Smith Mountain Lake, VA Drone Videographer and Operator
Air Views Media is a drone videography company serving Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Huddleston and the Bedford and Franklin county shoreline for lake homes, marinas, waterfront real estate, weddings and brand films. Our aerial photography has appeared in Smith Mountain Lake Magazine. FAA Part 107 certified pilots, $10M liability standard (optional up to $25M).
Smith Mountain Lake
Lake homes, marinas and weddings
Waterfront homes, marinas, lakeside venues and communities around the lake suit aerials, filmed with the owner's approval. Our aerial photography has appeared in Smith Mountain Lake Magazine; see our publication work. We keep neighbors and people on private property out of frame unless they agree to be filmed.
Close to our Virginia home base
Our Virginia home base is in Lynchburg, so Smith Mountain Lake shoots are planned by our Virginia crew rather than as a long-distance trip; see Lynchburg drone videography. Lynchburg and Roanoke are each roughly an hour away by road, and we cover Bedford County and the rest of the region from Lynchburg.
The dam, the state park and Virginia law
Smith Mountain Dam is a hydroelectric facility. Since July 2025, Virginia law makes an unauthorized drone flight over a military base, critical infrastructure, a utility or a federally regulated port facility a felony, so we stay off them unless the operator authorizes the flight. Smith Mountain Lake State Park follows the state park rule: Virginia state parks ban drones except commercial flights under a special use permit from the park office, so we apply well ahead of any state park shoot.
Airspace
Much of the lake sits away from the tower airspace around Lynchburg and Roanoke, but some addresses still need checks for nearby airstrips, NOTAMs and temporary restrictions. We check every Smith Mountain Lake location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.
Credits
Smith Mountain Lake Magazine, Braves at Truist Park and EDC Orlando.
Related
Roanoke drone videographer | Blacksburg drone videographer | Charlottesville drone videographer | Augusta drone videography (headquarters) | Lynchburg, VA drone videography (Virginia home base) | Live broadcast drones | Concert and festival drones | All locations
Nearby cities we fly
Richmond, VA drone videographer | Williamsburg, VA drone videographer | Alexandria, VA drone videographer | Norfolk, VA drone videographer | Arlington, VA drone videographer | Virginia Beach, VA drone videographer
FAQs
Can you film lake homes for real estate listings?
Yes. We film waterfront homes, docks and the surrounding shoreline with the owner's approval, keeping neighbors out of frame unless they agree.
Can you fly in Smith Mountain Lake State Park?
Only for commercial work with a special use permit from the park office. Recreational drone flights are banned in Virginia state parks.
Can you fly over Smith Mountain Dam?
Not without the operator's authorization. Virginia law makes unauthorized drone flights over utilities and critical infrastructure a felony.
Do you need FAA approval to fly in Smith Mountain Lake?
It depends on the address. Much of the lake is outside tower airspace. We check every location on the FAA sectional and B4UFLY before quoting and file LAANC where it is needed.
What insurance do you carry?
Our standard policy is $10M liability, with optional coverage up to $25M when a venue, league or network requires it. Certificates naming your venue or production are issued before the shoot.
Request a Quote
Tell us the date, location and what you need filmed. Request a Quote or call 706-284-8364.