Bodie Wick

Ambitious entrepreneur Bodie Wick has turned his passion for drone photography into a business. With a love for surfing and remote-controlled helicopters, Bodie realized that he could make a business out of filming and taking pictures with drones. Bodie has noticed that flying drones is a great way to get a different perspective on subjects, especially in the ocean.

The birth of his interest in drones began with a conversation with the captain of the Los Angeles Fire Department, where his father works. The metropolitan fire department uses drones for safety prevention and is known for having the largest drone department in the world. Bodie engaged in a captivating conversation with the captain, who shared intriguing information about drones. Fortunately, Bodie also had the luck to receive a drone as a gift from the captain.

Drone-flying is a growing industry and is being used in all sorts of business fields like construction, real estate, tech companies, education, police/fire, and any projects that need aerial footage. In fact, market size is expected to nearly double by 2026, going from $26.3 billion to $41.3 billion. It's a desirable industry with salaries even ranging from $50k-$100k a year (Drone U).

Since starting his business, Bodie has begun working with real estate companies to take photos and aerial footage of properties listed in Orange County. It's fairly new, but he's already worked with a few clients. His progress begins with a message from the client. He then goes to the given location, sets up the drone, and flies it over the property and captures photos from various angles to ensure the image includes the entire surrounding area. Once he's spent 10-15 minutes shooting, he returns home and edits the photos/footage for another 15 minutes, then finally sends it to the realtor. Bodie describes the job as a fun investment that takes his mind off of stress because of how much focus it requires. Bodie also works with the HBHS Surf Team to film drone footage of the team during their competitions. Recently, he's been working on a team movie/edit with some clips he has filmed so far. "There's so much talent on the team, and I'm really passionate about getting it on film," he mentioned. Bodie is also a lifeguard for the Huntington Beach Fire Department and would like to bring flying drones into the department as inspiration from the LAFD as well.

By working for HBHS Business and Design, Bodie has learned how to take action on an idea. He had always thought about starting a drone business but hadn't taken the leap due to his lack of understanding where to begin. "If you're struggling to make something happen in your life, nothing is going to change. If nothing changes, nothing changes. You can't expect results if you're not putting in the work, you actually have to take action," Bodie suggested. Fellow entrepreneurship students working with HBHS Business and Design have inspired Bodie to take the next step towards utilizing his passion, and it's a good thing he did.

Bodie's step forward has allowed him to expand as an entrepreneur and begin the developmental process at a young age. He's already gaining connections, skills, and business experience through his job. HBHS Business and Design has allowed students like Bodie to begin their entrepreneurial journey and make changes in their lives. "It's really pushed me further, and it's inspiring to see my other classmates starting their own businesses through the class as well," Bodie stated.