Taking Flight: How Brent Cochran Built Sky Foto from the Ground Up
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
On any given weekend, you can find Brent Cochran with his head in the clouds. “What you can do with drones is only limited by your imagination,” he shared. “I feel like Superman, but my feet stay on the ground.”
Based in Jackson County, Ohio, Brent is the founder of Sky Foto Airborne Imagery, a drone photography and videography business powered by state-of-the-art drone technology that blends Brent’s tech-savvy nature with a curiosity for what lies beyond. Founded in March 2025, Brent’s drone fleet has since tripled in size over the past year. Sky Foto helps local companies elevate how they show up, providing visuals that once felt out of reach.
Long before Sky Foto took flight, Brent’s foundation was built on discipline and service. From 2003 to 2007, he served in both the U.S. Army and the Presidential Guard for President George W. Bush. His four years in service shaped the discipline and mental toughness he now relies on as an entrepreneur.
“I’ve been given great discipline from the army. As an entrepreneur, there’s days where it doesn’t pay off; so, if you don’t have discipline and mental toughness, you don’t have anything.”
That same discipline carried over when Brent started flying drones for fun. As he spent more time learning the technology, he noticed a clear opportunity forming around him. What began as a hobby quickly revealed a clear gap — local businesses needed high-quality aerial visuals, but few options existed nearby, creating a niche Brent was ready to step into.
Scrolling on Facebook one day, Brent stumbled upon a post about the Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia’s Ignite Appalachia Business Boot Camp — and the timing couldn’t have been better. He applied to the program and received a call from the Portsmouth manager asking him about his goals for Sky Foto. After talking, they both knew the Ignite program would be a great fit for Brent. “Classes had already started, though, and I couldn’t miss anything,” Cochran recalled.
He had to work to catch up, but once he did, Brent started to hit his stride at Ignite’s Business Boot Camp. With the help of the program's advisor, Brent learned how to understand his market, refine his offerings, and pursue opportunities beyond occasional real estate jobs. “After class one day, she looked at me and said, ‘You’re in this for real,’” Brent recounted. “I took that to heart — knowing someone believes in you is everything.” Though it was once a lighthearted hobby, ECDI's support showed Brent he could turn his passion into something serious.
“If I could give advice to anyone starting a business, I’d say get a hold of and take advantage of the folks at ECDI — because sometimes, it takes a village.”
The Business Boot Camp program culminates in a final business pitch competition with entrepreneurs across all industries. Brent was understandably anxious about the competition, especially going up against other talented business owners. In the weeks leading up to the event, Brent spent his nights going over his pitch deck with his wife to represent Sky Foto in the way he’d dreamed.
Even with that preparation, Brent wrestled with imposter syndrome as he prepared to pitch alongside experienced business owners. Presenting was nerve-wracking, but the preparation and support behind him proved that he belonged in the room. That preparation paid off; he placed first in the Jackson County division and advanced to the Ignite Appalachia finals, where he placed second.
The support Brent received from ECDI showed him that in an intimidating market, his ideas and follow-through were strong enough to hold his own. And even after the competition, he still feels their support backing him through every step Sky Foto takes. “ECDI feels like a family to me now. I know I can call or text them to ask for advice, and they’ll give me their honest opinions,” says Cochran.
“Anybody who wants to start something, keep ECDI close because they’re invaluable,” Brent shared. “I’d still be doing a real estate job every month or two if it weren’t for the kick in the butt that I got from Ignite.” That scale is now integral to the growth Brent sees for Sky Foto. He hopes to keep building new connections and partnerships, as well as use his technology to support local communities in the Appalachia area. With imagination and discipline at the core of his business, Brent Cochran continues to grow Sky Foto— bringing expansive vision to the communities that keep him grounded.
