Picture this: A former schoolteacher turned medical office administrator is seeing her career and the world from a whole new perspective. That is the case for one Pace woman who has taken a life-long love of photography and turned it into an exciting aerial photography business.

Amy Hartsfield, 51, has been an avid photographer dating back to her high school days in Mobile. She pursued additional community education photography courses over the years, but she never dreamed what would ultimately come of her passion and talent.

"After becoming a licensed pilot in 2002, a whole new world of photography opened up for me," Hartsfield said. "It was rare that I ever flew anywhere without a camera in the cockpit. I was introduced to the concept of aerial photography as a business while doing online research to learn more about proper techniques and recommended equipment for capturing the best imagery.

"The seed was planted. I realized that I could turn my two passions — for flying and photography — into a business," she said.

While in the planning stages for her business, Amy and Co. Inc., she joined the Professional Aerial Photographer's Association. PAPA is an educational group of professional aerial photographers throughout the world who are dedicated to the promotion of high business ethics and using shared experiences to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. This group quickly became and is still her most relied-on business source.

Amy and Co. Inc. specializes in high-quality custom aerial photography throughout the North Florida, South Alabama and Southern Mississippi areas. They also can arrange services anywhere in the United States and many places throughout the world through a network of photo pilots.

"Our company provides both oblique and vertical aerial photography most often shot from our fixed-wing aircraft and sometimes from a leased helicopter," Hartsfield said. "We also offer ground-based architectural exterior and interior photography as a complement to the aerial photography of our sites by request."

Hartsfield states that an aerial photograph is often the best practice management tool that gives you the edge. Whether it is used for planning, marketing, documentation, monitoring, report illustration or investigative purposes, an aerial image gives you a true moment-in-time perspective of the big picture like no other source can. Professionals such as attorneys, engineers, contractors, developers, architects, advertising agencies, auction companies, environmental agencies, roofing companies, landscape companies, commercial lenders, title companies, post card companies and government agencies are some that use the images to improve quality, increase effectiveness, document, collaborate, market and provide the accountability component that is so important in today's business environment.

Amy and Co. Inc. has been doing aerial photos for a Pensacola company since 2008. Black and Veatch Special Projects Corp. Construction Manager David Behnke is extremely pleased with the work produced by Amy and Co. Inc.

"She is very professional and timely on everything she does," Behnke said. "She provides once a month shoots on the progress of the Escambia Wood Treating Superfund site. The high-quality aerials are transferred onto CDs and shared with the clients the very next day. This allows us to document our progress. They are then placed on our Web site."

Hartsfield definitely has found her niche in the sky. She said she can't imagine doing anything else for an occupation or being based in any other location.

"There is nowhere prettier than the Gulf Coast," Hartsfield said. "The beach areas will take your breath away every time; the rivers and tributaries follow interesting patterns that draw the camera to them; the views over the farmland changes from season to season; and each city and town has its own personality."

Flying and maneuvering in the local airspace is not only breathtaking, Hartsfield said, it will keep you on your toes.

The skies are very busy with the Pensacola Regional Airport and local military air traffic When on duty as a photographer she does not pilot the plane herself. She depends on a team of pilots including Chip Mapoles of Mapoles Aviation and other pilots for missions as needed.

"We always have to keep in mind that while every mission we fly is important, safety comes first," she said. "We rely heavily on the air traffic controllers and TRACON personnel to assist us in accomplishing our work safely and they are wonderful."

Hartsfield's family is thrilled and very supportive about her business. Her parents, in their late 70s, love telling friends about their daughter's unique business. She still has to pinch herself to make sure it's not all a dream.

"I've always been adventurous, but flying airplanes is not something I ever thought I'd do. I actually originally took flying lessons as a challenge to myself to step out of my comfort zone. It is great that I ended up loving it," Hartsfield said. "Now my 18-year-old son has decided to pursue his private pilot's license, and I'm ecstatic. He'll make a great pilot."

As many small business owners, Hartsfield stays busy working most of the time. Because aerial photography is weather dependent it often dictates that she works on weekends in order to meet deadlines.

When she does have a little down time what does she do?

"I like to relax at the beach, get together with family or friends, or — are you ready for this? I like to fly," she said.

Hartsfield also is very active in her church and leads a women's Bible study group each Wednesday night. She also coordinates its Prayer Quilt Ministry.