Rising Stars: Meet Thomas J. Wasinski

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas J. Wasinski. 

Hi Thomas, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in and around Cleveland, Ohio. Straight to the pros right out of High School. Not really, jk, I just didn’t go to university. Straight into the workforce I went in 2000. Held my first digital camera in 1998 (Sony Mavica) at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, I knew this was the vehicle I needed to help capture and express my passions. Now I fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/Drone) with digital cameras attached to them for a wide array of industries such as in sports/entertainment, Travel/Hospitality, TV/Film, construction, Real Estate, and many more. My original vision was to bring this genre to the sports world in capturing live games from an unobstructed aerial perspective. This was conceptualized within a youth football organization that I started in Parma. I would try to make hype videos of the kids playing to help recruit more players for my teams. I went from filming Pee-Wee to the Pros in under 6 months. Now, I’ve been recording drone footage for the Cleveland Browns since 2015. (My DREAM JOB). During that time, I was working a full time job in the automotive industry while I was starting 2 businesses; Seminoles Youth Football and Aerial Agents. Both businesses are still going strong since their realization which is something I am very proud of. I pursued creative endeavors from every angle I could imagine within my ecosystem from a young age. This all started promoting music and movies in my market as a teenager on a street team, then went on to learn graphic design, then moved on to video production, then photography, then financial reporting, then business management, then leadership, and so on. Now, I run my own agency where I can apply all of these skills to my business. I was able to achieve this through relentless effort, accompanied by an insatiable appetite for learning new things. Eventually, I quit my full time gig to pursue my 2 side hustles with Drones and Youth Football. It feels great to say that now I’ve been Self-Employed for 8 years in March ’22. I would not have been able to do this without the help of my friends and family, especially my wife (Angie) and my son (Tommy).

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, No, not exactly a smooth road. There were times where it took every resource, I had to keep the business going. However, I will say that I enjoy learning so many things from YouTube University. Yes, there have been many challenges, but having access to a priceless resource such as YouTube is wonderful. So, this gives me the confidence I need to face every challenge head-on. I’ve lost money, friends, and time on this journey but I ‘ve gained tenacity, peace, and wisdom along the way. All in all, a fair trade I would say.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The 2 creative talents that I am most known for are photography & video production. Specifically, my aerial photos and HD video footage from flying cameras (UAV/Drone). Most people may have seen my work through TV broadcasts, various social channels, as well as magazine covers and digital designs for local publications. Some say they appreciate the compositions of my captures, whereas others commend me for my editing abilities. It is all about constant improvement for me. I need continuous improvement to be truly satisfied and fulfilled. I’m trying to keep all of the pencils in my pouch as sharp as possible. Currently, I am focused on learning everything I can within WEB 3. Blockchain technology really fascinates me and I am looking for ways to reach more people through my marketing efforts.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The PEOPLE of NE Ohio are what I like best about Cleveland, Ohio. NE Ohioans are some of the very best people that I’ve ever met. I love how our city supports its own people louder and prouder than any other market that I’ve witnessed. When a Clevelander is on their way up, the hometown shows out. The family traditions around FOOD here are pretty incredible too, which is usually prepared with love that you can actually taste. Little to no traffic around rush hour is also wonderful. All of the professional athletes that play here all claim that Cleveland has the best SPORTS fans. As for my least favorite, it would have to be the outdated parking meters on the city streets. Furthermore, the parking bans and violations are pretty egregious. The city impound lot on Quigley Rd is a miserable place. If you get your car towed there, I wish for you the very best possible outcome. Highly unlikely though. For that reason, I go out of my way to make sure I’m parked legit every time. For me, this region has provided me with the most idyllic upbringing that any one person can hope for.

I was intimidated by Cleveland as a youngster, inspired by it as a young adult, and SO very proud of Cleveland as an accomplished business professional that made me who I am today. In return, I consider myself privileged for being someone who could document this monumental comeback of this great American city to national significance through my photos and videos. One other thing worth mentioning is that I proposed to my wife on the observation deck of The Terminal Tower on Valentine’s Day 2003. My first Big Boy job out of High School was also in the Terminal Tower. So you see, my love is intertwined with this region and its landmarks for eternity. For those reasons, I will always have a deeply personal relationship with the City of Cleveland.

Recap:

Love – People, Food, & Sports.

No Love – Parking meters & violations, Quigley Road impound lot, & large pot holes.

Contact Info:

• Email: thomas@aerialagents.com
• Website: www.aerialagents.com
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aerialagents | https://www.instagram.com/agent81_
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/aerialagents
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/twasinski | https://twitter.com/aerialagentsCLE
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/aerialagents
• Other: https://oncyber.io/aerialagents

Image Credits
Aerial Agents
Thomas Wasinski