I’ve spent most of April and early May traveling, first to Brazil, then crossing the Atlantic aboard the Costa Diadema on a two-week cruise back to Europe. New locations, fresh uploads and brutally honest reflections ahead. Let’s dive in.
Sneak Peek: At the end of this post, I’ll share a preview of my upcoming e-book on EU drone regulations, due for release in July/August.
Some pics from each of the stops, starting with Rio
Rio
Salvador
Recife(didn’t actually stop there as there was a medical emergency on board)
How much I’ve earned so far from my previous cruise (November 2023).
Sobering stuff
Cold Financial Truth
Still, I had a blast. Not everything in life needs to be monetized. I probably qualify as a retired microstocker relying on assets from 5-10 years ago instead of chasing new glory.
Probably a retired microstocker now earning substantially more
Let’s move swiftly onto my monthly highlights and there are many!
In a word: boring. Well below my $1k/month target.
Footage sales? Down after a decent March.
Book cover sales? None this month.
Momentum? Still MIA.
But hey, June is shaping up to be eventful…
Cover reveal at Arcangel
An image that was reported in April just had their cover reveal which I’ll reveal here. Here’s the before and after.
Three Major Plans for June
As long as I stay healthy, June is going to be a super busy month for me.
Tournament Poker
Tournament poker season is in full swing and I’ll be competing at Casino Estoril. Win or lose, I’ll report back on how I mix the game with stock shooting.
Drone Mapping Course
Later on in the month I’ll be taking a drone mapping course in Lisbon. Thereafter, I’ll be pushing this type of knowledge acquired into a potentially lucrative trade that I can offer potential clients. A blog post is in order after the course, surely.
New e-book on European Drone Regulations and much more
Long time ago I had this idea about drafting an European drone regulation guide but as usual with me, I got distracted with other things.
During the cruise I was brainstorming quite a bit on how to execute this project. As soon as I got back to dry land I began writing and haven’t stopped for two weeks. This project has taken on a life of its own. I started with a 5,000-word idea… now I’m clocking in at 20,000 words, covering 31 countries. I need a good editor to tell me “Alex, enough!”. I have shown it to a few select people who also fly drones and they have all been impressed.
Will be testing different covers
Here’s a sneak peek:
Preface
When I first began flying drones across Europe in early-2022, one thing became immediately clear: the information available was a mess. For anyone starting from scratch and trying to become a legal drone pilot, the learning curve was steep, not due to complexity, but because the guidance was scattered, inconsistent and often outdated.
One would assume that more than three years later, things would be smoother. And while some progress has been made, the reality in 2025 remains fragmented across much of the EU. This is especially frustrating for authorities at a time when lightweight consumer drones are more accessible and affordable than ever.
Credit where it’s due: the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has done a commendable job in creating a standardized framework for drone operations, a model now adapted globally. But while the rules are harmonised, the execution is not. National enforcement, local airspace restrictions, confusing registration portals, language-only websites, broken links, and missing or outdated maps all turn what should be a straightforward process into a bureaucratic labyrinth.
As a recreational drone pilot frequently traveling across borders, I often found myself relying on obscure blogs, scattered forums, and trial-and-error to stay compliant. It shouldn’t be this difficult and takes away some of the fun of flying.
So, I created this guide.
My goal is simple: to offer a clear, up-to-date, and genuinely practical resource for anyone flying drones recreationally under the “Open Category” across Europe. Whether you’re a tourist with a sub-250g mini drone or a creator flying a more advanced Mavic 4 Pro on cross-border projects, this guide walks you through what matters. From first registration to national airspace maps, training requirements and those country-specific quirks you won’t find on official sites.
From my own experiences and others, I’ve also created a quite controversial chapter where I advise pilots on how to mitigate their risks when flying in less than legal circumstances. You will struggle to find this type of information anywhere else.
This is not a legal manual and it shouldn’t be used as one. Nor is it overly technical by design. I’ve also tried to make it as visual as possible as well as fun with many real-world stories. It’s the guide I wish existed when I started, something that would’ve saved me hours of frustration and let me focus on what really matters: flying.
Drone laws will continue to evolve, and I’ll be updating this guide accordingly to help you stay out of trouble. So, this is only the beginning.
– Alexandre Rotenberg, Drone Pilot Portugal, June 2025
My goal is to publish the guide sometime in July/August after extensive fact-checking and hiring a designer to make it all pretty. Watch this space!
Hope you’ve enjoyed this report and until next time.
About Alex
I’m an eccentric guy. I am based in Lisbon, Portugal. I am on a quest to visit all corners of the world. I want to capture stock images & footage. I’ve devoted ten years to making it as a travel photographer / videographer and freelance writer. I hope to inspire others by showing an unique insight into a fascinating business model.
[…] better known in our creative circles as Alexandre ‘Brutally Honest‘ Rotenberg, is back at it again with his monthly stock photography earnings report like a seasoned gladiator […]
Alexandre Rotenberg's Brutally Honest Guide to Stock Photography & Footage 
[…] better known in our creative circles as Alexandre ‘Brutally Honest‘ Rotenberg, is back at it again with his monthly stock photography earnings report like a seasoned gladiator […]
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