Roman Downs Photography

 Lowering his father's hobby drone down from the shelf, Roman (fourteen at the time) asked if he could be shown how to fly it.

Since Roman had always been mechanically inclined and interested in the way things work, Micah didn't think much of walking with him out to the meadow to satisfy his request.

But not one to ever leave well enough alone, Roman continued puttering around with the drone as the weeks progressed, taking aerial photos of our property and gaining more familiarity and experience with it.

Maybe a few comments were made about starting a photography business, I'm not quite sure. I only remember the day he announced he had emailed several realtors in our town asking if they'd consider him for their next photoshoot.

"You did what?!" I exclaimed, silently doubting that anyone would hire a fourteen year old.

But an amazing thing happened. He started getting calls.

Micah and I would take turns driving him to his photoshoot appointments. Most of them were small, vacant homes in modest neighborhoods, making it easy for Roman to shoot, edit, and send the final product over to the realtor all on the same day. But sometimes the owners would be present, forcing Roman to have to shake hands, introduce himself, then proceed to snap photos in a stranger's home - the owners hovering nervously over him every step of the way. And then there were the times we'd be sent on a wild goose chase. Trying to make sense of a vague map and scant instructions, we'd travel an hour or more to find a piece of land nobody's ever lived on, deep in the woods somewhere.

 I would bring a book along to read while he worked, but I mainly watched him fly that little, old drone around and snap pictures with an iPhone. What he lacked in proper equipment, he made up for in reliability and reasonable prices. So he continued getting jobs!

Two years passed. He saved every dime he made and bought himself a car when he turned sixteen. (Never mind that it is a temperamental, high-milage car that has the tendency to leave him stranded at seemingly inopportune times... We are still figuring out what to do about that!) He at least now can take himself to photoshoots, like a real professional.

With time marching on, and enough jobs to build a savings, he recently was able to purchase what he needed all along... a camera! 

Roman has spent hours researching, watching tutorials, and practicing around our house with it.

This must have generated a new confidence and motivation, because his latest accomplishment has been the creation of business flyers.

After several attempts, the final design was decided on and printed...

So I should not have been surprised when I arrived home from a day of shopping to hear Roman say he spent his afternoon driving around town dropping his flyers off at any real estate office with an open door... (Flyers being wedged somewhat successfully in the frames of any locked doors.)

"How did you know where to go?" I asked.

"I just Googled real estate offices close by," he answered, with a tone that implied this is the easiest thing in the world.

So there you have it! The story of how Roman Downs Photography was born. If you know of anyone in need of real estate photography, you're welcome to contact Roman. He is flexible and efficient...

 as long as his car doesn't break down on the way. 😉

~ Courtney