Seth Morin has worked as a content marketer at Wessler Engineering, a civil engineering firm based in Indianapolis, for almost ten years.
In his work, he often visits job sites to take photos and shoot videos, which he uses to showcase the company’s projects on social media and elsewhere.
Recently, he decided to level up—by adding drone shots.
Several engineers at the firm were already using drones to survey company projects, and they directed him to Drone Pilot Ground School to help him get ready for the FAA’s Part 107 test.
“Drone Pilot Ground School was incredible. I passed the test on the first try, and I felt really confident going into it. I couldn’t recommend it enough.”
Seth passed the test in April and bought a DJI Air 3 the same day.
Soon after he began taking his drone to job sites, documenting the vital work Wessler does throughout the Midwest.
Drone Shots for Marketing—And for Clients
Seth’s job is all about storytelling: capturing photos and video that make technical projects feel exciting, approachable, and real.
At times, he’s had to chase engineers for photos from the field, sometimes getting only shaky, vertical shots taken hastily on someone’s phone—or sometimes, no photos at all.
He solved that problem by honing his photography skills and going out in the field himself. But now he’s able to go beyond what you can see from the ground, and capture the company’s work from above.
“The drone has been a game changer,” he says. “I’ve been to about 15–20 project sites so far. The drone lets me show our work from a whole new perspective.”
After each site visit, Seth sends the client a folder of aerial photos and video at no cost. This means Wessler’s clients can demonstrate progress and do their own marketing to clients or constituents, including city council presentations, grant applications, or social media posts—not to mention showing progress to project stakeholders.
“We’ve had clients get really excited,” Seth says. The plan is that when those projects are done, he will go back and take aerial photos and videos from the exact same angles to show the progress and improvements that were made.
What Seth Makes with His Drone Shots
Having a drone has led to a burst of creativity, letting Seth do several things he couldn’t do before.
Things like:
- Marketing content used for social media, proposals, and external promotions
- Aerial photos and video of completed infrastructure projects (e.g., water towers, wastewater treatment plants, stormwater sites)
- Time-lapse progress documentation for long-term projects (pre-, mid-, and post-construction phases)
- B-roll footage for internal company videos and newsletters (including dynamic “walk and talk” footage)
- Client-ready visuals shared post-site visits (photos and video assets provided free of charge)
- Community-friendly project highlights, including unique visual stories like the twin water towers in one town with giant smiley faces painted on them, locally dubbed “Mr. and Mrs. Smiley”
- Pre-construction footage to serve as a visual baseline for ongoing work
Even the internal company newsletter has been upgraded, and now features some of Seth’s drone shots—in a recent segment, Seth had the Air 3 follow him and a colleague as they delivered company updates on camera.
From Water Towers to Wetlands: The Projects Seth Documents
Seth’s drone work doesn’t just look good on social media—it helps bring clarity and transparency to some of the most essential (and often invisible) infrastructure projects in the Midwest. From clean water initiatives to stormwater mitigation and environmental restoration, he’s had a front-row seat to the work that impacts local communities where he and his colleagues live and work. “I’ve captured water towers, water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, stormwater projects,” he says. Many of Wessler’s projects are funded locally or by state or federal grants, which means clear communication is key—not just for the agencies involved, but for the residents they serve. And this is an area where drone media can really shine. “It’s one thing to explain to a city council what’s happening on site,” Seth says. “It’s another thing to show them a sweeping aerial view of the project in progress.” These visuals help make engineering feel tangible—showing how the firm’s work protects drinking water, prevents flooding, and improves local environments.How Getting Part 107 Certified Elevated Seth’s Role—and Wessler’s Marketing
Seth’s Part 107 certification is less than six months old, and it’s already had a major impact on his job, and on Wessler Engineering as a whole.
By getting certified, learning to fly, and identifying ways to add value within his marketing role, Seth has elevated his impact on the company and become a key player in Wessler’s efforts to stand out from competition.
It’s also made the work he does more enjoyable.
“Drones have made my job more fun, more creative, and more effective,” Seth says. “And I think clients can see that, too.”
And his new drone work is getting attention. Lately, leadership at the company has started asking him to get out into the field more—not just to shoot deliverables, but to help shape the firm’s public image.
“They’re seeing the impact,” he says. “I’ve had a few different teams now say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a cool project coming up—bring the drone.’”
Colleagues in other departments have also taken notice, with some requesting drone media for presentations or client updates.
Even the business development team has started exploring how to weave drone content into proposals, bids, and presentations, elevating Wessler’s image with clients before a project even begins.
With one certified drone pilot and one drone, a company with over 100 employees has boosted its public image and found new ways to serve clients, giving them even more value.
And it all started with one marketer who decided to get certified and begin flying a drone.
