We recently connected with Miguel Portugal and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Miguel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

“Life’s a Risk, Carnal!”

To me, the word “risk” often carries a negative connotation because it’s associated with the possibility of failure or bad outcomes. And while that’s true in a literal sense, I believe risks come in levels, and we don’t always recognize the ones we take every day. Every breath, every decision, every moment involves some level of risk. So, what holds people back from taking bigger risks? Fear.

Fear is natural, but it shouldn’t control us. When faced with fear, I’ve learned to lean on critical thinking and ask myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” From there, you have two choices: take the leap or don’t. If you choose not to, you can’t dwell on “what could have been.” That’s a useless thought. But if you choose to act, embrace the journey, knowing there will be challenges. Risk-taking comes with doubts, mistakes, and even moments where you question your decisions. But in my experience, it’s all part of the process. You just have to be aware, stay grounded, and hold on tight.

This mindset has shaped some of the most pivotal decisions in my life. One of the first big risks I took was starting my own aerial photography business, SKYMAP Aerials. At the time, I was facing all the usual adult responsibilities—rent, bills, and no safety net. Yet, I took a chance, invested in myself, and launched my business. It was a slow start, and there were moments when I doubted if I could make it work. But I kept going, using every opportunity to promote my work and refine my skills. That persistence paid off, and it opened the door to new opportunities.

Another risk was committing to professional growth by attending Southwestern College to study drones. This wasn’t easy. I had to balance the financial strain and the time commitment, all while trying to build a career. But I knew the payoff would be worth it. Earning my Part 107 FAA certification was a major milestone because it allowed me to take my passion for drones to the next level and start working legally as a drone pilot.

Then came the leap into full-time drone work. After running my business for a while, I realized I needed more stability. Transitioning into a job with a company that specialized in electric pole inspections was a big shift. It was a calculated risk, but it gave me valuable experience and ultimately led me to my current role as a Drone as First Responder (DFR) for the City of Chula Vista. Now, I get to be part of something truly meaningful, contributing to public safety while continuing to run my business.

Looking back, none of these risks were easy, but they’ve all been worth it. Every challenge, doubt, and moment of uncertainty has taught me something important. I’ve learned that risks don’t define us—it’s how we approach them, and what we do with the outcomes, that truly shape our lives.

Miguel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Miguel Portugal, and I’m a full-time drone pilot and the founder of SKYMAP Aerials, my own aerial photography business. My journey into the drone industry started a few years ago when I first flew a drone with my brother. It came naturally to me, and I instantly fell in love with flying and capturing stunning aerial photos. That initial spark grew into a passion, and I decided to turn it into a career.

To build my skills and make my work professional, I enrolled at Southwestern College, where I studied Aerial Photography and Videography. I also obtained my Part 107 FAA certification, which allowed me to legally operate drones commercially. From there, I launched SKYMAP Aerials, where I specialize in high-quality aerial photos and videos for various purposes, including real estate, events, and landscapes. My focus is on providing top-notch visuals at an affordable price, and I pride myself on capturing unique perspectives that help my clients tell their stories visually.

As my business grew, I realized I needed more stability, so I pursued full-time drone work. My first big break came with a company specializing in electric pole inspections, where I gained hands-on experience in a different facet of drone operations. Eventually, I transitioned to my current role as a Drone as First Responder (DFR) for the City of Chula Vista. I work alongside the Chula Vista Police Department, responding to emergency calls, ensuring the drones are well-maintained, and providing vital aerial support for public safety. This work is both challenging and rewarding, and I’m proud to be part of a program that’s making a real difference in the community.

What sets me apart is my versatility and dedication to excellence. Whether I’m helping with emergency response or creating stunning aerial content for clients, I approach every project with precision and creativity. I take pride in balancing my full-time role with running SKYMAP Aerials, where I strive to deliver the best results for my clients while making aerial photography more accessible.

What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come through hard work and perseverance. Starting out, I had no safety net, no support, and faced the usual challenges of balancing bills and responsibilities. Yet, I built a career from scratch, combining my passion for drones with my determination to succeed.

For potential clients and followers, I want you to know that my goal is always to deliver quality and professionalism, whether through my creative work at SKYMAP Aerials or my role as a DFR. I’m here to provide solutions, capture moments, and showcase perspectives that can only be achieved from the sky. Thank you for taking the time to get to know my work—it’s a reflection of my journey and my dedication to making every project meaningful.

My photography/videography portfolio is available online via INSTAGRAM: @uap.ops

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I started SKYMAP Aerials, I didn’t have external financial support or assistance—I funded everything on my own. My journey began with purchasing a low-cost drone to build experience before investing in more advanced, high-quality equipment. At the same time, I enrolled in drone classes at Southwestern College and took the Part 107 FAA test to become a certified drone pilot, all while managing rent, bills, and other personal responsibilities. It required careful budgeting and discipline to make it all work. As my business grew, I realized I needed more stability, so I pursued full-time drone work. This not only gave me the financial backing to invest in better equipment but also allowed me to continue developing my skills. The process of funding my business was a combination of strategic planning, hard work, and unwavering determination to turn my passion for drones into a successful career.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Yes I can share a story. I want to start of by saying that this incident happened a couple years ago, and everything is fine and it’s 100% True anecdote. NSFW

As a Drone Pilot Photographer part of the job requires knowing what you want to Shoot. Planning the Mission and Scouting the area for the best place to have the best visibility and to be able to take off from and things like that. I work as a photographer on both sides of the Border; between San Diego and Tijuana, this incident happened in Tijuana. I planned out a photoshoot of a big statue of a Ram (Cimarron) that’s located on the toll road highway heading East to the small town of Tecate. The statue itself was the circular roundabout for the highway you either do the full circle to continue on the highway back to Tijuana towards Otay, or you do half a turn and head towards the Toll Checkpoint to Tecate. So I went, drove around and since there was no place to park, I had to park on the side of the Highway. So I park, get out of my car and walk around to see where I can take off from. I find a spot and I start taking my equipment out. Now the equipment I had at that time was my BRAND NEW DJI Mini 2 drone, it was my first good DJI Drone and I felt so proud of finally been able to afford one even though it was kind of already an old model it was still a very good drone. So im taking the drone out, setting it up, then I happen to turn my head back looking to the direction of the mountain where the border fence is and I see a dirtbike coming down. My first thoughts it was most likely a cop but I went about my business setting up. As the dirtbike approached me I noticed it wasnt a cop, it was just some guy, he got off the bike and walked calmly towards me. I am now looking at him and as he approaches me, he takes out a gun, points it at me tells me to drop the drone and put my wallet and phone on the floor and begins to question me “whats your name?” “what are you doing here” and “what are you doing with that drone?” I told him my name, explained to him that I am photographer and I want to take pictures of the Ram Statue over there and I showed him my aerial photography work on Instagram and that I am a civilian that just wants to take some pictures of the statue and I don’t work for anybody and I am no here for foul business. In these situations with these types of people, you have to speak clearly, honestly, and with firmness and confidence. He took out a radio from his pocket looked through my wallet, took out my ID and said my name through the radio. Then he gets an answer back saying Im clean no info on me im nobody. which by the way how the hell do they do that? After my name cleared he told me to leave the drone the wallet and my phone there on the floor and to walk back to my car and leave and said how lucky I was, At this point my blood just boiled with anger and the fear of having a gun pointed at me went away and I said: “See I told you Im telling you the truth, I have no reason to lie to you, let me take all my stuff and Ill leave” then he raised up his radio again and said “I need backup he is not listening to me and I need backup to take him” so now I raised up my arms and I was saying “no no no no put the radio down im leaving” then I looked at him straight in his eyes and told him “Its not f*cking fair that I have worked my ass off to buy my things, the right way, just for some assh*le like you can just take it from me like that, let me atleast take my phone and my wallet, I use my phone for work and I have all my documents in my wallet” the he immediately took his sunglasses off and looked at me angrily and pointed his gun closer to me, told me to take my phone and wallet but leave the drone there then he kinda pushed me to start walking towards my car and I did. I got in my car turned it on and proceeded to leave since that part of the highway is one way I had no choice but to go in that direction. I saw that guy in the motorcycle leave the opposite way back to the hill where the border wall is at, then another person on another bike follows me. At this point I just drive to the border and cross. No one else followed me that day. I was just angry that my first DJI drone be taken just like that. It was a scary situation, its one of the dangers of also being a drone pilot. Dont fly your drone anywhere without knowing where you are first and its way better to ask for permission if you dont know where you are. Its part of the risk, of the adventure, and that risk led me to have a story to tell later on. I had been in scary situations before this, but this was the most intense, yet I was completely calm. Yeah it sucked, but Life moves on. I still haven’t taken pictures of that monument & I want too still. This time Ill try a different way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uap.ops/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fungusmince
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Fungus_Mince
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/fungguss
• Other: The following links for Facebook, Youtube & Soundcloud is for my other hobby. I am also an Artist apart from my business and what I do for work. I am a musician and enjoy making music in the Extreme Metal genre. Instagram is my Work Portfolio

Image Credits

Miguel Portugal SKYmap Aerials
Instagram: @uap.ops