Cassie Goldghen - As The Crow Flies

If and when you ever get the chance to look out over a beautiful, rocky, mountainous landscape, it will change your life forever. There are few things in this life that can make you feel so small and so awe-inspired in a single second than a view like that. For Cassie Goldghen this is a regular experience. Nestled in the heart of the Rockies, in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, she lives in the constant immersion of that striking natural beauty.

Not only does she dwell within those jagged walls, but she drives directly into them on her RZR and captures the whole off-roading experience As The Crow Flies which, not-so-coincidentally, is the name of her up and coming videography company. She records her adventures with her drone and camera, then edits the footage into jaw-dropping videos of the experience.

It started as just a hobby, a desire to document her personal trips. A drone pilots license, expensive recording equipment, and 2 years of dedication later.. and BAM! It has now morphed into an incredible emerging business. She persistently did what she was passionate about, and new opportunities arose! She is living proof of the theory behind the virtuous cycle experiment.

“The first time I launched that drone I fell in love. I have always been a fanatic when it comes to scenery and landscapes and getting the birds eye view of it all made it even better. Eventually I decided to pursue a commercial drone pilots license and the passion just kind of grew from there.”

Honing in these skills didn't come easy. Yes, some natural ability and an artist's eye is required. However, additionally, it took hard work, time, dedication, and persistence.

"While today's drones are fairly easy to fly as long as you have good hand-eye coordination, there's still plenty of practice to be done with it. I had to study for a month to pass my part 107 exam (commercial drone pilots' exam with the FAA). Lots of hours spent learning about premier pro, the editing program I use. And the experience needed on some of the trails we hit definitely takes some time to gain. I just bought my first DSLR camera and am learning how to use it as the days go. Learning what works when it comes framing shots and putting the video together that can keep the audience's attention. There's a lot to it."

Although she would love to do this full time, and likely will in the future, for now, she is still enjoying working at her dependable job in transportation. The locals of Grand County know her as their beloved bus driver and dispatcher. Every person who has had the pleasure of riding on her route knows that she is gifted with the ability to brighten your day.

“It would be nice one day if I could replace videography with this job, but I enjoy driving and talking to the locals so it's not too bad of a gig anyway.”

Since she enjoys her job, she's not in any rush to jump ship. She can take the time needed to ensure her business and clients are growing in alignment with her interests regardless of the obstacles she may have to overcome, or the quick money she could make in other, less exciting, fields.

“I knew people could make an earning being a drone pilot, and a lot of that industry is more focused on real estate imaging, surveying, and things of that kind, but knew I wanted more-so to go in the direction of recreational sports as it was something I really enjoyed, so I decided to go in that direction knowing that it would be difficult, especially as a self-taught amateur videographer.”

Not only does she get to witness some of the most incredible natural experiences, like flying with bald eagles, but there is a real sense of community built here as well.

“...I ventured out to Killpecker Sand Dunes for Dune Days in 2020. I'm a fairly shy person so it took me some courage to approach another driver about getting some footage of him while driving through the sand dunes. He was all about it and introduced me to a couple of guys he met out there as well. I was loving the footage I was getting of them riding and also ended up making some friends that I still ride and hang out with today. This passion has helped me out of my shell a good bit and meet some very cool people in the filming and off-roading industry and I'm very appreciative of that.”

I had the honor of joining her on one of these excursions so I can tell you firsthand how invigorating the whole experience is. For some this is just a fun time, but for Cassie it brings her passion and life.

“Honestly, as cheesy as it sounds, [it feels] like I'm free, especially when flying the drone. But what really attracts me to it is the challenge. I love challenging myself and there is endless education in this industry. There's always something new to learn, especially where I'm at. I have come a long way but there is still a long way to go and I'm totally ok with that! It makes me feel fulfilled and accomplished when I finish putting a video together. And no matter where I'm riding, I always just feel at home and like I'm where I should be. “

“I would love it if I could be out there riding and seeing everything 24/7 but honestly when I'm not doing it, I'm still daydreaming about shots I would love to get. Every time I'm listening to music, I'm imagining how it would go with a video I could potentially make or whether it would be a good song to hold onto for a future production. It's pretty much on my mind every day.”

We are believing very big things for the ever-talented Cassie Goldghen. No telling where this adventure filled life and the power to push personal boundaries will take her. Cliche aside... Not even the sky's the limit for her.

A word of wisdom from Cassie to anyone interested in doing what she does:

"Keep pushing and keep learning. Portfolio building is very important. Do things out of your comfort zone because even if it's not a direction you want to pursue, it's still a learning experience. Reach out for criticism. We can't grow if we think everything, we make is perfect. Waiting for work can become discouraging but don't give up!"

"When I was younger, I worked at a high-end gas station called QuikTrip and their motto was "Never be satisfied." And it's stuck with me ever since. It always pushes me to strive for more. If you're satisfied, you are stagnant. It's always good to keep moving forward."

Keep it up and stay inspiring! We're behind you, cheering you on.

If you would like to see her videos, follow the link below to subscribe to her YouTube channel.