Let’s be honest—most small and medium-sized businesses aren’t using much photography at all when it comes to marketing. And if they are, it’s often a handful of outdated ground-level shots or stock images that don’t really show who they are or what they do.

But here’s the truth: We live in a visual, scroll-happy world. People don’t stop for plain. They don’t engage with generic. They connect with real.

That means showing them more. More of your process. More of your people. More of what makes your business worth choosing over the next name in the search results.

And one of the best ways to do that? Combining drone photography and videography with high-quality ground shots to tell a full, authentic story of your business.

Why Stock Just Doesn’t Cut It Anymore

There’s a time and place for stock photos, sure—but it’s not on the homepage of a business that wants to build trust. Consumers today are smart. They can spot a canned photo from a mile away, and when they do, it sends the message: “This business isn’t showing me anything real.”

If your competitor down the road is doing the same thing—or worse, nothing at all—you’ve got a chance to set yourself apart in a big way.

Because when you show up online with professional custom content—especially content that moves—people take notice.

Show What Others Don’t

Think about your business for a second. How often do potential customers really get to see what you do?

Most of the time, they just see the finished product. Maybe a couple pictures here and there. But the behind-the-scenes? The process? The care, the equipment, the attention to detail—that’s the part that connects. That’s where drone footage becomes powerful.

A Quick Example:

We have a friend who runs a tree cutting and removal business. It’s hard, dangerous, technical work—and the average person has no idea how it actually gets done. Which means there’s hesitation. Doubt. Apprehension. That fear of, “Am I really hiring someone who knows what they’re doing?”

So we used a mix of aerial and ground-level video to show the process from start to finish. Viewers could see how the climbers secured the tree, how it was safely cut, where the drop zones were, and how the cleanup worked.

That one video made a huge impact.

Why?

Because it didn’t just tell potential customers what they do—it showed them. It built confidence. It answered questions before they were asked. And it made their business feel trustworthy and real.

Drone + Ground = The Full Picture

Drone footage on its own is impressive. It gives people a view they’re not used to seeing—and that grabs attention. But when you combine it with clean, intentional ground shots, now you’ve got a complete story.

Show your building. Show your crew. Show your workflow from above and eye-level. Let people experience your business from every angle. It gives them a better understanding of who you are and what they can expect—before they ever call you.

The Bottom Line

Most small businesses aren’t doing this. They’re not investing in visual storytelling… in CONNECTING with their customers or patrons. And that’s exactly why YOU SHOULD!

If you want to stand out online, build trust fast, and give customers a reason to choose you over someone else, then custom photography—especially drone content—isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a smart, strategic tool that can transform how people see your business.

It’s not about being flashy. It’s about being real—and showing the value you bring from a perspective that most of your competition hasn’t even thought of yet.