RESUME
FAA Part 107-certified drone pilot and built-environment documentation professional with 20+ years of experience supporting architectural, construction, and infrastructure projects through photography, drone operations, and field-based documentation. Currently expanding expertise in photogrammetry, orthomosaic generation, RTK/GNSS workflows, GIS, and reality capture technologies including Pix4D, DroneDeploy, WebODM, and QGIS. Combines extensive field experience, technical documentation skills, and construction-site awareness to support Reality Capture, VDC, and project documentation teams.
WORK EXPERIENCE
FoxFury Lighting Solutions
Oceanside, California
Drone Pilot | Video Producer
01/2016 – 04/2020
Led multimedia storytelling across video production, photography, and editorial content, translating complex engineering and technical data into accessible educational materials.
Managed all aspects of video production from concept to distribution, including ideation, scriptwriting, storyboarding, filming (on-location and in-studio), editing, motion graphics, audio mixing, and color grading. Successfully facilitated complex productions across multiple departments, subject matter experts, and external agencies, consistently meeting deadlines and budgets through meticulous planning, communication, and problem-solving.
Served as an instructor, subject matter expert, and instructional designer to develop educational presentations for photography, video production, forensic photography, and UAS operations.
Proficient in various cameras (DSLRs, cinema cameras, action cams, iPhones, drones), lighting equipment (LEDs, modifiers, diffusion, grip), and audio equipment. Expert in video editing software (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro X, Motion, Camtasia, Audition) and digital asset management systems. Skilled in color correction/grading, motion graphics, and multichannel audio mixing.
Leveraged 20 years of experience to effectively troubleshoot technical challenges and adapt to unforeseen circumstances during on-location and in-studio shoots. Demonstrated strong improvisation skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Content Marketing Manager
05/2020 – 06/2022
Managed a team consisting of a website manager, a social media manager, and independent contributors to produce and deliver relevant content for content marketing campaigns.
Built a centralized digital asset management system to organize video, photography, and marketing content for internal, dealer, and media use.
Produced webinars, short- and long-form videos, and product guides through full-cycle on-site and field production, including ideation, scripting, filming, editing, motion graphics, and publishing.
As a passionate brand ambassador, I cultivated strong customer and partner relationships by delivering impactful presentations, live demonstrations, and product training at trade shows and events. My personalized connection with customers fostered greater brand loyalty and enthusiasm for the product.
Chris Giles Images, LLC
Encinitas, CA – Durango, CO
Owner | Photographer | Video Producer
01/1997 – 01/2016
Spearheaded the creation and growth of a commercial photography and video studio located in Durango, CO and Encinitas, CA., specializing in commercial lifestyle, outdoor adventure, portrait, and architecture photography and educational, brand and corporate videography.
Formulated and executed comprehensive content strategies by leveraging my ability to visualize concept development. This alignment between video and photography projects ensured consistency with the clients’ brand positioning, business goals, and audience needs, while clearly defining each project’s purpose, target audience, and desired outcome.
Cultivated and nurtured strong client relationships through proactive management, honest communication, and exceptional service delivery, which led to successful negotiations, tailored proposals, and consistently high levels of customer satisfaction and repeat business.
Created and maintained content and production calendars to ensure efficient production that adhered to the client’s budget requirements, while enhancing content variety for optimal impact and reach.
Successfully built and managed a streamlined production pipeline, overseeing budgets, project timelines, and resource allocation to ensure high-quality content delivery. Adept at juggling multiple clients and projects simultaneously, demonstrating strong organizational skills, strategic prioritization, and the ability to execute content initiatives efficiently in dynamic environments.
Enhanced client brand identity and messaging through emotionally resonant storytelling, driven by compelling narratives and strong visuals that engaged target audiences, ultimately strengthening brand loyalty and advocacy.
Developed a strong brand identity through consistent messaging, storytelling, and visual aesthetics across all marketing channels. Leveraged strong SEO, social media marketing, and email campaigns to optimize audience engagement and increase organic reach, which resulted in continuous improvement of client quality and increased revenue growth.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Business & Marketing
Fort Lewis College
CERTIFICATIONS
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
DroneDeploy Construction Analyst Certification
DroneDeploy Fundamentals Certification
Drone Deploy Ground Certified Certification
OSHA 10 Construction Safety
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Reality Capture & Geospatial Technologies
Photogrammetry • Orthomosaic Processing • Point Cloud Fundamentals • RTK/GNSS Fundamentals • Ground Control Points (GCPs) • Coordinate Systems & Projections • GIS Fundamentals • Construction Progress Documentation • 360° Documentation • Existing Conditions Capture
Drone Operations
FAA Part 107 Certified • Aerial Mapping • Flight Planning • Site Assessment • Mission Execution • Data Collection • Safety Procedures • Equipment Management
Software
WebODM • QGIS • OpenStreetMap • Pix4D • DroneDeploy • Insta360 Studio • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Lightroom • Adobe Premiere Pro • Microsoft 365 • Google Workspace
Construction & Documentation
Field Documentation • Existing Conditions Documentation • Progress Documentation • QA/QC Awareness • Digital Asset Management • Technical Reporting • Stakeholder Communication • Workflow Coordination
SELECTED CIVIC & SPATIAL PROJECTS
Strong Towns Encinitas Local Conversation
Encinitas, CA | 2025–Present
- Founded and led a local community group focused on improving Encinitas’ built environment, street safety, housing, and financial resilience.
- Coordinate monthly meetups, newsletter and social media communications, and educational programming with local civic leaders and community stakeholders.
- Organize site-based research and field projects, including a commercial-corridor walk audit and a collaborative Finance Decoder analyzing the city’s financial health.
Bike Streets
Encinitas, CA | 2026–Present
- Maintain and develop the Encinitas Low-Stress Bike Map through spatial analysis, field observation, and OpenStreetMap data management.
- Evaluate real-world transportation conditions, recommend low-stress routes, update OSM geometry and attributes, and collect GPS ride data to develop activity heat maps and a library of mapped route.
Video Production
Encinitas Bike Walk
Encinitas, CA | 2013–Present
- Advocate for safer, more accessible transportation infrastructure through campaign development, civic involvement, community engagement, and analysis of roadway and bikeway conditions.
- Curate bicycle routes through Bike Streets and contribute to OpenStreetMap-based mapping and spatial data maintenance.
- Manage website and social media platforms supporting public communication, outreach, and community organizing.
San Diego Green Building Council
American Lung Association
Video Production