AN SMA COMMERCIAL PLT ON A MISSION TO PHOTOGRAPH A HOME FROM THE AIR FLEW LOW OVER SEVERAL OTHER HOUSES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

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I WAS ASKED TO MAKE A PHOTO FLT. WE WAS GOING TO TAKE PICTURES OF A PRIVATE PERSON'S HOUSE. I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON FOR US CAUSING ANNOYANCE TO PEOPLE ON THE GND WAS BECAUSE OUR REPETITIVE CIRCLES AROUND THE HOUSE AT LOW ALT. THERE WERE MANY OTHER HOUSES UNDER OUR FLT PATH; AND WE MADE A POINT OF STAYING EVEN HIGHER THAN WE WERE REQUIRED BY REG. I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN COMPLAINTS OF LOW FLYING ACFT FROM THE ATC CTLR AT PATRICK HENRY FIELD. NOT UNTIL THEN DID I REALIZE THAT OUR FLT COULD HAVE CAUSED DISTURBANCE TO PEOPLE ON THE GND. THE REASON FOR US STAYING ON STATION SO LONG RANGED FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER NEEDING BETTER ANGLES TO LOADING THE FILM BACKWARDS. THE TOTAL TIME WAS ABOUT 20 MINS. I THINK AFTER TALKING TO PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS CAN BE AVOIDED OR KEPT TO A MIN BY 1) THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND PLT TO BE PREPARED AND DISCUSS THE MISSION BEFORE TAKING OFF. 2) SURVEYING THE AREA TO BE PICTURED FROM HIGHER ALT TO GET THE RIGHT ANGLES AND FLT PATH BEFORE DSNDING TO THE LOWER ALT. 3) LIMIT THE PWR CHANGES NEEDED AS TO NOT CAUSE EXCESSIVE NOISE. 4) MAINTAIN GOOD COM BTWN THE PLT AND PHOTOGRAPHER SO THAT THE TIME SPENT IS KEPT TO A MIN. IN THIS CASE; IT WAS VERY HARD SINCE THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND I DID NOT HAVE ANY MEANS OF COMMUNICATING BESIDES HAND SIGNALS.