Drone Photos and Video in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Cedar Rapids is home base. Requests in Eastern Iowa for drone photos and video, and for airplane photography with a hired pilot, go to Darin Chamberlin himself: FAA Remote Pilot Certificate #4226661, and owner of Landforms Design Inc. since 1984. Everything else, like thermal, mapping or inspection work, goes to a qualified local Part 107 pilot.

Part 107 Certified Pilot

Darin Chamberlin: FAA Remote Pilot Certificate #4226661

Check a Pilot's Certificate Look up any pilot's FAA certificate by name on the FAA's official Airmen Inquiry site.

Darin's business: Landforms Design Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, since 1984.

What people book in Cedar Rapids

Homes, acreages and farmland for real estate listings
Farm fields through the season, from planting to harvest
Storm and hail damage on roofs and outbuildings, for owners and insurance claims
Construction progress on commercial and residential sites
Weddings and events at venues around Linn and Johnson counties
The Cedar River, downtown and the Czech Village and NewBo areas for marketing video

Airspace around Cedar Rapids

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is Class C airspace. Much of southwest Cedar Rapids sits under it. Request LAANC authorization in your drone app before you fly there.
Marion Airport (C17) is a small public airport east of Marion. Its operator, LuxAir Aviation, asks hobbyist pilots flying within 5 miles of the airport to fill out the notification form on its website (LuxAir Aviation).
Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City seats far more than 30,000 people. During Hawkeye home football games, drones are banned within 3 nautical miles of the stadium and up to 3,000 feet, from one hour before the game until one hour after it ends (FAA stadium TFR).

Check every flight in a B4UFLY app first.

Where you can fly near Cedar Rapids

Iowa state parks have no drone-specific statewide rule. Follow the park manager and posted restrictions (Iowa DNR rules). Ask the park office before you fly at places like Palisades-Kepler State Park.
City and county parks set their own rules. Check with Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation or Linn County Conservation before launching in a park.
Farmland is private land. Get the owner's permission before you take off or land.

Seasonal tips

Cedar Rapids fall tip: harvest fields make great aerial patterns.
Winter tip: cold drains batteries fast, so keep spares warm in a pocket or the truck.

Typical drone prices

Service	Typical 2026 price	Source
Real estate, drone photos only (5–10 edited)	$100–$400 (mid-market $150–$250)	RotatePilot
Real estate, drone photos + 30–60 sec video	$200–$650 (mid-market $300–$450)	RotatePilot
Real estate, residential shoot	$150–$400; luxury or commercial $400–$1,200	RotorRate
Drone add-on to listing photos	About $95–$150 (example rate card)	Lucrative Dynamics
Wedding: drone added to videography	$400–$1,200	Plana
Wedding: standalone drone operator (2–4 hrs)	$500–$1,500	Plana
Wedding videographer (national average)	About $2,300 (The Knot)	Paperlust

National 2026 estimates, not local quotes. Ask your pilot for a written quote. How we get our prices.

How booking works

Eastern Iowa drone photo and video jobs, and airplane photography, are flown by Darin himself. Other services, like thermal, mapping and inspections, go to a qualified local Part 107 pilot.

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Drone Pilot Guide USA is an independent referral service that connects you with local FAA Part 107 drone pilots and aerial photographers. Pilots are independent businesses. Requests from this site go to Darin Chamberlin in Eastern Iowa or to an independent local Part 107 pilot.

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