Meet Nicholas

I have been a professional drone pilot in Charleston, South Carolina for the better part of a decade and was one of the first drone pilots to be certified by the FAA in the Lowcountry back in 2016.

My landscape and drone photos can be found on display in the Charleston International Airport, Charleston Magazine, the real estate section of the Post & Courier, South Carolina Wildlife Magazine as well as the Detroit Lakes Tourism Bureau. I have been committed to aerial photography since drones became a viable tool in the photography industry back in 2012 and 2013. I have seen the evolution of aerial imaging firsthand which has helped me to gain valuable experience and hone a unique, and creative approach to the art of drone photography.

I have also developed my skillset to include interior real estate and architecture photography which has taken me all over the country and the world. My photos have been utilized to present new and unique perspectives to clients for real estate rentals and sales, business PR and digital marketing. My images are also used as centerpieces to complement interior design and home décor.

View My Portfolio
Nicholas Skylar taking a photo
Detroit Lakes Tourism Front Page
South Carolina Wild Life Magazine feature
Post and Courier Real Estate Front Page
Charleston Magazine Feature - Nicholas Skylar Holzworth

Way, Way Back

I was born in Charleston and raised on Sullivans Island in the 1980’s. I attended Sullivans Island Elementary, Lang middle school and graduated from Bishop England High School before leaving for college. 

Growing up on Sullivans during that time was a wholesome experience. The island wasn’t a trendy hotspot back then. Construction wasn’t as rampant, there wasn’t any traffic, the restaurants were holes-in-the-wall and everyone knew everyone on the island. A typical day as a child consisted of playing tag in the tunnels around the Civil War forts, catching some surf behind Bert’s Bar, and at night, we would ride our bikes to light off fireworks on the old Pitt Street bridge.

I always found myself admiring scenes and compositions around the island, but I didn’t have much of an interest in photography until I first started researching drone technology in 2012-2013. After a couple of years the technology became affordable enough for me to purchase my first drone in 2014. At the time I was more consumed with the underlying automation that allowed the drone to fly and maintain position. It wasn’t until I slapped a GoPro on it to capture the birds eye view that I realized the potential and opportunity that it presented.

Because the Lowcountry is so flat, there aren’t an abundance of places “with a view”, compared to say, a destination in the mountains. Elevated overlooks are limited to several buildings and bridges around town so to be able to have a flying camera that can be positioned virtually anywhere, unlocked perspectives that no one had ever seen. As I flew the drone more, the more I wanted to share the images that I saw. The more I shared, the more I wanted to improve them. So I started to dive into learning photo editing.

Around this time I was gifted my first DSLR for Christmas. It was a Nikon D5300; a great starter camera. The camera was the ultimate turning point for me to go all in to photography. I taught myself the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) and how to use the camera in full manual mode which really allowed me to understand the art and science behind a great image.