Shaun Deardorff

Founder & CEO

Shaun founded Airmage Media Productions in 2019 with the mission of elevating visual storytelling by offering premium aerial photography and videography services. As a licensed FAA Part 107 UAV drone pilot, aerospace engineer, and PhD candidate in aerospace engineering at NC State University, Shaun combined his technical expertise and creative vision to establish a company that pushes the boundaries of traditional media production.

Shaun has always been an artist and creative at heart, and an avid entrepreneur, having started 6 other business ventures along with Airmage Media Productions. He has been enamoured with photography and cinematography ever since he was a young boy with his first camera at age 8, inspired by legendary creators such as Peter McKinnon, Casey Neistat, and Chris Burkard. What started as a venture to provide professional commercial access to aerial photography quickly evolved into a full-service production company. Today, Airmage Media Productions offers a wide range of services, from full event video and photo productions to commercial photoshoots, real estate marketing, private portrait photography, professional headshots, and more.

Shaun’s background is diverse and extensive, with experience working at SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and the FAA as an aerospace engineer. He has had the opportunity to work professionally with some of the world’s most recognized companies, including Toyota, NASA, Marriott, Coca-Cola, and Amazon, which has given him the ability to approach each project with a unique blend of technical precision and artistic vision.

With numerous prestigious accolades under his belt, including the Miller Fellowship, Provost Doctoral Fellowship, and the John & Linda Leazar Entrepreneur Award, Shaun’s passion for innovation and excellence is evident in everything he does. His PhD research focuses on origami-inspired deployable space structures, and his entrepreneurial spirit drives his dedication to help others bring their stories to life through high-quality photography and videography.

At Airmage Media, we provide “media production from a higher perspective” and are committed to delivering exceptional results, with a focus on understanding our clients’ needs and elevating their brands and services through powerful visual content. Whether capturing the grandeur of a commercial photoshoot, documenting an event, or creating stunning aerial footage, our goal is to make every project memorable and bring their visions to life!

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Carl Essa

Videographer & Editor

Carl is a videographer and editor with experience in capturing and producing high-quality content for a variety of clients. As the co-owner of Half Melted Productions, he specializes in both shooting and post-production, helping bring creative projects to life. His work with Airmage includes videography and editing support for client projects, ensuring polished and engaging final products.

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Aaron Lewis

Business Partner, Photographer & Videographer

Aaron Lewis is Shaun’s business partner at Airmage Media Productions, where he manages and services the West Coast operations and clients. Aaron and Shaun work closely together on a variety of projects, collaborating as photographers, videographers, and cinematographers. Their 20+ years of combined expertise allows Airmage Media to offer brands and clients a broad range of high-quality services, expanding access to premium content creation across the country.

Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cinematography and Film/Video Production from Full Sail University, where he gained the knowledge and technical skills that laid the foundation for his career. His dedication to his craft has led him to develop a well-rounded portfolio, with a strong background in creating YouTube content and providing guidance to aspiring creators. Aaron’s journey began as a content creator on YouTube in 2016, where he independently wrote scripts, filmed, and edited his content. Through this, he taught young people how to start their own YouTube channels and become successful content creators with limited resources. After graduating from Full Sail University, Aaron transitioned from his career as a truck driver to pursue his passion full-time, founding Pixel Perfect Productions in 2018. Despite initially working on his business part-time, Aaron made the decision to go all-in during the pandemic and has since grown his company year by year. Today, Pixel Perfect Productions works with a variety of clients, securing bigger contracts and expanding their reach.

Aaron is the founder and owner of Pixel Perfect Productions, a growing production company based in Stockton, California. With years of experience in film and video production, Aaron has honed his skills in everything from cinematography to editing, helping both small businesses and large companies achieve their media and marketing goals.

Aaron’s entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his deep expertise in cinematography and video production, drives his commitment to creating impactful, high-quality visual media content that helps brands connect with their audiences and elevates their presence through engaging content and creative storytelling.

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