Professional Aerial Photography
Professional aerial photography that captures space, texture, light, and the lifestyle behind every environment — for designers, architects, builders, hospitality brands, real estate professionals, shelter publications, and premium residential clients across Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and the United States.
Aerial & Drone Photography
for Architecture, Development & Editorial
Some of the most important things about a building, a property, or a site simply cannot be seen from the ground. The relationship of a structure to its landscape, the scale of a development against the surrounding city, the sweep of a resort's grounds along the coastline — these require altitude. I am a U.S. FAA Part 107 certified commercial drone pilot and architectural photographer, providing legal, high-resolution aerial photography for architects, developers, hospitality brands, and editorial clients throughout Puerto Rico, the Americas, and the United States.
My aerial work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, and I serve as the official aerial photographer for Airbnb Luxe in the region — assignments that require both photographic precision and full FAA regulatory compliance in U.S. territories. When the imagery needs to perform at the editorial, marketing, or legal level, certification is not optional. It is the starting point.
FAA Part 107 Commercial Remote Pilot Certificate — Required by federal law for all commercial drone operations in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all U.S. territories. Many photographers operating in Puerto Rico and the Southeast are not certified. Gil Stose is.
What Aerial Photography Reveals
Ground-level photography tells one story. Aerial photography tells the whole story. For architects, aerial images document how a building occupies its site — massing, setbacks, orientation, and relationship to infrastructure. For real estate developers, drone photography reveals context that a prospective buyer or investor cannot understand from the ground: proximity to water, surrounding neighborhood quality, access roads, and property boundaries. For luxury resort and hospitality clients, aerial imagery is the establishing shot — the first image that earns a second look.
In Puerto Rico and the islands, this context is especially powerful. A beachfront property's direct ocean access, a hilltop villa's 270-degree views, a marina development's relationship to the water — none of these communicate in a ground-level photograph the way they do from 200 feet above.
Aerial Photography Services
Aerial imagery integrates directly with my broader architectural photography and interior photography services. A complete project shoot — ground-level exteriors, interiors, and aerial overviews — delivered as a unified, editorially consistent set. One photographer, one visual language, one submission-ready package.
Why FAA Certification Matters
Puerto Rico operates under the same FAA airspace regulations as the continental United States. All commercial drone operations — any flight where imagery will be used for marketing, editorial, development, or any non-recreational purpose — require a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Flying without it exposes clients to imagery that cannot be legally licensed or published, and exposes operators to civil penalties up to $32,666 per violation.
Many photographers working in Puerto Rico and across the region are not Part 107 certified. Some operate recreational drones on commercial jobs without disclosing the legal exposure this creates. I have held my FAA Part 107 certification since it was established as the federal standard, and every aerial assignment is flown in full compliance with current FAA regulations, including Remote ID requirements effective March 2024.
For developers, hospitality brands, architects, and editorial clients whose imagery will be published, licensed, submitted for awards, or used in financing and investment materials — certification is not a differentiator. It is a requirement.
Aerial Photography with Editorial Authority
Most commercial drone photographers serve the real estate market. My aerial work serves architects, publications, and institutional clients — a different level of technical and compositional demand. My aerial photograph of the Dorado Beach Club Condominiums in Puerto Rico appeared in the Wall Street Journal's Mansion section in May 2023, accompanying coverage of Puerto Rico's luxury real estate market under Act 60.
My aerial and architectural imagery has appeared in Architectural Digest, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Mountain Living, Architect Magazine, Dwell, House Beautiful, ELLE Decor, Veranda, Charleston Magazine, WNC Magazine, The Times (London), and Forbes, among many others. My aerial imagery for Airbnb Luxe has been used in the platform's marketing at the highest tier of the program.
Editorial aerial photography requires more than clear skies and a licensed drone. It requires the same understanding of light, composition, and architectural intent that I bring to every ground-level assignment — applied from altitude, with the added variables of airspace, weather windows, and time-of-day planning specific to the tropical latitude and climate.
Coverage: Puerto Rico, Florida & The Americas
Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Florida, I provide aerial photography services across a geography that few photographers in the region can match with full legal compliance:
Caribbean & Islands
- Puerto Rico — all municipalities
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- British Virgin Islands
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Turks & Caicos
- Dominican Republic
United States & International
- Southeast United States
- Florida
- Atlanta & Georgia
- New York
- Miami
- Argentina & Chile
- Honduras
For aerial assignments in Latin American and international markets, I coordinate all necessary local permits, airspace authorizations, and documentation required for commercial drone operations in each jurisdiction.
Who Hires Gil Stose for Aerial Photography
Architects & Firms
Site documentation for AIA, RIBA, and major shelter publication award submissions — context shots that establish how a building sits in its environment.
Real Estate Developers
Aerial photography at the launch stage of major residential and commercial projects, communicating scale, location, and lifestyle before construction is complete.
Luxury Hospitality Brands
Marriott Bonvoy, Ritz-Carlton, and Windstar Cruises have used my aerial imagery to establish the visual identity of properties across the region.
Editorial & Media Clients
From The Wall Street Journal to Airbnb Luxe — aerial photography that meets the technical and compositional standards of major publication. In print, on screen, and on the cover.
Aerial Photography FAQs
Does Gil Stose have FAA Part 107 certification for commercial drone work?
Yes. I hold a FAA Part 107 Commercial Remote Pilot Certificate — the federal requirement for all commercial drone operations in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all U.S. territories. Every aerial assignment is flown in full compliance with current FAA regulations, including Remote ID requirements. Many photographers operating in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean are not Part 107 certified. I am.
What areas does Gil Stose cover for aerial drone photography?
I cover Puerto Rico (all municipalities), the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Barbados, Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic, Florida, Southeast United States, Atlanta and Georgia, New York, Miami, and international markets including Argentina, Chile, and Honduras. I am based in San Juan, Puerto Rico with offices in New York and Miami.
Has Gil Stose's aerial photography been published in major publications?
Yes. My aerial photography has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Dwell, ELLE Decor, Forbes, House Beautiful, Veranda, Mountain Living, Architect Magazine, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and The Times (London), among many others. I also serve as the official aerial photographer for Airbnb Luxe Caribbean.
Why does FAA Part 107 certification matter in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico operates under the same FAA airspace regulations as the continental United States. All commercial drone operations require a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Flying without it creates imagery that cannot be legally licensed or published, and exposes operators to civil penalties up to $32,666 per violation. For developers, hospitality brands, and editorial clients, certification is a legal requirement, not a preference.
Can aerial photography be combined with architecture and interior photography?
Yes — and this is one of my key advantages. Aerial imagery integrates directly with my architectural and interior photography services. A complete project shoot — ground-level exteriors, interiors, and aerial overviews — is delivered as a unified, editorially consistent set. One photographer, one visual language, one submission-ready package. Especially valuable for award submissions, press packages, and developer marketing materials.
What hospitality brands has Gil Stose photographed aerially?
Luxury hospitality clients include Marriott Bonvoy, Ritz-Carlton, and Windstar Cruises. I am also the Official Airbnb Luxe Caribbean Photographer — the highest tier of the Airbnb platform, requiring photographic excellence and full FAA compliance for all aerial work within U.S. territories.
Does Gil Stose photograph aerial assignments outside of Puerto Rico?
Yes. In addition to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, I accept aerial photography assignments throughout the continental United States — particularly Florida, Atlanta, and the Southeast — and international assignments in Argentina, Chile, and Honduras. I coordinate all necessary local permits and airspace authorizations for every international assignment.
What is the difference between recreational and commercial drone photography?
Recreational drone photography is limited to personal, non-commercial use. Any drone flight where imagery will be used for marketing, advertising, real estate listings, editorial publication, development presentations, or award submissions requires a FAA Part 107 Commercial Remote Pilot Certificate. This includes all drone photography for Airbnb listings, hotel marketing, architectural documentation, and real estate development. Uncertified commercial drone imagery cannot be legally licensed or published.