Drones have become one of the most popular ways to take photos and videos in recent years. They are a great way to get beautiful overhead photos and take landscape videos that do a great job of capturing the beauty of the surrounding area. Drones have also become an important way to survey geography and optimize agricultural practices. I’ve been able to use my drone for all kinds of photoshoots, ranging from beautiful panoramic pictures of national parks to professional videos for businesses like Garage Builder Experts of Louisville. This article will focus primarily on drone photography. We’ll give a brief overview of the different types of drones on the market, provide a list of the best drone models for photography, and then end with some tips on how to conduct a drone photo shoot or videography session. Read on for some tips on how to incorporate this amazing technology into your photography!
Types of Drones
The multi-rotor drone is the cheapest and most commonly used drone. Used by hundreds of thousands of photographers, it is likely the kind of drone you have. The next type is the fixed-wing drone, which is much more expensive and less commonly used. These drones are much faster than rotor drones, and are often used for surveying farmland. You will likely not be using one for your photo shoot. Similar to fixed-wing drones, single-rotor helicopter drones are not very commonly used due to how expensive they are. They are often used by construction companies for lifting heavy loads. Lastly, fixed-wing hybrid VTOL drones (which stands for vertical take off and landing) are the cutting edge of drone technology. They combine the advantages of fixed-wing drones and single-rotor helicopter drones by being able to both fly extremely fast and take off and land vertically. They are extremely expensive due to the fact that they are still very new technology, but have an exciting and promising future ahead of them. While these last three drone types are very cool, you will be using a simple multi-rotor drone for your photography. This is the cheapest option, making it a great way for beginners to get their start in drone photography. As you improve your photography skills, you’ll be able to buy increasingly expensive drones with better capabilities.
Best Drone Models for Photography
The drone market has exploded in recent years and there are now an innumerable number to choose from. To help narrow down your options, I’ve put together a list of my top three recommended drones for you to choose from. They are each priced differently and come with different perks and advantages. Whether you’re a novice drone photographer or a veteran of the skies, you should be able to find something that fits what you’re looking for.
The first drone on our list is the DJI Mavic 3. This drone comes with a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera. The camera has a 24mm lens and can record videos at either 5.1K/50 FPS or 4K/120 FPS. With 45 minutes of flight time, you’re guaranteed to have more than enough time to capture your video. The drone can also transmit video at up to 15 kilometers away, giving you plenty of room to fly your drone. Additionally, the O3 stabilizer ensures that your video will not be shaky. The main drawback of this drone is the price. At $2,049, it’s definitely on the pricey side and is likely a better option for experienced drone pilots who are ready to level up in their career.
The next drone on our list is the Autel EVO Nano+. This is the first drone ever to use RYYB technology as its camera technology. Its camera uses a 50 MP Leic-a lens and can record video at 4K/30 FPS. The drone provides up to 10 kilometers of video transmission and 28 minutes of flight time, giving you plenty of time and space to record your video. At $799, this is a reasonably priced drone and a good option for new pilots looking to buy a decent drone at an affordable price.
The last drone on our list is the Holy Stone HS720E. As the cheapest drone on our list, it’s priced at $319. The camera can record video at 1080p/60 FPS or 4K/30 FPS. The drone provides 46 minutes of flight time and can transmit video at up to 999 meters. At only $319, this is a great option for anyone new to flying drones and looking to learn more about the industry.
Planning Your Shoot
Planning your drone shoot is one of the most important parts of the process. I have friends who have done shoots in cities and parks. When shooting in these locations, it’s very important to be aware of all the buildings, trees, and any other obstacles in the area. Crashing your drone into a building or other obstacle will not only damage your drone, you will also likely have to pay the owner of the building damages. This is not a fun process for anyone, so make sure you are aware of your surroundings and fly your drone accordingly.
It’s also important to check weather conditions. This was particularly important on a shoot I did on a yacht rental in Fort Myers. Storms can come out of nowhere in southwest Florida, so it was vital to keep an eye out for dark clouds on the horizon. I had already checked the weather forecast for the day, and kept checking throughout the shoot to make sure nothing had changed. High winds, torrential downpours, and lightning are all dangerous to drones, so it’s important to fly your drone in calm weather and clear skies.
After accounting for your surroundings and the weather, it’s time to create your shot list. In my younger days, I made the mistake of thinking you could just walk up to a shoot without doing any planning and just make things up once you get there. Speaking from experience, this will result in disaster. It’s vital that you come with an idea of the kind of video you want to make and a plan of the shots you plan on getting. A few days before the shoot, set aside some time to think about the kind of video you want to create. Find a few example videos to mimic on Youtube. Ask your client if they have any examples of what they want the video to look like. Think about some shots that you would personally like to get. And then combine all these sources into a list of shots. This will make for a faster, less stressful shoot, making for a better video and happier clients.
Conclusion
In this article we provided a brief overview of drones and how they can be used in photography. We discussed the four kinds of drones (multirotor drones, fixed-wing drones, single-rotor helicopter drones, and fixed-wing hybrid VTOL drones), and how multirotor drones are the best for photographers. We provided a list of three different drone models that can be great options for both new drone photographers and drone pilots who have been in the game for a while. And we ended the article with some tips on best practices for conducting a drone shoot. We emphasized the importance of avoiding obstacles, checking weather conditions, and making a comprehensive list of shots you and your client would like to get. Drone photography (especially when combined with a good GoPro camera) is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in photography or flying drones. As long as you do the proper amount of planning and preparation, you’re guaranteed to find many paying customers in this industry.