Meet Sheri Christianson of Aerial Innovations of Georgia in Chamblee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheri Christianson.

Sheri, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m one of those kids that always wanted a camera, a darkroom set up and the ability to use them all!! My Dad seem to always be with his Pentax, taking family photos, pictures with his buddies out sailing or hunting. Must be where I got the bug.

Fast, real fast forward… I was working at Aerial Innovations in Tampa, Florida as a sales rep., my territory was Orlando. The owner liked that I had a photography background. I called on General Contractors to try to sell construction (progress) photography. I was calling on this Project Manager who was working on the project for the new Disney World Headquarters in Orlando. This guy would never, ever return my phone calls!! Then he finally invited me out to the construction site to talk biz and whoa, we really liked each other.

Fast, fast forward again…I did get the order for those aerials, and got the guy, and we got married (a year later), and he got transferred to Atlanta to work on the Georgia Dome. So I ended up opening Aerial Innovations of Georgia, Inc!! That was 26 years ago!!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think it’s ever really “smooth” being a business owner. It is however, super rewarding., OK maybe some days are smooth, that’s what keeps you going and your passion, you’ve got to have lots of passion for those days that aren’t smooth at all.

For me the continuing struggles are the never ending paperwork., insurance, waivers, pay apps. Pre-qualification forms to fill out. I just want to be a photographer! Ha., who was I fooling. Now I’m a bookkeeper and Insurance expert! WHAT!?

The other issues in our industry are the ever changing technologies. I have to hire young people to keep up. Now we are using Drones and have Drone pilots. The FAA can’t even keep up with the rules.

My other personal and always struggle is hiring and firing. After 26 years, I’ve done about enough of those two things. I try to hire by talent, personality and work ethic. No drama please.

Please tell us about Aerial Innovations of Georgia.
Aerial Innovation of Ga., Inc is a certified female owned business. We started out of my house in 1991.

We’ve been in our office in Chamblee since 2000. Our specialty is aerial photography. The bread and butter is what we call progress photography; this is taking aerials every month of construction projects.

We also shoot architectural photography, interiors and of course now Drone photography.

We are most proud of the large scale projects in and around Atlanta that we have photographed, such as, The Georgia Dome, Turner field, Concourse E and the International Terminal at Hartsfield Airport, Ga 400 roadwork, we shot almost all the Olympic venues, the new SunTrust Park and we are presently shooting the Mercedes Benz Stadium among others. We shoot out of helicopters and airplanes.

We have a great, caring staff, and real voices on the other end of the phone! I am so proud that this company has endured for 26 years!

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing! Except for taking more time off!

Contact Info:

• Address: 3374 Hardee Ave., Suite C
  Atlanta, GA 30341
• Website: flyga.zenfolio.com
• Phone: 770-986-0333
• Email: flyga@aerialga.com
• Instagram: aerialinnovationsofga
• Facebook: Aerial Innovations of Georgia, Inc
• Twitter: @aerialga

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