About Carolina Aerials
FAA Part 107 certified. Locally owned and operated from Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
Professional aerial photography and videography for clients across the Carolinas and into Georgia. I work with real estate agents, builders, developers, and commercial clients who need reliable, high-quality aerial imagery delivered on a professional timeline.
James Richardson is an FAA Part 107-certified remote pilot and photographer based in the Upstate of South Carolina. He serves real estate, construction, and commercial clients across the Southeast.
See more of his photography work at J Richardson Photography.
The Story Behind Carolina Aerials
I started Carolina Aerials because I saw a gap in the Upstate SC market — most drone operators were hobbyists with nice equipment but no commercial certification and no understanding of what professional clients actually need from their aerial imagery.
I got my FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and built Carolina Aerials around a simple idea: deliver professional aerial photography with the reliability and turnaround that real estate agents, builders, and commercial clients expect.
Over time, clients started asking for interior work too — 3D virtual tours, floor plans, ground-level photography. That led to Southeast 3D Tours, a dedicated Matterport 3D virtual tour division that now serves the same markets with the same approach.
Whether you need aerial photos of a construction site, drone video of a luxury listing, or the full package — aerials plus a 3D walkthrough — you're working with one operator who handles it all.
Why Certification Matters
Not every drone operator you'll find online is legally authorized to fly commercially. FAA Part 107 certification means I've passed the FAA's aeronautical knowledge exam, understand airspace regulations, and operate within federal guidelines for commercial drone flights. For real estate brokerages, builders with active construction sites, and commercial property managers, working with a certified pilot is the straightforward choice.
Credentials & Certifications
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Licensed for all commercial drone operations. Compliant and operating within federal guidelines.
Night Operations Certified
Approved for drone flights after civil twilight — useful for twilight real estate shoots and special projects.
Matterport Service Partner
Through Southeast 3D Tours, we offer professional-grade Matterport 3D virtual tours as a complement to aerial photography.
What I Fly
I use DJI commercial-grade drones with high-resolution cameras capable of 4K video and 20+ megapixel stills. Equipment is maintained, inspected before every flight, and backed by redundant systems. I carry backup equipment to every shoot — if something goes wrong, the job still gets done.
The Aerial + 3D Advantage
Most aerial photography companies don't offer Matterport. Most Matterport providers don't fly drones. Carolina Aerials and Southeast 3D Tours are run by the same operator — which means you can book exterior aerials and an interior 3D walkthrough in a single visit, from one provider, with one point of contact.
That's a simpler process and a better result for agents marketing listings, builders documenting projects, and commercial clients who need comprehensive property documentation.
Ready to work together?
Book your aerial photography session or reach out with questions — I'm easy to get in touch with.