Doing Business: Hintze Bros. Aerial Services

EAST COUNTY — Nineteen-year-olds Micheal Shea and Ryan Hintze like to think of themselves as big-picture movers and shakers.

The Braden River High School graduates, along with Hintze’s brother, Derrick, specialize in aerial photography and cinematography.

Using their DJI Phantom drone and a GoPro camera, they take sky-high shots of local attractions, such as Lakewood Ranch Main Street and The Mall at University Town Center. They also hope to broaden their reach nationwide and globally.

The trio started their own aerial photography and cinematography company — Hintze Bros. Aerial Services — this month.

“There’s nothing like this company in this area,” Ryan Hintze said. “The idea to do this just developed itself.”

Their target audience is diverse.

They say they have something for everyone from a real estate agent who wants to show clients a 360-degree view of the inside and outside of a house to a college student deciding whether a campus is a good fit.

The duo also offers dramatic, film-style shots played as a slideshow, with or without music. Derrick and Ryan Hintze — who each hold technology program certifications — edit the photos using Adobe products, such as Photoshop.

Prices for services range from $250 for still shots up to $1,000 for more sophisticated slideshows and in-depth looks inside and above properties.

Derrick and Ryan Hintze created the Hintze Bros. concept and developed aerial services as a department under the company’s umbrella.

Shea discussed the idea to sell aerial still shots after he visited Hawaii earlier this year. When he came back to East County in March, he told his high school friend, Ryan Hintze, about a company that sold aerial photos.

“I had a friend who was trying to sell real estate on 700 acres in Hawaii,” Shea said. “She could’ve shown people different views of her property that they could view online.”

Shea and the Hintze brothers hope to further develop their brand, and perhaps change the company’s name from Aerial Services, after they review regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Because of the use of drones, the FAA will set regulations by the end of the year. To date, drones may not be flown within five miles of Tampa International Airport or within 2.5 miles of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

The drone must also fly lower than 400 feet.

As they wait for the FAA’s regulations, the group focuses on its more immediate obstacle.

“People ask us all the time how old we are when they find out we’re business owners,” Ryan Hintze said. “But we grew up using computers; we’re breaking their stereotypes.”

Although the small business hasn’t secured any paid business yet, its founders plan to join the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance within the next month. They also secured a booth at Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp.’s Boo Fest Oct. 24 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

They hope to become an integral part of the community by one day creating images to be displayed at the welcome center and at community events.

“We really want to keep our focus on Lakewood Ranch,” Shea said. “We both went to school here, and we know the area and its amenities. We can show off those aspects of the community.”

Hintze Bros. Aerial Services
Owner: Micheal Shea and Ryan and Derrick Hintze
Services: Aerial photography and cinematography, or slideshows of overtop views of structures
Website: hintzebros.com/services/aerial-services/

ABOUT THE OWNER
The 19-year-old owners both graduated from Braden River High School in 2013 and grew up in New England. Michael Shea was born in Boston and Ryan and Derrick Hintze were born in Rhode Island. They share a love of working with technology and have grown up using computers in school.

INFOCUS FAMILY EYE CARE
A Michigan native, Dr. Brad Masuga has had his eyes on warmer winters since he graduated from Ferris State University in 2007.

Masuga and his wife, Ashley, decided to move to Sarasota in 2008 for Masuga to begin practicing optometry. He decided to open his own business, InFocus Family Eyecare, in June on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

Masuga celebrated the East County store’s opening Aug. 7.

InFocus offers comprehensive exams, urgent eye care and equipment that can detect early signs of glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Masuga opened a vision practice on Main Street because of its unique layout.

“Lakewood Ranch is a beautiful area with much to offer,” Masuga said. “Main Street is filled with small business owners and offers unique stores. It feels good to support local businesses; we wanted to be a part of this growing area.”

For more information on InFocus Family Eyecare, visit infocusfamilyeyecare.pecaa-sites.com.