First off, your boyfriend is very lucky to have a girlfriend who is willing to spend a thousand bucks on him for a helicopter. Do you have a much older sister? :>)...,Second, if photography and video is his main interest I would look into a quadrocopter. The quads are easwier to fly than a helio ( not as easy as planes) You can get one from about $350.00 if you already have a transmitter. This is the one I started with:
http://www.hobbywireless.com/cart/in...roducts_id=455. Here are some videos shot with the Quad:
http://vimeo.com/album/1673229