The Drone CEO

In 2020, Nation North founded Sky Nation Productions, an aerial drone videography and photography business. With his drone, Nation takes residential photos, creates landscape videos, and even helps find lost pets. Nation started his first business at the age of 7, selling handmade jewelry. After that success, he set his sights higher—literally!

Nation has long been interested in remote-controlled toys, photography, and videography, so working with drones was a natural fit. His first videography attempt was disappointing. “The camera wasn’t stabilized, and it was really shaky,” he says. To raise money for better equipment, Nation recruited his parents and five siblings to make and sell holiday ornaments.

Nation then applied for a business license and created his website. He now flies as an amateur pilot. But he will apply for a full Canadian drone license when he turns 14!

In 2020, Nation North founded a business called Sky Nation Productions. His job: using an aerial drone to take videos and photos for customers. With his drone, Nation has photographed homes for sale and created landscape videos. He’s even helped find lost pets!

Nation started his first business at age 7. Back then, he sold handmade jewelry. That was a success, so he decided to try something more ambitious. Nation has always loved remote-controlled toys and photography, so working with drones was a natural fit.

Nation’s first attempt at shooting video from a drone was disappointing, though. “The camera wasn’t stabilized, and it was really shaky,” he says. Nation decided to raise money to buy better equipment. He recruited his parents and five siblings to make and sell holiday ornaments.

Nation then applied for a business license. He created a website. He’s now allowed to fly small drones as an amateur pilot. But he will apply for an official drone license when he turns 14!

Today, Nation’s amateur-weight drone has a stabilizing camera for smooth panning. It’s also programmed to avoid restricted airspace. Nation pilots it with a smartphone, then he edits the footage and adds music at home. “If I want to make it really good, I think about it ahead of time and try to make cool transitions,” Nation says.

 Sky Nation Productions has plans to expand its business photographing homes for realtors. Nation also posts videos he’s filmed to his YouTube channel.

Nation now has a lightweight drone with a stabilizing camera. That allows him to take smooth video while the drone is in flight. Nation pilots the drone with a smartphone, then edits the footage and adds music at home. “If I want to make it really good, I think about it ahead of time and try to make cool transitions,” he says.

Nation hopes to expand his business of photographing homes for real estate agents. He also posts videos he’s filmed to his YouTube channel. 

Nation’s business has taught him photo and video editing and how to get the perfect shot. “At first, I didn’t really know what to do when I got to a place,” he says. Now Nation records with finesse, flying slowly and finding good angles. “Getting in close really makes the video better,” he says. Kids interested in drone videography should invest in good editing software “because that did really limit me at the start,” says Nation.

Nation says his business has taught him a lot about photography and videography. “At first, I didn’t really know what to do when I got to a place,” he says. Now he knows how to fly the drone slowly and finding good angles to shoot from. “Getting in close really makes the video better,” he says.

Nation has also learned a lot about editing video. Investing in good editing software made a huge difference, he says. “That did really limit me at the start.”

Key Math Idea:

Calculating Best Service Package
Nation’s clients can either choose services à la carte or buy an all-inclusive package, depending on the services they want. By calculating an estimate—or approximate cost of services—the client can pick the better deal. Because Nation earns less than $30,000 CAD a year, his clients do not have to pay sales tax.

Key Math Idea:

Calculating Best Service Package
Nation’s clients can either choose services à la carte or buy an all-inclusive package, depending on the services they want. By calculating an estimate—or approximate cost of services—the client can pick the better deal. Because Nation earns less than $30,000 CAD a year, his clients do not have to pay sales tax.