Drone aerial shots continue to amaze us. Sometimes, the perfect shot can make you sit and stare, calm your soul, or feed your need for more. Snagging those shots isn’t easy… It takes a lot of work and preparation – often the perfect balance between the art and technical skill.
We wanted to try and compile some of the industry’s best tips and tricks to create the ‘essentials’. Keep reading to learn more.
Find Beauty: Symmetry, Diving Lines, Repetition and Patterns!
Flipping perspective and viewing the world from a bird’s eye view allows you to see beauty otherwise unseen. Parks, towns, cities, highways, forests, etc. can often reveal compositions that are unique and wonderful. Try experimenting with different types of aerial shots:
Oblique: Photo capture looking down at an angle to the ground
Vertical: Photo taken from vertically above
Wide-shot: Photo of an object in context with its immediate surroundings
Panorama: Horizontal, wide-shot of a large area
Close-up: Exactly as it sounds
Pro tip: Check out for shooting locations in advance to help plan your flight paths! This can also help you capture images during the most ideal timing – sunset, sunrise, mid-day, etc. Check out our blog on How to Choose the Best Spots to Fly Your Drone.
For creative inspiration, check out other drone aerial photography! It may spark a great idea.
Let’s Get Technical.
Achieving high-quality shots takes technical skill. Here are some of the basic tips to remember:
Shoot in RAW format for more versatility in image post-processing (uncompressed, lossless image data from the sensor)
Stick to a lower ISO to help reduce unwanted grain and noise
Faster shutter speeds may be more ideal is most scenarios
Experiment with aspect rations (16:9 and 4:3)
Use camera lens filters, if applicable
Utilize the thirds grid overlay for composition, if applicable
Don’t forget about Auto Exposure Bracketing, if applicable
Ensure your drone propellers are properly balanced before flight to ensure ‘shaking’ is minimal
Lastly… always be ready to improvise!
Fly Smart.
We know you have probably heard this a million times, but we are going to say it one more time! It doesn’t matter if you capture the perfect shot if your drone doesn’t make it. Always check weather conditions beforehand and ensure you go through a proper pre-flight checklist.
Keep in mind your maximum flight times and lastly, don’t forget to follow all laws and regulations. Check out our blog No Safety, No Pain: 3 Tips for Flying Your Drone Safely.
Get Engaged.
There are a ton of drone photography communities in-person, online and on social media – try joining some! Learning by engaging either others helps to speed up the learning process and is usually a lot more fun!
Join a drone club in your area
Find a drone photography online forum
Join a drone photography social media community – ex: Facebook groups