Why I Built Views From Above

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I started Views From Above because I believe documentation can change the way Chattanooga builds. Not through fancy marketing photos, but through honest visuals that crews can trust and use to make real decisions.

My background is different from most drone operators. I joined the West Virginia National Guard in 2013 as a 31B Military Police officer and later transitioned into the Army Reserves as a 12R Interior Electrician at the Reserve Center on Bonnie Oaks. My unit was a vertical engineering company, so everyone learned to do everyone’s job. One day you might be pulling wire, the next day operating heavy equipment, and the day after that helping another trade get a project across the finish line. Taught me the importance of detail, teamwork, and staying alert. If you get complacent, people get hurt and projects fall apart. 

Since 2018 I have worked in chemical and manufacturing environments. Working around industrial chemicals teaches you a lot about paying attention. You learn to watch for small problems like a slight sheen in a retention pond or a line that should not be leaking. You learn how important communication is when people rely on you to keep the job moving safely. And you learn that accurate documentation protects people, protects projects, and protects companies. 

Views From Above was built on those lessons.

I do not fly drones for pretty pictures. My work is about giving crews, supervisors, owners, and stakeholders a clear and consistent understanding of what is happening on their site. Most construction photos today are taken on phones from different heights and different angles. That might work for quick updates, but it does very little when a dispute comes up. I fly repeatable paths and capture the same angles every session. You get documentation that stands up to questions instead of creating more of them. 

I also believe in fast communication. My 48 hour turnaround is my commitment to excellence. I have always been competitive. If I am going to do something, I want to do it better and faster than anyone else while still keeping quality at the highest standard.

Honesty, communication, and listening are my nonnegotiables. If something needs to be said, I say it. If there is a safer or more efficient way to handle something, I bring it up. And I always take the time to listen, because every client has their own expectations, site conditions, and concerns. The only way to document accurately is to understand those details first. My clients trust me because I treat their business as if it were my own. Their success is my success, and I work with the same care and clarity I would expect if the roles were reversed.

One of my favorite parts of this work is showing people a view they would never be able to see on their own. Sometimes it is a homeowner watching their land transform. Sometimes it is someone who cannot physically access part of their property. Sometimes it is a crew seeing the full scope of their work for the first time. Sharing those moments makes this meaningful.

Long term, I want Views From Above to become Tennessee’s premier aerial documentation service. I want to serve home builders, excavation crews, and infrastructure teams. I want to help raise the standard of documentation in Chattanooga. If we document clearly and consistently, we hold each other accountable in a way that lifts the entire community.

I am a federally certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, and I carry that with pride. It's not something I brag about, it's something I represent. Professionalism matters to me because the work we do has real consequences. Trust matters because my clients rely on these images to make decisions. And community matters because this city is home.

If you ever need clear and consistent documentation from someone who understands the field, the safety, and the responsibility behind every project, I am here and ready to help.

Nate Jordan
Views From Above
Chattanooga, Tennessee