This wedding took place at a unique venue with its own private runway—mostly unused, but full of creative potential. While capturing the first look, I noticed the videographer had brought a drone operator. That’s when inspiration struck: what if we arranged the groomsmen to form the shape of an airplane on the runway?
Before moving forward, I coordinated with the drone operator to ensure she could capture the shot I envisioned, confirmed with the videographer that he’d share the image, and secured permission from the venue. Even though the runway sees only a handful of takeoffs and landings each week, we took every precaution—monitoring local frequencies and keeping a visual watch for any incoming aircraft.
With everything cleared, there was just one more hurdle—the approval of the groom and his groomsmen. Specifically, whether they were okay with laying down on a runway in their freshly pressed suits, including the groom’s brand-new custom one. After a brief moment of hesitation (and maybe a collective deep breath), they agreed, and we got to work.
The real challenge was getting everyone into position. The drone hovered overhead while I directed adjustments remotely, communicating with my assistant via phone to fine-tune their placement. After some quick scrambling, teamwork, and careful coordination, we nailed the shot.