Make plans now to join your PAPA Colleagues, Friends, and Peers for an exciting opportunity to sharpen your aerial photography skills, learn to offer the newest in aerial photography services and become energized to embrace new ideas.
Stinson Airport will be our host location for all presentations. For more than 100 years, aviation enthusiasts have enjoyed this municipal airport located seven miles south of downtown San Antonio.
Air to Air Photography with Chris Rose, AOPA photographer. Rose has been shooting for AOPA for a decade and his beautiful air to air cover images are an inspiration for "the rest of us." Chris will bring his skills tutoring us on the hard lessons learned to that one day, we can take that next mission.
Aerial Mapping - This is a No-Drone Zone
Many of your colleagues are finding that the big money is in aerial mapping and surveys of very large parcels of land. This can only be done effectively with manned aircraft.
- Achieving 6, 4, and even 2cm resolution with your DSLR is possible and profitable.
- This presentation will include the introduction and how-to uses of the newest software, hardware, and tricks of the trade to jump into this lucrative part of the business.
Marketing your Business
PAPA is very proud to present "Successful Internet Marketing" with our guest speakers Ben Enriquez and Billy Crawford for Odd Duck Media, a local San Antonio digital marketing company. They will answer that question and more, providing us with a road map to effectively utilize the internet in our marketing efforts. Topics to be covered include things that we can do to enhance search engine optimization (SEO), manage paid advertising, and stand out on social media sites. Along with well-designed websites, these all go hand and hand in being "found". We will learn about choosing the right keywords, and website optimization to promote high rankings on search engines.
Successful Aerial Photography Round Table
One of the most important ways we learn is form each other. PAPA will have a head table of some of our membership to lead our group in discussions about our industry, to take your questions and answer "What would you do?"
How to use your Osmo for excellent aerial video
Even if you haven't gotten your hands on a DJI Osmo yet, this presentation will pique your imagination of what you can do with this amazing tool. The Osmo is a handheld 4k camera on a 3-axis gimbal. it produces amazing footage that you will find all over the Internet. What you won't find is much aerial footage because it's not as easy as it looks. In fact it's really easy to get poor footage. Attendees will receive a check list with the best settings for doing aerials. You'll see samples of the good, the bad, and the ugly with advice on how to shoot the best you can. Bring YOUR Osmo to the conference for one-on-one training and advice. Video editing advice will also be available.
Night & Golden Hour Aerial Photography with Niki Britton
Growing up in an aerial photography family (The 111th), Niki saw that taking the commercial, full sun shots pays the bills, but it was the Golden Hour, twilight and a lit skyline in full dark aerials that captured her imagination. Attendees will receive a "cheap sheet" of Niki's favorite settings and equipment.
Understanding the 107 Drone Certification
- If you're a licensed (aircraft) pilot who has completely a flight review within the previous 24 months, passing your 107 test on line should be easy, but is still requires a sign off by a CFI (certified flight instructor), DPE, or ACR.
- CFI and PAPA member Pat Belanger, owner of The 111th Aerials will be available to sign off any (U.S) PAPA member who takes (and successfully passes) the online FAA test at the conference or at home prior to coming to San Antonio. The online test usually takes an hour to complete. Once you have successfully completed the test, print out your certification for signature (by Pat). It can be submitted to the FAA immediately.
- For those not a licensed pilot, you will need to go to a designated testing center on your own time, but Pat and other 107 certified drone pilots will be available to answer your questions.
Helicopter Safety by Alamo Helicopter Tours
When you fly as much as most of us do, it's easy to become complacent about safety, but a recent deadly helicopter crash with a group of photographers on board reminds us that safety is and always will be #1.
Spouses Tour
San Antonio is a great place to visit with many significant attractions to see. By very special arrangement, we are offering a private, narrated tour of many of the historic sites in San Antonio.
Our tour starts at the hotel early Friday morning, with the first stop being the fully restored Mission San Jose. Part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mission San Jose embodies nearly 300 years of rich history and culture. Within the park grounds, see flying buttresses, carvings, quatrefoil patterns, polychromatic plaster and the famed “Rose Window,” a superb example of Spanish Colonial ornamentation that was sculpted around 1775. We will explore the stairway that leads to the belfry and choir loft; all 25 risers were hand-hewn from a single log and assembled without the use of nails or pegs. The tour will take us to other Spanish Missions along the river before ending up in the elegant King William District. This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides an insight into the German migration in the 1840s.
After lunch, the tour takes us back to downtown to Visit the Mercado, the largest Mexican Market outside of Mexico. We will view such sites as the San Fernando Cathedral and the Spanish Governors Palace. From there we will travel to the Alamo. One of the most sacred places in all of Texas, the cry "Remember the Alamo" gave birth to the Texas Revolution which led to the Independent country of Texas and eventually to Statehood in the United States.
Before returning to the La Quinta Hotel, , we will end our day at the Menger Hotel and its famous Roosevelt Bar. Locates just across the street from the Alamo, this is where the bar's namesake created and recruited Teddy's Rough Riders - the 1st United States Volunteer Calvery that saw action in the Spanish American War of 1898.
Where to Stay??.
PAPA has designated the La Quinta Riverwalk, San Antonio as our "conference hotel base."
- Attendees will enjoy free transportation to and from the Stinson Airport from the La Quinta
- Overnight guests will be provided with Free WIFI and a Free full hot breakfast each morning.
To make your reservations at the La Quinta:
Reservations Department #: 866-527-1498 option 1
Hotel: La Quinta Inns & Suites San Antonio Riverwalk (property #0501)
Group Name: PAPA-Attendees Block
Special Rate: $149 (plus applicable tax)
please be prepared to provide credit card information to guarantee reservations
Since all PAPA conferences activities will be taking place Stinson Airport, your housing for the conference will be up to you. Alternative hotels in San Antonio are also available. Find your best deals online.
Other hotels in the immediate area include:
- Grand Hyatt San Antonio
- Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk
- San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
- Menger (Haunted!) Hotel
- Hilton Palacio Del Rio
- Red Roof Inn - San Antonio Downtown Riverwalk
- Tru By Hilton San Antonio Downtown Riverwalk