NAMPA — Sebastian Griffin has been an entrepreneur since the fifth grade. He has sold cotton candy and cleaned trash cans. Now, at age 15, he’s a drone-operating, professional photographer.
“He’s been going since he could crawl,” said Cathryn Belnap, Sebatian’s mother. “He has always wanted to do his own thing and succeed at it.”
Sebastian — known as the Drone Dude — controls his flying, photo-snapping drone with his iPhone.
The Nampa High sophomore got his first drone, with help from his father, two months ago. Sebastian recently launched 208 Drone Dude, a business that provides aerial videos and still photos to real estate companies.
“This is the future of real estate,” Sebastian said. “It’s a different view than your normal photo.”
His goal is to showcase a seller’s home and present it in the absolute best light — whether the property is a $70,000 house or a $15 million estate.
“Realtors are selling homes faster and getting more listings with aerial and indoor real estate photos,” Sebastian said.
He got his first paid gig this week. He charges a real estate listing for interior and exterior photos at $199 and aerial photos at $99.
While Sebastian’s a businessman, he’s also an accomplished student. He owns a 4.0 grade-point average and is ranked No. 1 in his class of 331 students. He hopes to be valedictorian. He’s also involved in student government and is on the varsity cross country and track teams.
“I’m competitive, that is what motivates me,” Sebastian said.
He is already thinking about college and dreams of getting into Brigham Young University to study marketing.
“Sebastian is a global thinker and follows up big ideas with hard work towards those objectives, he also includes those around him to share in any successes he may achieve,” said Dustin Ainsworth, a social science at Nampa High.
- Favorite drink? Sparkling Cider
- Favorite sport to watch? Volleyball and college football
- What are the first three songs on your current music playlist? “Trumpets” by Jason Derulo, “Good To Be Alive” by Andy Grammar, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Andrea Bocelli
- You just got a free plane ticket to go anywhere. Where are you going? South Africa
- Three things you can’t live without? Family, friends and food
- Who is your favorite teacher? Kayla Hubbard, a math teacher at Nampa High School
- Favorite emoji?
