How does one create a successful long-term career in aerial photography?
Fiona Lake is a professional photographer based in tropical North Queensland. Fiona has more than thirty years experience in agricultural photography, and has become Australia's most well-known outback photographer. She specializes in agriculture and the world’s largest cattle stations, and has taken aerial photographs from helicopters since 1988.
Her multi-faceted business includes books, exhibitions and farm tours as well as commercial photography. Less than 2% of Australia's fully licensed drone pilots are women, and Fiona is one of them. She runs drone masterclasses across Australia and more recently, in the US. Her Rural Drone Academy covers everything a drone pilot needs to know to fly safely, legally, productively and enjoyably. In 2018, Chicago-based 'Women and Drones' named her as a 'Woman to Watch in UAS', along with nine other women from seven different countries. In 2020, she was winner of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalist’s Photography Award. She has also been recognized by the Queensland Government as a Community Digital Champion and one of the 100 Faces of Small Business
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Fiona talks about helicopter and drone aerial photography, what to look for in a drone training program, and she offers insights into a variety of aerial photography questions, most importantly, how one can develop a successful, long-term career in photography.