Harvey

I got into drones back in 2019 after buying a DJI Mini 2. At first, it was just a hobby - something fun to do in my spare time. But things quickly took off (pun intended) when friends and others started asking me to do little bits of work for them. That’s when HD Drone Photography was born in 2020. I picked up a second, larger drone and completed a few training courses, which eventually led to some recognition from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

In 2021, I decided to take things more seriously and passed both my A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC) and General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC). I also received Operational Authorisation from the CAA, which basically means I can fly heavier drones (between 250g and 25kg) in places where standard hobby flying isn’t allowed - like over people or in residential and commercial areas. These qualifications are essential for flying the bigger drones in my collection, like the DJI Matrice 30T. With that in place, I started doing more professional work - mainly for estate agents, and also filming at some well-known Cornish spots, like Charlestown Harbour.

Then in 2022, I added the Matrice 30T to my fleet. It’s a bit of a beast, with thermal and mapping features, which opened the door to new types of work - things like solar panel inspections (both domestic and commercial) and even helping out with searches for lost animals. 

One of my proudest moments came in May 2022, when I was contacted by ITV. They asked to use some footage I’d captured at the Minack Theatre for their Lorraine show, as part of their ‘No Butts Campaign’ for bowel cancer awareness. It was only a few seconds in the opening credits, but seeing my work on national TV was a real high point - and I’ve since been invited back to the Minack, which was a nice bonus.

Fast forward to 2024, and I upgraded again - this time adding the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine and DJI Neo to the mix. These have opened up some exciting new possibilities, including internal drone flights for property tours. Now I can offer full coverage - outside and inside - which has been a big hit with clients.

In 2025, I took on a longer-term project for Miles Macadam, covering the A391 resurfacing work on behalf of Cormac and Cornwall Council. That one ran over four weeks and really showed how useful drones can be for progress tracking and large infrastructure jobs.

Since getting qualified in 2021, I’ve flown in over 180 locations across the UK - including London, North Wales, and of course my home turf in Cornwall and Devon. I’m always looking to learn more, try new tech, and find interesting places to fly. At the end of the day, I just really enjoy what I do. There’s something special about combining tech, creativity, and a bit of adventure - and if I can help someone along the way, even better.

Like the old saying goes:
"Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life."
And for me, that couldn’t be more true.