Aerial Innovations gets lofty views of Southwest Florida

Tacy Briggs flies over south Fort Myers monthly and takes aerial photos of the growth in the area for Aerial Innovations, Inc.

She has photographed the construction of Health Park on Bass Road, the BMW dealership on U.S. 41 and road construction projects throughout the area in her more than 15 years with the Tampa-based company.

"It's a really cool thing how people actually need aerial photography and it's neat historically as well," said Briggs, the vice president of the company that specializes in capturing Southwest Florida from above.

Aerial Innovations focuses its efforts in all areas of Florida but Briggs got assigned to Southwest Florida after meeting the company's owner, Colette Eddy, when she was a bartender.

"I had a fine arts degree in photography and had never even heard of aerial photography but it's really important to people building different things," said Briggs adding that she remembers shooting the area around the Midpoint Memorial Bridge before it was built. "It's fascinating to see the change."

Briggs spends many hours in the air a week shooting projects on a monthly basis for contractors, engineers and even lawyers that need pictures of a projects progress.

Most recently, she was assigned to take pictures of the expansion of I-75 every month using a small helicopter.

"We get a lot of calls for construction projects or people needing photos for marketing," she said adding that one of her busiest days is Black Friday when mall owners want aerial shots of full parking lots and shoppers. "Lately I'm doing a lot of Colonial Banks and construction at FGCU."

The rates for aerial pictures starts at $75 a month for three views and Briggs said that price hasn't changed in the 21 years since the company opened.

"The price of aviation fuel has doubled so I try to put together as many projects to shoot at once," said Briggs whose company staffs 10 full time employees that are assigned to take pictures by county.

Stephanie Smith is an account executive for south Fort Myers and spends her time setting up clients with services.

"I research projects that are coming up and get in contact to provide them with aerial photography or even interior shots if that's what they need," Smith said.

Smith joined the company in October of 2008 after leaving a job as a dolphin trainer for SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove. She has always had an interest in photography.

"There is a lot of construction and for some people it's a vital tool because sometimes the city requires pictures," Smith said. "It also helps to have a better vantage point from above."