Local 14-year-old launches ‘high-flying’ business
Published 4:39 pm Tuesday, June 21, 2022
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Contributed Photo Beautiful countryside near Elizabethton, captured by drone photographer, Jackson Valentine.
Contributed Photo A dramatic aerial shot of Bemberg and surrounding area in Elizabethton.
Contributed Photo Jackson Valentine, working with his Maverick Air II drone, to grab some aerial shots and videos.
Contributed Photo Shooting some early morning beach scenes, Valentine works to develop his skills wherever he goes.
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Go to “JV Drone” on Facebook and there you will see sweeping aerial videos of local communities. You can also admire some lovely landscape photography.
You will also see the face of a young man, 14-year-old Jackson Valentine of Elizabethton.
That’s because this is his page and this is his work.
And with only one year at Elizabethton High School under his belt, Jackson is jumping in with both feet, launching his own business which will offer both videography and still photography services to local businesses.
“I plan to offer images and videos that businesses can use for social media marketing,” Jackson said. “They can also use the photography for any of their ads on TV.”
To say Jackson is into both videography and photography is an understatement. He works hard to develop his craft, spending many hours each week working with his Maverick Air II
Drone to capture aerial video and stills.
“The drone can go up 2,000 feet but I usually keep it at 500-600 feet,” Jackson said, explaining that slightly lower heights provide the best image results.
In addition to the photography services, Jackson is also producing some graphic design, using Procreate and Photoshop, further enhancing his resume at JV Drone.
He launched his business only a few weeks ago and he looks forward to finding clients in the community and beyond, hoping one day in the future he may work in bigger markets on larger projects.
Jackson has already been at his work longer than many people keep a job. He was only nine years old when he first started using a camera, shooting alongside his mother, Courtney Valentine Dailey, a local professional photographer.
There have been setbacks along the way, like the time his drone crashed backwards into a large tree while he was orbiting a tall steeple at a historical church in downtown Knoxville. He was working on a short Easter movie at the time.
Refusing to give up, Jackson replaced and even upgraded the destroyed drone with money he earned working in the family business, and by selling off several of his personal possessions. In fact, with the exception of his hand-me-down camera, a Canon Rebel his mother no longer needed, Jackson has purchased all of his own equipment — cameras, green screens and studio equipment which he has set up in his room.
Jackson is optimistic about growing his business. He already has designed his own logo, has his pricing in place and can provide quotes by the job.
One would imagine his talent, skill and his desire to work will speak for itself.
“I think doing this kind of work will help me communicate better with adults, and I know I can do a good job, but I also know people might doubt me because I’m younger,” Jackson said.
“I just want to get better, and keep growing my business.”
