General Questions
What is your turnaround time?
We prefer to have clients give us at least one week notice prior to a shoot; however, we often aren’t afforded that much time and are happy to help you more quickly if you need it. We can deliver edited, still photos within 24 hours following the time of the shoot.
How will I get my files?
For most projects, we will deliver edited digital photos to you via Google Drive or Dropbox within 24 hours following the completion of the shoot. If your project requires additional post-processing work including mapping, video editing or image stitching, delivery time can take several days. You will receive an email that includes a link to your online photo gallery where you can download all of these files to a local device. Files can also be delivered on a flash drive for an additional charge.
Do I need to be on-site for the shoot?
It is typically not necessary for you to be on-site for the shoot; however, you are welcome to join us if you feel it will be beneficial. Our pilots are trained professionals and can capture high-quality imagery in just about any setting. Please note that if you do opt to join us on the shoot, scheduling times might be delayed as this will have to be coordinated with multiple parties. We will share our project intake form with you prior to scheduling the project. This form allows you to describe your preferences, goals and objectives in full detail. Most of our clients choose to communicate online or over the phone.
What kind of weather would be best for the shoot?
This depends on what you are trying to accomplish and your personal preferences. For marketing photos, many professionals prefer partly cloudy weather because of the absence of sunlight along with just enough clouds in the sky to display texture in the photos. We are able to shoot in most weather, including winter conditions. We are only unable to fly in rain, snow or very windy conditions.
I was told this location is too close to an airport. Can you fly near airports?
It depends. Although it is true there are some locations and areas that are either off-limits or have additional height restrictions, we can fly near, or even at, most airports if we can obtain the necessary legal permission. This can take a little more time to file the paperwork and get permission from the airport and Nav Canada, but we are happy to do the work.
If you are unsure of the viability of a particular location, shoot us an email or give us a call.
Drone Imagery Questions
Can you capture the entire property in one photo?
This largely depends on the nature of your project and the size of the property. Our pilots can legally fly at heights of up to 400 feet in most locations. A good rule of thumb is to assume the drone can capture about 20 acres in a single shot from 400 feet.
Image Stitching and Orthomosaics
If you require shots of a site that is larger than 20 acres, we can still help! Our pilot would capture multiple high-resolution shots with a particular overlap. We would then use image stitching software to combine the images into a single large and high-quality image that covers properties of all shapes and sizes.
What kind of drones do you fly?
TNAI pilots almost exclusively fly drones manufactured by DJI. DJI is the industry leader and currently owns approximately 70% of the market share. The specific model of drone that will be used on your project can vary; however, all are minimally equipped with cameras capable of shooting video in 4K resolution. In almost all cases, the pilot assigned to your project will be using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro or Phantom 4.
What file format will you use?
It is up to you. TNAI is committed to delivering the highest quality imagery possible we can shoot photos in RAW (DNG) or JPG. For film, videos will be delivered in either MP4 or MOV format.
What is a RAW or DNG photo?
A RAW photo is the image produced by all of the raw data from the camera sensor. The image is large and minimally processed, and is ideal for professional editing within applications like Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo. DJI drones save RAW images as .DNG files.
What photo resolution can I expect?
We deliver only high-resolution imagery to our clients. For specific details, please see the DJI Camera Specs. section below.
Billing & Payment
How do I pay?
We accept cash, cheque or e-transfer, and an invoice will be provided via email.
Can I get just one photo?
We can certainly share a single photo with you; however, for most projects, image quantity does not affect price. We typically advise clients to look at all of the photos we capture and choose for themselves which ones they personally think are best. It can be challenging to verbally communicate the precise heights, angles and distances of preferred shots, so we always like to capture as many shots as is reasonable to ensure enough variety to provide the photos you have in mind.
What is your hourly rate?
We’ve found that most of our clients are more interested in us getting the job done well than they are about how much time it takes us to complete. As such, we do not charge an hourly rate. Many independent drone operators will include travel time, breaks and more when determining a final price. We eliminate that uncertainty and unnecessary stress by billing only the amount you are originally quoted.
Do you charge for travel?
No. The quote we provide will be simple and straightforward and there won’t be any hidden or unexpected expenses.
Drone Camera Specs.
Mavic Pro 2
| Sensor | 1” CMOS Effective Pixels: 20 million |
|---|---|
| Lens | FOV: about 77° 35 mm Format Equivalent: 28 mm Aperture: f/2.8–f/11 Shooting Range: 1 m to ∞ |
| ISO Range | Video: 100-6400 Photo: 100-3200 (auto) 100-12800 (manual) |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Shutter: 8–1/8000s |
| Still Image Size | 5472×3648 |
| Still Photography Modes | Single shot Burst shooting: 3/5 frames Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV Bias Interval (JPEG: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60s RAW:5/7/10/15/20/30/60s) |
| Video Resolution | 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p 2.7K: 2688×1512 24/25/30/48/50/60p FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p |
| Max Video Bitrate | 100Mbps |
| Color Mode | Dlog-M (10bit), support HDR video (HLG 10bit) |
| Supported File System | FAT32 (≤ 32 GB) exFAT (> 32 GB) |
| Photo Format | JPEG / DNG (RAW) |
| Video Format | MP4 / MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, HEVC/H.265) |
Phantom 4
| Sensor | 1/2.3” CMOS Effective pixels:12.4 M |
|---|---|
| Lens | FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8 focus at ∞ |
| ISO Range | 100-3200 (video)100-1600 (photo) |
| Electronic Shutter Speed | 8 – 1/8000 s |
| Image Size | 4000×3000 |
| Still Photography Modes | Single shot Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV Bias Timelapse HDR |
| Video Recording Modes | UHD: 4096×2160 (4K) 24 / 25p 3840×2160 (4K) 24 / 25 / 30p 2704×1520 (2.7K) 24 / 25 / 30p FHD: 1920×1080 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 120p HD: 1280×720 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60p |
| Max Video Bitrate | 60 Mbps |
| Supported File Systems | FAT32 (≤32 GB); exFAT (>32 GB) |
| Photo | JPEG, DNG (RAW) |
| Video | MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) |
| Supported SD Cards | Micro SD Max capacity: 64 GB Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required |
| Operating Temperature Range | 32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C) |
True North Aerial Imaging 