FAQ | Enhance Your Projects Today

Planning Your Project

Sky Media 45 provides professional visual communication services that help organizations tell their stories with clarity and impact. Services include commercial photography, aerial imaging, promotional video production, construction progress documentation, destination and tourism marketing, live event coverage, broadcast production, voice-over narration, podcast production, and media consulting. Whether you need a single project or ongoing visual content throughout the year, every service is tailored to your goals rather than a one-size-fits-all package.

Every project is built around one objective: helping organizations communicate with clarity, credibility, and impact.
Sky Media 45 is based in Mancelona, Michigan, and proudly serves Northern Michigan, including Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Gaylord, Bellaire, Kalkaska, and surrounding communities. Depending on the scope of the project, travel throughout Michigan and neighboring states is also available. If you're unsure whether your location is within our service area, simply reach out—many projects can be accommodated with advance planning.
The easiest way is to complete the online quote request form or contact me directly by phone or email. We'll start with a conversation about your project, timeline, goals, audience, and budget. From there, I'll recommend an approach that fits your objectives and provide a detailed quote outlining the scope of work. My goal is to make the process straightforward, transparent, and collaborative from the very beginning.
Every project is different, and timelines depend on complexity, weather, scheduling, and the type of deliverables involved. Aerial photography sessions may be completed in a single day, while commercial video productions or construction documentation projects often span several days, weeks, or even months. During our initial consultation, I'll provide an estimated schedule so you know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Communication throughout the project ensures there are no surprises.
Absolutely. Sky Media 45 regularly collaborates with marketing agencies, communications teams, architects, engineers, contractors, tourism organizations, and public information offices. Whether serving as your primary media partner or supporting an existing creative team, I can integrate seamlessly into your workflow while maintaining consistent branding, messaging, and production quality.
That answer broadens your appeal to organizations that already have communications staff but need a trusted production partner. It's a subtle but valuable signal to higher-end clients that you're comfortable working as part of a larger team.

Construction & Infrastructure

Absolutely. Sky Media 45 provides recurring photography, aerial imaging, and video documentation throughout every phase of construction. Whether you're breaking ground on a new development or completing a major infrastructure improvement, consistent visual documentation creates a valuable record of progress for owners, contractors, investors, and the public.
Projects can be documented on a weekly, monthly, milestone-based, or customized schedule to meet your reporting and communication needs.
Construction documentation serves a wide range of audiences beyond the job site. Professional imagery can be used to communicate progress with clients, investors, project managers, municipal leaders, and the public while also supporting marketing, social media, grant reporting, and historical records.
Sky Media 45 works with builders, developers, municipalities, utilities, engineering firms, schools, and community organizations to create visual assets that keep stakeholders informed throughout every stage of a project.
Sky Media 45 provides visual documentation for commercial construction, residential developments, municipal infrastructure, utilities, public works, schools, parks, recreation facilities, and community improvement projects. Services include aerial photography, ground photography, promotional video, progress documentation, completed project showcases, and media content designed for websites, presentations, and social media.
Every project is tailored to the client's communication goals and reporting requirements.
Yes. Safety is always the highest priority. Every project is coordinated with the site superintendent, project manager, or designated representative to ensure drone operations and photography are conducted safely without disrupting ongoing work. Site-specific safety requirements, access procedures, and operational restrictions are reviewed before every visit.

Common Questions

Everything you need to know before your project begins.

Photography & Video

Yes. Sky Media 45 provides professional photography for businesses, construction projects, tourism organizations, community events, and promotional marketing. Whether you need high-quality images for your website, social media, print materials, or advertising, every session is planned with your communication goals in mind. From aerial photography and architectural imagery to lifestyle and event coverage, the focus is always on creating photographs that tell your story and strengthen your brand.
Absolutely. Promotional videos are one of the most effective ways to showcase your business, project, or organization. Sky Media 45 produces videos for websites, social media, digital advertising, community outreach, tourism promotion, and corporate communications. Every project includes thoughtful planning, professional cinematography, editing, music, and graphics to create engaging content that connects with your audience and supports your objectives.
Yes. If you've already captured video or photography but need professional editing, Sky Media 45 can help. Whether you're combining footage from multiple cameras, incorporating drone imagery, adding graphics, improving audio, or creating a polished final product, existing content can often be transformed into a compelling story. During our initial conversation, we'll review your material and discuss the best approach to achieve your goals.
Yes. Strong visual content begins with a clear message. With more than three decades of experience in broadcast journalism, public affairs, and strategic communications, Sky Media 45 can assist with scripting, interview development, narration, promotional copy, and story structure. Whether you need a concise commercial, a corporate presentation, or a documentary-style narrative, every script is written to communicate clearly and authentically while reflecting your organization's voice.

Broadcast Production

Sky Media 45 provides professional broadcast and media production services for businesses, schools, community organizations, and special events. Services include livestream production, play-by-play sports broadcasting, podcast production, promotional videos, interviews, voice-over narration, and multimedia storytelling.
Whether you're producing a one-time event or building an ongoing communications program, every project is planned and produced with professional broadcast standards.
Yes. Professional voice-over narration is available for commercial advertising, promotional videos, documentaries, training content, tourism marketing, public information campaigns, podcasts, and digital media.
With more than three decades of broadcast experience, Sky Media 45 delivers narration that is clear, conversational, and tailored to your audience and message.
Absolutely. Sky Media 45 can produce both audio and video podcasts from concept through final delivery. Services include planning, recording, lighting, multi-camera production, editing, graphics, music integration, and publishing support.
Whether you're launching a branded podcast, interviewing community leaders, or producing recurring episodes, we help create engaging content that reflects your organization's voice.
Yes. Sky Media 45 specializes in professional livestream production for athletic events, community programs, public meetings, and special events. Productions can include multiple camera angles, professional graphics, instant replay, commentary, sponsor recognition, and high-quality audio.
Our goal is to deliver a viewing experience that reflects the professionalism of your organization while making it easy for audiences to watch from anywhere.

Still Have Questions?

Every project is unique, and not every question fits neatly into a list. If you didn't find the information you were looking for, I'd be happy to learn more about your goals, answer your questions, and help you determine the best approach for your project.

Whether you're planning a commercial video, aerial imaging, construction documentation, broadcast production, or community storytelling initiative, the conversation starts with understanding what success looks like for you.

Helping organizations tell their story with clarity, credibility, and impact.

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Aerial Imaging

If your project involves drone photography or video for a business, organization, or any commercial purpose, federal regulations generally require the pilot to hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. This includes projects such as commercial photography, promotional videos, construction documentation, inspections, tourism marketing, and most work performed in exchange for compensation or other business benefit.
Hiring an FAA-certified pilot helps ensure your project is conducted legally, safely, and professionally. Certified pilots are trained in airspace regulations, weather considerations, flight planning, operational safety, and risk management. Many commercial clients—including contractors, municipalities, engineering firms, and insurance providers—also require proof of FAA certification and commercial liability insurance before work begins.
Sky Media 45 is FAA Part 107 certified and commercially insured. Every project begins with careful planning to ensure regulatory compliance, safe operations, and high-quality results, giving you confidence that your project is in experienced hands.
Yes. Sky Media 45 carries commercial liability insurance for drone operations. Proof of insurance is available upon request and can be provided to clients, contractors, municipalities, or project managers before work begins.
In most cases, Sky Media 45 handles the coordination required to legally and safely conduct your aerial project. Before every flight, I evaluate the location for airspace restrictions, nearby airports, temporary flight restrictions, and other operational considerations. If FAA authorization or additional permissions are required, I'll determine what's needed and obtain the appropriate approvals whenever possible.
If your project is located on private property, I may also coordinate with the property owner or site representative to ensure safe access and operations. My goal is to make the process as seamless as possible, allowing you to focus on your project while I handle the flight planning and regulatory requirements.
Safety always comes first. High winds, precipitation, low visibility, and other weather conditions can affect drone operations. If conditions aren't suitable for safe flight, we'll work with you to reschedule at the earliest available opportunity. Flexible scheduling helps ensure your project is completed safely while still delivering the quality imagery you're expecting.

Working With Sky Media 45

Every project begins with a conversation. After receiving your request, I'll contact you to learn more about your goals, timeline, budget, and intended audience. From there, I'll recommend an approach that best fits your needs and provide a clear proposal outlining the scope of work, estimated costs, and expected deliverables.
My goal is to make the process straightforward, collaborative, and tailored to your project from the very beginning.
Because every project is different, pricing is based on the scope of work rather than a one-size-fits-all package.
Factors such as travel, production time, editing, aerial operations, project duration, and final deliverables all influence pricing. Whether you need a single promotional video, recurring construction documentation, professional photography, or a livestream production, I'll recommend a solution that fits both your goals and your budget.
Detailed, no-obligation quotes are always provided before work begins.
You'll receive professionally edited media ready for its intended purpose. Depending on your project, deliverables may include high-resolution photographs, web-optimized images, commercial videos, aerial imagery, social media content, broadcast-ready files, or livestream recordings.
Files are delivered digitally in formats appropriate for websites, presentations, social media, print, or broadcast, making them easy to use immediately.
Completed projects are archived for a reasonable period to help support future requests, additional edits, or replacement files whenever possible. While every effort is made to maintain project archives, clients are encouraged to download and securely store their final deliverables after delivery.
If you anticipate ongoing updates or long-term access requirements, archival options can be discussed as part of your project.

Why Choose Sky Media 45

Sky Media 45 is more than a photography or drone company. We help organizations communicate through compelling visual storytelling.
Every project begins by understanding your goals—not simply creating photos or video. Whether you're promoting a business, documenting construction progress, showcasing a destination, or telling your community's story, every image and every frame should support a purpose.
Our approach combines professional photography, aerial imaging, commercial video production, broadcast experience, and strategic communications to create media that informs, engages, and builds credibility.
Sky Media 45 is built on more than 30 years of professional communications experience spanning broadcast media, public affairs, leadership communications, commercial production, and digital storytelling.
Founder Tom Clementson has led broadcast operations around the world, advised senior military and civilian leaders on strategic communications, and now brings that same experience to businesses, builders, communities, schools, and nonprofit organizations throughout Northern Michigan.
Every project benefits from decades of experience telling stories that connect with audiences.
Hiring separate photographers, videographers, drone pilots, editors, and voice-over talent often leads to inconsistent messaging and higher costs.
Sky Media 45 brings those capabilities together under one roof, creating a streamlined production process from planning through final delivery. Because every element is developed with the same creative vision, your project maintains a consistent look, voice, and message across every platform.
Sky Media 45 works with organizations that have a story to tell and an audience to reach.
Our clients include:
- Businesses and manufacturers
- Builders and contractors
- Municipalities and public agencies
- Tourism organizations
- Schools and athletic programs
- Community associations
- Infrastructure and utility partners
- Nonprofit organizations
Whether the goal is marketing, public information, construction documentation, or community engagement, every project is tailored to your communication objectives.
Anyone can capture an image.
Effective communication requires understanding the audience, identifying the message, and creating visuals that support a larger story.
That's the difference between content and communication.
Sky Media 45 approaches every project through the lens of strategic storytelling—helping organizations build trust, explain complex projects, celebrate achievements, and connect with the people they serve. Our goal isn't simply to produce beautiful media; it's to create visuals that accomplish a purpose.

Questions Before We Get Started?