400
Feet AGL
Drone & Aerial Photography

A Perspective
Nothing Else
Can Match.

FAA Part 107 certified aerial photography and video for Alabama businesses, government agencies, real estate professionals, and developers. Operated by someone who runs an active department UAS program — not just a hobbyist with a drone.

FAA Part 107 Certified Remote ID Compliant LAANC Authorized Night Operations Dept. UAS Program Lead
FAA Part 107Commercial UAS Certified
LAANC AuthorizationControlled Airspace Access
Remote ID CompliantAll Aircraft Registered
Night OperationsWaiver Capable
Dept. UAS LeadActive Law Enforcement
Why It Matters

Not Every Drone
Operator Is the
Same.

Anyone can buy a drone. Very few people operate one at a professional level, with full legal compliance, proper insurance, and the technical judgment to get shots that actually serve your project.

James McCool is HRZN Media's lead drone operator. He holds FAA Part 107 certification and currently manages his law enforcement department's official UAS program — including airspace coordination, operational protocols, and equipment maintenance. He does this professionally, not as a side hustle.

That background means he understands airspace in ways most commercial drone operators do not. He knows how to coordinate with airports and ATC for LAANC authorization, how to operate in Class B, C, D, and E airspace legally, and how to plan flights around operational variables — weather windows, sun position, shadow angles — to get the footage your project actually needs.

The difference between a good drone shot and a great one is the operator — not the equipment.
Fully Legal & Insured
FAA Part 107 certified, Remote ID compliant, fully insured for commercial operations. Every flight we conduct is legal. You will never have a compliance issue with our aerial work — which matters especially for government and corporate clients.
Controlled Airspace Capable
Many drone operators can only fly in uncontrolled airspace. We obtain LAANC authorization to operate legally in controlled airspace — which means we can fly in and around Birmingham, Hoover, and areas near airports that other operators cannot legally access.
Night Operations
Twilight and night aerial shots are some of the most compelling footage available — and most operators cannot legally do them. We are equipped and authorized for night operations, opening up a range of creative possibilities most drone operators simply cannot offer.
Law Enforcement UAS Experience
James manages his department's UAS program as part of his active law enforcement role. That experience — operational planning, airspace coordination, equipment maintenance, flight documentation — translates directly into a higher level of professionalism on every commercial shoot.
Cinematic Post-Production
Raw drone footage is not a deliverable — edited, color-graded aerial content is. We handle full post-production on every aerial project: stabilization, color grading, format optimization for web, social, and broadcast. What you receive is ready to use.
Use Cases

When Aerial Is the
Right Answer.

Real Estate
Lot size, neighborhood context, proximity to amenities, waterfront access, and roofline conditions — all visible from the air in a way no ground camera can match. Essential for luxury listings, acreage, and commercial properties.
ResidentialCommercialLand & AcreageLuxury
Commercial & Development
Construction progress documentation, site overview for investor presentations, development marketing, and large-scale commercial property showcases. Aerial tells the story of scale and context that ground-level footage simply cannot.
Construction ProgressSite OverviewInvestor Decks
Law Enforcement & Government
Community events, department media, city government projects, and public communications. Our operator understands law enforcement airspace requirements, operational security, and government content constraints at a level no commercial-only operator can match.
Dept. EventsCity ProjectsPublic Safety
Events & Venues
Event coverage from above — crowd scale, venue context, outdoor gatherings, and facility showcases. Aerial event footage gives organizers and venues content that no ground photographer can capture.
Outdoor EventsVenue ShowcaseFestival Coverage
Brand & Commercial Film
Cinematic aerial sequences for brand films, recruitment videos, corporate content, and campaign launches. An establishing aerial shot changes the production value of any video — it signals quality before a single person appears on screen.
Brand FilmsRecruitmentCampaign Content
Landscapes & Natural Features
Land management, conservation documentation, hunting and outdoor properties, agricultural overview, and natural feature showcases. Aerial is the only way to truly capture the scale and character of large outdoor properties and natural landscapes.
Hunting PropertiesAgricultureConservation
Technical Capabilities

Built for Professional
Results.

CertificationFAA Part 107
Aircraft RegistrationFAA Registered · Remote ID
Airspace AuthorizationLAANC Capable
Airspace ClassesB · C · D · E · G
Night OperationsWaiver Capable
Video ResolutionUp to 4K/60fps
Photo Resolution20MP+ RAW Available
Color ProfileD-Log / HLG for Grading
InsuranceCommercial UAS Coverage
Delivery FormatsWeb · Social · Broadcast
A Note on Airspace

The greater Birmingham metro area includes controlled airspace around Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and several surrounding Class D airports. Many drone operators cannot legally fly in these areas without authorization.

We obtain LAANC authorization for controlled airspace operations — which means we can legally operate in areas where unlicensed or improperly certified operators cannot. For clients in the metro area, this matters.

If you are unsure whether your project location is in controlled airspace, reach out and we will tell you what the airspace situation is and how we handle it before we ever schedule a shoot.

Who We Work With

Built for Projects That
Demand Real Expertise.

Real Estate Professionals
Realtors, brokers, and developers across the Birmingham metro who need fast, high-quality aerial for listings, developments, and land sales.
Law Enforcement & Government
Police departments, city governments, and municipal agencies that need aerial media produced with full understanding of operational and legal requirements.
Commercial Developers
Construction companies, commercial real estate firms, and developers needing site documentation, progress footage, and investor-ready aerial content.
Event Organizers & Venues
Outdoor event coordinators, venue operators, and organizations that want compelling aerial coverage of their events and facilities.
Production Companies
Video production teams and agencies that need a certified drone operator to subcontract for projects requiring aerial sequences.
Land & Agricultural Owners
Landowners, farmers, timber companies, and hunting property sellers who need comprehensive aerial documentation of large tracts.
The UAS Advantage

What Active Law
Enforcement UAS
Experience Means for You.

James does not just fly drones commercially. He manages his law enforcement department's UAS program as part of his active duty role. That experience translates directly into a higher standard of professionalism on every commercial shoot.

The skills required to manage a departmental UAS program — flight planning, airspace coordination, equipment maintenance, incident response, documentation — are exactly the skills that separate a professional aerial operator from someone who bought a drone last year.

Pre-flight planning discipline. Every shoot is planned before we arrive — airspace checked, weather evaluated, sun position calculated, flight path mapped. Nothing is improvised in the air.
Airspace coordination expertise. We have experience coordinating with ATC and managing LAANC authorizations for operational flights — not just recreational ones.
Equipment reliability standards. Our aircraft are maintained to operational standards — not the hobby maintenance schedule most commercial operators use.
Operational security awareness. For law enforcement and government clients, we understand what cannot be captured, retained, or released — and we operate accordingly without needing to be told.
Documentation and compliance records. We maintain proper flight logs, waivers, and authorization documentation for every commercial operation — because in our primary work, that is non-negotiable.
Common Questions

FAQ

Is your drone work fully legal for commercial use?
Yes. Our operator holds FAA Part 107 certification, which is the federal requirement for commercial UAS operations. All aircraft are FAA-registered and Remote ID compliant. We are fully insured for commercial aerial work. You will never have a compliance issue on our end.
Can you fly near Birmingham International Airport?
Yes. Much of the Birmingham metro falls within controlled airspace. We obtain LAANC authorization to operate legally in these areas. Many drone operators cannot do this — we can, and we do it routinely.
What happens if weather does not cooperate on shoot day?
We monitor weather conditions closely before every flight. If conditions are unsuitable — high winds, precipitation, low ceiling — we reschedule rather than fly in marginal conditions. Safety and quality are not negotiable. Rescheduling is built into our process.
Can aerial be bundled with ground-level video or photography?
Yes — and we recommend it for most projects. Combining aerial and ground-level production in a single visit is more efficient and gives you a complete range of footage. It also keeps everything in the same visual style and color grade.
Do you deliver raw footage or edited content?
We deliver edited, color-graded content optimized for your intended use — not raw files. Raw drone footage requires stabilization, color grading, and format optimization before it is usable. That work is included in our deliverables.
What areas do you serve for drone work?
We are based in Trussville and serve the greater Birmingham metro and statewide Alabama. For larger projects — commercial developments, government work, significant land parcels — we travel anywhere in the state.
Book a Drone Shoot

Ready to See Your Project from Above?

Tell us what you are shooting, where it is, and what you need. We will confirm airspace, availability, and scope within one business day.

Book Aerial Coverage