera. It takes 3 x 5 instant photos, so it’s good for shooting wide shots. Sure, it won't compete with the best DSLR cameras, but it's a fun way of taking some quick snaps. It has a rugged yet beautiful design, so it can handle a few more bumps than most cameras. It offers easy-to-use analog-style controls with a choice of three focus modes; these include normal, landscape, and macro when using the relevant and included close-up lens. It provides automatic exposure, flash control, and a self-timer with an LED countdown, so all the essentials are here. The Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 Instant Camera also has two viewfinder framing guides to assist in composing your image, and you can add a tripod mount if you want.

Read more