Today we’d like to introduce you to Clint Harris.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Clint. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Like most people who get into drones or cameras, it quickly becomes an obsession. For me, I could not wait to get more! I remember setting off toy rockets that would shoot hundreds of feet into the air and chasing them as they parachuted down just to get them ready to do it all over again.
I remember my first R/C plane and helicopter and fell in love with them. Me personally, I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground but to fly an R/C plane with a camera mounted in the nose or cockpit area was better than any video game. It felt like you were up there in real life because if you crashed, it was costly! I built my first multi-rotor drone from scratch about six years ago, and it made it through 2 fights before crashing. It was a lesson learned for sure regarding what materials were better suited.
Now, this was really before all the mainstream manufacturers were offering anything remotely affordable if they even had a solution, but there were kits you could buy, so I did just that with the mentality of not only was I going to do this right, but I was going to do it big. When I mean big, I mean it had eight motors (an octocopter) and had a diameter of 55” from motor to motor. This thing was, and still it, a beast! It was built to carry a full-size DSLR camera with up to a large telephotos lens or even cameras such as a RED. It weighed in at just over 25 lbs and could carry a payload of 20 lbs for about 15-18 minutes.
Fast forward a couple of years, and with technology advancements, it became too costly and time-consuming to fly compared to what was now available on the market (and it wasn’t like I was filming for movies), so it was put in a case and has not seen much light since. Now I mainly use a couple of Phantom 4 Pro’s or an Inspire 1 Pro, soon to upgrade to the Inspire 2. While we do a lot of aerial work in the commercial real estate sector for investors and builders from community and lifestyle shoots to 3D mapping, we do not limit ourselves to just one market. So now let’s get behind the logistics and how FlyBy Digital Media came to be.
Back in 2009, I had been a financial planner for 6-7 years that lost his job at the same time banks were starting to go under. The biggest lesson I stressed and taught to people was to diversify their money so that in the event one type of investment, in this case, the real estate market, took a nosedive, that not all of their eggs were in one basket and other areas would be less vulnerable. What I never took into consideration was diversifying my own career. This is why we are a full-service video production company that offers ground and aerial videography, cinematography, and photography.
From real estate and construction asset management to business advertisement and conferences, there is not much we can’t and won’t do. We have built some very strong alliances and partnered with some of the best camera operators and drone pilots around to make sure the service and deliverables that our clients receive are above their expectations, regardless of the size of the project. I never thought it would turn into a career and without the support of my wife and the generosity and graciousness of my Lord, it would not have been possible!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
What startup doesn’t struggle? There have definitely been times where I just wanted to sell off all of my gear for various reasons from computer and equipment failure to losing 20 jobs in a row because someone would rather go the lowest cost route and not pay for quality. I have also been contacted by several of those same clients later regretting their decision not to spend the extra money.
In this industry, you do get what you pay for. If you want a $400 wedding video, that is exactly what you will get. There have also been times where it seems like jobs are just not out there, but you just have to keep digging and hunting. Most of my customers now are either repeat or referrals. I do not hunt for jobs like I used to and I feel that is strictly due to the quality of work I provide.
We also carry annual insurance policies of $1 million in General Liability, $1 million in Aircraft Liability, and $1 million in an umbrella policy to protect not only us but our clients. At any point, we can bump the policy limits higher if a client needs additional coverage as well.
FlyBy Digital Media – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
FlyBy Digital Media is a premier video production company that offers a diverse range of services that include but are not limited to business advertisements for TV and social media, conference and live event coverage, commercial and residential real estate services, construction services like asset management, 3D mapping, and volumetric assessments, all the way to weddings, portraits, and corporate headshots.
Now my part is not only to oversee day to day operations and to make sure we have the right assets and personnel for the job, but I am also the lead drone pilot and videographer/cinematographer. We have professional photographers that have their specialties. We do not send a wedding photographer to shoot commercial real estate.
My proudest achievement is not of money like most would say, or their level of advancement and growth, although it is on the list. It is seeing the reaction when newlyweds watch their video for the first time, having a company jump for joy and applaud for the advertisement we just provided. Yes, it cost money to build and grow a business, but without satisfied clients, a business will never get there.
One of the things that sets us apart is when you call our number; it rings at my office, my cell phone, my iPad, and every other device with a cellular signal. If we do not answer, then it is because we are busy, but we always call back, we return every email, and we respond to every Facebook message or text. While our website may need some updating, one thing that will not change is our core values, one of which is:
“Communication and collaboration are the keys in turning ideas into action and action into reality. We could do an award-winning job on your project, but if it is not what you are looking for, then we have failed.”
Another thing that sets us apart from the herd is that when it comes to aerial work via drones, we are one of the most experienced and legally authorized companies in the metroplex. To fly in DFW commercially, you have to have what is called Airspace Authorizations for an airports airspace. In DFW there are 12 sets of controlled, and we have the authorization to fly in all of them! We do things by the book, and if a client wants a shot that the FAA will not approve, then it doesn’t happen with a drone.
We stay in contact with some airports regularly, especially for night flights and sometimes we are able to get authorizations that would normally be denied due to our relationships with Air Traffic Controllers and Airport Managers due to our relationships with them. And as previously mentioned, we do carry several insurance policies to protect us and our clients.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Some of the proudest moments of my career so far has been able to provide our services to venues and organizations like FC Dallas Soccer Team, Major League Soccer (MLS), Toyota Stadium, UIL, Dominium, Greystone, and cities like Mansfield and services that we have provided to several other production companies for events, venues, and major sporting events. I would say thought that the fondest moments are the ones that have built deep connections, and even collaborations, with our competition. To look past the dollar sign and be able to build friendships with competition is extremely gratifying.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flybydm.com
- Phone: 682-302-1440
- Email: clint@flybydm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flybydigitalmedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlyByDigitalMedia
Image Credit:
NBCSN
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
