by Janet Civitelli
TECHNOLOGY
Drone Videography Enables a New Perspective Georgetown-based A Step Ahead (ASA) Imagery specializes in drone videography and photography. Owner Richard de la Vega says drone videography is an ideal way to showcase your property, advertise your business, livestream your event, or document a memorable experience like a family vacation. De la Vega is available to hire on a single project basis or on retainer for businesses who need on going videography and photography.
New Business Launch
De la Vega launched his creative business after a career pivot. Having worked as a detective for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office for 16 years, he opened his own investigative firm, A Step Ahead (ASA) Investigations. His investigative business did well until the pandemic caused a slowdown, motivating him to explore new business opportunities. After attending a business conference about “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS), de la Vega decided drone videography was a good fit for his skills and interests. He closed ASA Investigations and opened ASA Imagery. He says the toughest part about the change
from government employment to the private sector was learning how to manage and market a business. These skills, now developed, led to his current success, where his primary sources of new business are repeat customers and referrals from satisfied customers. De la Vega maintains licenses as a “small unmanned aircraft system” (sUAS) pilot, sUAS flight instructor—both regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)— and is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30 certified professional. These credentials enable him to teach other drone owners about FAA laws and regulations. He teaches classes at Valmont Utility, where he instructs UAS pilots how to fly larger drones and inspect electrical lines.
I n fields where safet y is cr itical, drones are useful in completing r igorous inspec tions. I n real estate, listings sell quicker and for a higher pr ice when high qualit y aer ial videos and photos highlight key features of the proper t y. For construc tion projec ts, time lapse video is the per fec t method to document progress from beginning to completion. D e la Vega’s videography por tfolio showcases how effec tive this t ype of videography can be.
14 WILCO BUSINESS REVIEW | 2022 • ISSUE 3
