Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Marino.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
## Your Story
Tony Marino is the founder of Aerial Northwest, a Pacific Northwest-based commercial drone, photography, and video production company specializing in real estate, construction, business marketing, and documentary-style media.
With a background that spans entrepreneurship, marketing, aviation, photography, broadcasting, and media production, Tony brings a unique combination of creative and strategic experience to every project. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship, a BSBA in Marketing, and is an FAA Part 107 certified commercial drone pilot and U.S. Navy veteran.
Before launching Aerial Northwest, Tony worked across multiple areas of media and business development, including radio broadcasting, photography, video production, music production, and business strategy consulting. Over time, he recognized that businesses increasingly needed more than just attractive visuals—they needed media that supported real business objectives.
That realization helped shape the direction of Aerial Northwest.
Today, the company focuses on providing professional drone, photography, and video services for clients who require reliable, commercially focused media production. Projects range from real estate marketing and construction progress documentation to promotional media and aerial imaging throughout the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to his production work, Tony is also the publisher of Drone Business Strategy Magazine and producer of Drone Pilot MBA, where he shares insights on drone industry trends, business development, marketing strategy, and the evolving commercial UAV landscape.
At the center of Tony’s work is a simple philosophy: media should do more than look good—it should help businesses communicate more clearly, market more effectively, and move forward with purpose.
More: https://aerialnorthwest.com/tony-marino
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most businesses, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating an industry that changes rapidly—from evolving FAA regulations and airspace restrictions to shifting client expectations and new technology. As a small business, another challenge has been balancing growth with maintaining the level of service and quality our clients expect. Fortunately, those challenges have also created opportunities. They’ve forced us to stay adaptable, continue learning, and focus on building strong relationships while delivering reliable, professional results.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Aerial Northwest is a Pacific Northwest-based commercial media company specializing in professional drone photography, videography, photography, and visual media production for real estate, construction, businesses, and organizations.
What sets us apart is that we don’t simply create photos and videos—we approach every project from a business perspective. My background includes an MBA in Entrepreneurship, a BSBA in Marketing, and years of experience in business strategy, which allows us to understand not only how to produce compelling visual media, but also how that media supports a client’s broader marketing, branding, and growth objectives.
Our clients come to us for everything from real estate marketing and construction progress documentation to commercial promotional content and aerial imaging. We are FAA Part 107 certified, commercially insured, and committed to operating safely, professionally, and in full compliance with federal regulations.
What I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built with our clients. Many of our projects develop into long-term relationships because clients know they can depend on us to communicate clearly, show up prepared, and deliver high-quality work on schedule.
At its core, Aerial Northwest exists to help businesses tell their story, showcase their projects, and strengthen their marketing efforts through professional visual media. We believe media should do more than look good—it should serve a purpose, solve a problem, and help move a business forward.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe luck plays a role in everyone’s life and business, but I’ve learned that preparation often determines whether you recognize an opportunity when it appears.
I’ve certainly experienced both good luck and bad luck along the way. Some opportunities came from being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, or having a conversation that led to a new client or project. On the other hand, there have been economic downturns, changing regulations, technological shifts, and unexpected challenges that every business owner faces sooner or later.
What I’ve found is that while we can’t control luck, we can control how we respond to it. The most successful periods in my business have come from staying adaptable, continuing to learn, building strong relationships, and being prepared when opportunities present themselves.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that luck may open a door, but it’s preparation, persistence, and hard work that allow you to walk through it.
Pricing:
- $195
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aerialnorthwest.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyjmarino/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AerialNorthwest
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@reeloregoncoast
