Frequently Asked Questions

You are based in Yuma, Az. How far do you fly?

Southwest can provide coverage throughout Arizona and southeastern California. All of your aerial photography needs can be taken care of by making one call to Southwest Aerial Photography. Because the owner currently has a full-time job Monday-Thursday, aerial photographs are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays unless otherwise planned ahead of time. Please Contact Us for more information.

How much does your service cost?

Pricing for aerial photography varies depending on a number of factors. Some clients want one image. Other clients want several images along with large prints. We can photograph a site one time or we can photograph it monthly or weekly to document construction progress. You may have one site in Yuma, AZ to be photographed or you may have several sites throughout the region. When you have a need for aerial photography, please Contact Us and we will provide a quote specifically for you.

Can you provide my images on CD or via e-mail?

We can provide your aerial images on CD at any size and resolution you need. If you need the images immediately, we can send them via e-mail or we can send them through an FTP site.

What is your turn-around time?

Because I work full-time Monday through Thursday, I am available to photograph your site Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I can arrange other options throughout the week with advance notice. The weather dictates when we can fly. During the monsoon season, it is often windy, hazy and cloudy, so we may have to wait a bit until we can fly. However, once I have captured custom aerial photos for you, I can deliver them the same day, if there is an immediate deadline. I capture all of our images digitally which eliminates the need to wait for film to be processed and scanned. I can even meet clients at the airport so that they can have their images within minutes after we land! We never want to compromise the quality of our images, but we also don't want to miss your deadline. We will discuss this when you order your custom aerials.

What's the difference between oblique and vertical aerials?

Oblique aerials are taken looking down at an angle, while vertical aerials are taken looking straight down vertically.

Do you keep my images on file in case I need prints at a later date?

We permanently archive every image that we capture. Each image has a unique file number so that we can quickly retrieve a specific image if you later need us to provide additional digital files or prints.

Do I own the images that I order?

Copyright is a complex and often confusing issue that we try to keep very simple. Southwest Aerial Photography maintains ownership of every image that we capture. However, we make it very easy for you to use your images as needed. Custom images (ones that you hire us to shoot for you) come with reproduction rights that allow you to use images as part of marketing materials, websites, etc. The only limitation is that you cannot resell the images. Please Contact Us if you have questions about usage rights for your images.

What type of aircraft do you fly?

For most of our work, we fly a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a four-seat, single engine airplane. The Skyhawk is a popular platform for aerial photography due to its balance of speed and maneuverability.

What kind of camera equipment do you use?

Our images are produced 100% digitally. We use Nikon professional digital cameras and high quality Nikon professional lenses. The camera used is the full-frame Nikon D810 shot at a stunning resolution of 36.3 megapixels. The camera produces images of 7360x4912 pixels. The quality of this equipment is top of the line.

Is your work guaranteed?

Of course! Our guarantee is this: if you are not completely satisfied with the images that we deliver to you, we will photograph your site again at no additional cost. It is critical to us that our clients are satisfied with their aerial images.

Do you only offer aerial photography or can you help me with exterior and interior views as well?

Upon availability, we also offer ground-based architectural photography services to complement the aerial images. We can provide oblique aerials, vertical aerials, exterior ground views, and interior views for a complete visual presentation of your property. Keep in mind at this time I would only be able to offer the exterior ground views and interior views after hours from my full-time job.

Do you only photograph commercial sites?

We can take photos of anything that can be seen from the air. In addition to commercial real estate and construction sites, we photograph residential property (farms, acreage, beach houses), golf courses, industrial sites, city skylines, accident sites, apartment complexes, etc. There is no limit!

Do you digitally enhance the aerials?

Yes! Basic image editing comes at no charge as part of the Southwest service. We want your property to look as good as it possibly can.

If you want unwanted elements such as vehicles or dumpsters removed from the photo or to tidy up distracting markings just let us know. For this additional editing we charge $35 per hour.

If you would like your image to be further enhanced, let us know and we can discuss the details.

Do you carry aerial photography insurance?

Yes of course! Southwest carries $1,000,000 liability insurance. If you need us to add your company as an additional insured that would be no problem. We will email you a certificate showing that coverage when requested.