Drone operator — Cambodia & Southeast Asia

George Jefferies drone operator aerial footage of Angkor Wat at dawn, Cambodia

Based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I am available for aerial videography and photography assignments across Cambodia, Southeast Asia and worldwide.

What I offer

I provide aerial videography and photography services across broadcast documentary, current affairs, NGO, travel, tourism, corporate and commercial productions. An early adopter of drone technology with almost twenty years of flying experience, I first flew the original DJI Phantom and have used multiple iterations of the technology since, keeping pace with advancements in camera quality, obstacle sensing and flight performance as the technology has developed.

How I work

As shooting camera assistant and drone operator on CNN's Nomad with Carlton McCoy I captured aerial footage of Angkor Wat, the floating villages on the Tonle Sap and central Phnom Penh for international broadcast. Filming at Angkor Wat required special permissions from the Apsara Authority and careful coordination to ensure all operations were fully compliant.

As drone operator on Taste of Cambodia, a travel video series for the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism produced with Hanuman Films, I shot aerial footage extensively throughout the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. I also hold a library of stock drone footage from across Cambodia available for licensing.

Flying inside buildings and industrial spaces is a specific and demanding skill requiring precise control and a thorough understanding of the drone's obstacle sensing systems. For Endo Lighting I flew inside AEON 3 Mall in Phnom Penh, navigating the central atrium and skywalk to capture the building's interior lighting installations. For Cambodia Zulite Stone I flew inside an active industrial factory, using the DJI Air 3's omnidirectional vision system and 3D infrared sensing to capture both the scale of the operation and the fine detail of the manufacturing process.

For two 46-minute documentaries for CNA Insider, Channel NewsAsia's flagship current affairs programme, I captured drone footage across multiple locations in Cambodia including the Mekong River, rice paddies in Battambang, the Koh Pich area of Phnom Penh and the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port.

I have extensive experience obtaining permissions to fly in restricted areas including Phnom Penh and at the Angkor Archaeological Park, working with local fixers and the relevant authorities to ensure all drone operations are fully compliant.

Kit

  • DJI Air 3 — dual lens 28mm and 70mm, extended battery life, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, suitable for both exterior and interior operations

  • Sony FX6 and Sony A7S III available for ground-based camera work alongside drone operations

  • Full production kit available including lighting, sound recording and grip equipment

Availability

Based in Phnom Penh with deep knowledge of Cambodia and the wider region. Available for drone shoots across Cambodia, Southeast Asia and worldwide. Experienced in obtaining permissions for restricted locations including Phnom Penh, the Angkor Archaeological Park and other sensitive sites.

You can see examples of my aerial work in my drone operator showreel and in the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism Taste of Cambodia series.

Get in touch to discuss your project.