I've tested tons of ideas of what to film, I know how frustrating it is not knowing what to do when you first get a drone. Which shots look coolest or which locations wind up giving great shots everytime. As a drone cinematographer, these 5 Filming and location ideas give me gold pretty consistently.
Aerial Video Cheat Sheet PDF DOWNLOAD:
These 5 techniques pretty much give me consistently great cinematography everytime. The drone does most of the work with the 4k camera honestly. These are easy to do, don't take multiple functions or tons of experience and work great for mavic pro, mavic zoom, mavic air, phantom 4 and 3, etc.
2:45 Low, fast, over-water 3:18 Just straight down 3:55 Right down the line 4:50 Shot kinda down 5:02 Eagle on the mountain 5:54 Fly just barely above anything busy happening beneath 6:36 Find a tall building and go sideway
These are my best drone video moves I could tell you off the top of my head, but I have a new video for drone cinematography as well for 2022. Go to my channel for that one, I have new shots angles and ideas, and also how to make money with your drone.
Check out the 3 best drones on Amazon while they're on sale
Frequently Asked Questions
Can drones shoot nighttime photos?
Answer: Yes. But it's been a long-standing tradition. Since decades, we have been taking night shots.
But there's a catch. Night photography requires specialized equipment. Any camera under $10k is not capable of night photography.
When light strikes an object, it bounces back in various wavelengths.
These wavelengths combine to create white light at very distant distances from the source.
This is how our eyes are able to see colors even when the sun is miles away.
Instead, light reflects narrow bands of wavelengths when it strikes objects that are close to the source. These wavelengths bounce right back to us without overlapping.
This means that objects appearing brighter are closer together. This is why objects seem to glow when they are exposed to black light.
The amount of light reflected depends on how much energy the object absorbs. When light hits an object it will reflect more blue light than red.
Blue light is the most visible to the human eye, so objects will appear more blue if they are seen under black light.
What does this have do with drones, then? If you're trying to photograph something dark, such as a forest or a cave, you need to use a very bright light source.
A normal lamp will not be strong enough to illuminate the whole scene. It will only provide a shadowed view and not much else.
If you want a good picture, you'll need to use a strobe instead. It's not practical to have a bulky flashgun around, so it's best to get a small one.
These lights are called speedlights due to the fact that they produce flashes light so fast, they can create a stroboscopic effect.
If we say "stroboscopic", you can see the light pulse across the screen. The higher the speed, the better the picture.
We won't cover how to set-up a Speedlight. But you can find many tutorials online.
We'll tell you, to get a clear shot, ensure that your subject is well lit.
The beam should be aimed at a 45° angle in order to achieve this. The flashgun can be moved to adjust the intensity of the light.
Once you have set the setting that is right for you, hold the gun steady as the shutter release button is pressed.
Once the flash has reached the subject's area, press the shutter yet again. This will trigger the flashgun to fire another burst of light.
While the first burst illuminates the subject, the second one will capture the moment after the first burst has passed.
The end result is a continuous exposure with both bursts light and recorded.
You now know how to take photos during the day. Let's move onto night photography.
I have already covered everything you need on night photography.
But there's still one thing left to cover: the color balance.
Most people assume that nighttime images will not be dark enough.
It's true. But it also applies to daytime photographs.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting at dawn or at dusk. The camera will always record a darker shot.
What time is best for drone photography?
A drone could capture aerial images during sunrise and sunset hours when there isn't much activity on the ground.
Drones make great tools for photographing beautiful landscapes and the skies above them. Some drones cannot fly at night and you may miss amazing views.
Take advantage of the sunrise and sunset hours to capture great photo opportunities. These times allow for stunning shots of nature and are often more popular because there are fewer cars on roads and fewer people.
You'll find that you can shoot at lower levels of light, which makes it easier for you to take pictures without worrying about overexposing.
In addition, you won't have to deal with strong winds, rain, snow, or fog. These conditions make daylight perfect for photographing with a drone.
Consider flying at night if you want to capture nighttime scenes. This will offer you a unique view of your cityscape.
Which drone can be used for aerial photography
Two options are available if you plan to do aerial photography. Either you can rent a small remote-controlled helicopter, or you can buy an expensive camera set with a gimbal stabilizer.
The first option is great for those who plan to film a video or film. It gives you full control over the final shots. With the second option, you'll have to pay more and be much more dependent on the pilot.
But what if you want to make sure the shot looks great even though you're not controlling the camera? Drones can help you achieve this.
A drone is tiny, autonomous aircraft that can fly without the input of an operator and take photos or videos.
They are extremely versatile and can fly very close to buildings to capture images and record footage. They can also fly low to capture photos of people.
Drones are extremely useful for aerial photography as well as videography. But they're also great for marketing because they allow you to create incredible visuals that would otherwise require a lot of manpower and equipment.
It is easy to place them in strategic spots to capture beautiful imagery. They can also fly remotely, making them extremely easy to operate.
One example is hiring drones for weddings. These wedding photographers can use their drones to fly above the ceremony area and capture amazing photos of the bride & groom.
They can also fly them to family members to take portraits. Or they can fly them over reception areas to capture beautiful views of the venue.
These activities can be used to create promotional material and event coverage. Drones can also be used for short films. A drone could be used by you to show clients your company is better than theirs.
These are all reasons drones have become increasingly popular in aerial photography and videography. If you want to become a professional photographer, then drones might be the best option.
What are the drawbacks to drone photography?
Drone photography is a great way to capture images as well as video. But there are also downsides when choosing to fly a small aircraft.
The most obvious disadvantage of flying drones is the cost involved. It could cost you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars depending on the drone that you buy.
A drone pilot must be trained and certified. This means that you will need to invest your time and money in order to learn how to safely fly them.
Safety is another downside. Drones are inherently dangerous because they require constant maintenance and repair. A drone that is not controlled properly can cause serious injury to someone or damage property.
You may find yourself spending more time flying your drone than you do actually taking photographs or recording footage. Your drone might not have enough airspace to fly.
Some local governments restrict where you can fly your unmanned aerial vehicle. You cannot fly more than 400 feet and within five miles from any airports, stadiums hospitals, schools or prisons.
Finally, drones aren't for everyone. Some people feel uneasy about flying these machines because they fear they might crash or fall out of the sky. Some people worry about accidentally hitting another person or object.
If flying a drone is not something you are comfortable with, you might want to stick to traditional aerial photography techniques and videography.
Statistics
Again, no stabilization is applied, and the 50% throttle stick position cuts the power to the motors. (photographypro.com)
Among the biggest improvements, the Skydio 2+ has over the standard 2 is a 20% longer battery life, longer range if you add the Beacon, and a neat AI video creation tool called Keyframe. (thedronegirl.com)
Though the Mavic 3 is about 50% heavier than the Mavic Air 2, it's still conveniently sized. (nytimes.com)
60 second video with branding, captions, contact information, and music Strip / Convenience / Neighborhood / Community Centers pricing per center (up to 400,000 sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)
Homes with aerial images sold 68% faster than homes with standard images. (alexdronephotography.com)
A good distance for a drone is when it becomes an extension of yourself. When you become aware of the drone as a separate entity, you lose sight of its physical boundaries.
A drone that is able to fly at a reasonable distance will allow you to be fully immersed in the surrounding environment without worrying about its next destination.
Flying close to the ground has a psychological advantage. It gives us a sense of control over our surroundings, making us feel more connected with nature.
There is also a downside. We are more likely to get wind and weather conditions from flying close to the ground than we are from flying further away. This could cause damage to the drone. So how far away do you fly?
It all depends on what type of drone you're flying. If you are trying to film a landscape or capture aerial footage, a good rule of thumb is to stay at least 500 feet above the ground.
For example, if you are filming a cityscape, you might want to keep it at 1,000 feet. You can avoid trees and buildings that could block your view.
Low-light conditions are a problem for drones. By lowering the altitude, you can reduce time hovering in the dark.
Also, ensure your area is clear from any obstructions, such as power lines or traffic signs.
You may also want to consider flying during the day instead of at night. This will help you avoid reflections from street lights and shadows.
A second thing to consider is the drone's actual size. The further it is from the ground the bigger the drone. A large quadcopter requires a minimum height limit of 300 feet.
The golden hour is the best time to capture drone footage.
This is the time period between 3pm and 6pm. You have the best visibility due to the direct overhead sun.
It is also known for its "magic hour", which is perfect for capturing stunning images.
You should not fly your drone between sunset and sunrise. These times are known to cause poor-quality footage.
These tips have been given to you. Now it's time for you to create amazing drone videos.
