Construction progress photography in San Diego

Kanyon Studio documents construction progress across San Diego County from the air with a Part 107 licensed pilot, repeating the same positions and altitudes on every visit so the sequence reads cleanly from groundbreaking to completion. Recurring monthly visits are quoted flat per site; a standalone aerial session is $199. Updated September 2026.

★★★★★ 5.0 on GoogleFAA Part 107 licensedCertified CA Small BusinessSame flight positions, every visit

Documentation uses

Most construction photography is taken when someone remembers to take it — a phone shot from whatever angle was convenient, filed nowhere in particular. It answers the question of that afternoon and nothing else.

A documented sequence answers questions you have not been asked yet. What did the site look like before the excavation. When was that trench open. What was the grade at the property line in March. Those questions arrive during change-order disputes, insurance claims, and permitting reviews, and they arrive long after anyone could go back and photograph the answer.

The same images do double duty. Investor and lender updates land better with an aerial than with a spreadsheet. Marketing for the finished project is stronger when you can show the ground it came out of. And a leasing campaign that begins before topping out has something to show.

FAA Part 107 licensed remote pilot

Kanyon holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Airspace access, required authorizations and conditions are reviewed before the flight.

San Diego complicates it further. Between the international airport, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, North Island, Montgomery Field, and Gillespie, a large portion of the county sits in controlled airspace where flight requires prior authorization. Knowing which side of an invisible line a property falls on — and getting clearance before the shoot day rather than discovering the problem on it — is most of the job.

Every flight is planned against current airspace, checked for temporary restrictions, and authorized where authorization is required.

How the coverage works

Fixed flight plan

On the first visit we set the positions, altitudes, and headings that will be repeated every month. Consistency is what turns a folder of photographs into a record.

Scheduled visits

Monthly is standard. Bi-weekly during heavy phases, or milestone-triggered around pours, framing, topping out, and closeout. You set the cadence.

Organized delivery

Dated, labelled galleries, sized for both slide decks and permitting files, with ground-level detail coverage where the aerial cannot see what matters.

What it costs

A single documentation visit is $199. Ongoing coverage is quoted flat per month against the visit schedule and site size, and that rate holds for the life of the project — so the budget line does not move when the build does.

If you already have a ground shoot booked, aerial coverage is $150 added to the same visit.

Kanyon Studio is a Certified California Small Business (CA DGS/OSDS Cert. No. 2053136), which makes public agency and CSU/UC work directly awardable under the SB Option and carries a 5% bid preference on competitive solicitations.

Common questions about construction progress photography

How much does construction progress photography cost in San Diego?

A single aerial documentation visit is $199. Ongoing monthly coverage is quoted flat against the visit schedule and site size, with the rate fixed for the duration of the project. Aerial added to an already-booked ground shoot is $150.

How often should a construction site be documented?

Visit frequency is agreed around the construction schedule and requested record. Monthly or more frequent coverage can be quoted.

Can you fly over an active construction site?

Yes, with the site's coordination. Flights are planned around crew activity and crane operation, and flown under FAA Part 107 rules. Sites in controlled airspace require prior FAA authorization, which is obtained before the visit.

Are the photos usable for permitting or legal documentation?

Standard turnaround is 48 hours for select services. Your project's delivery timeline is confirmed in your quote. Next-day delivery may be available by prior arrangement; any rush fee and deadline are agreed before booking. Images arrive dated and organized. Whether a file satisfies a specific permitting or evidentiary requirement is a question for your counsel or the reviewing agency.

Do you work with public agencies?

Yes. Kanyon Studio holds California Small Business certification (Cert. No. 2053136), making it eligible for direct award under the SB Option and a 5% bid preference on competitive state solicitations.

Aerial photography inquiries

Tell me the property and the date. You will have a flat quote back within 24 hours, and clearance sorted before the shoot day if the site needs it.