Drone Creative Photography and Video

Top Tips for Capturing Professional Drone Shots

Drone tech is advancing rapidly, making it easy to capture pro-looking cinematography with a flying device. It takes more than the latest equipment: pre-planning, experimentation and practice to improve your aerial photography. Here are tips to help take your visuals to the big screen.

Start by getting familiar with piloting principles. Learn how to maneuver the drone accurately, and with precision. This way, you can be confident when capturing footage and make sure it is stable before taking the shot.

Before going out to the field, consider the setup. Have enough battery power for multiple takes. Have additional props for stability if needed, sufficient memory cards, extra controllers (if needed) and desktop software or mobile apps for editing after recording.

Practice using different modes on your drone. Understand what variable affects an image or video in difficult weather conditions with strong winds. Using GPS will help track positioning. Max out autopilot systems to ensure creative coverage throughout a flight pattern.

Experiment with angles and lenses. There’s often more than one way to get a high quality image from your device.

Choosing the Right Drone

Choosing the correct drone for your task is crucial for having professional aerial footage. When it comes to drones, there are many factors to consider.

First, think about the kind of shots you need. Close-up, far-away, dynamic or steady? These will all require different drones and features. You must choose between a two-axis or three-axis gimbal stabilized drone for smooth flying and a dependable stability.

Next, examine the range and payload weight of the drone. This will show which drone fits your needs. Payload weight tells you how much extra equipment can be attached, such as lenses and filters. Range shows how far away you can capture footage.

Finally, read up on regulations and restrictions, like CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority). Before flying, know the local airspace regulations, such as no-fly zones at airports or parks. This will help you select the right drone for your project.

Camera Settings for Professional Drone Shots

As a drone photographer, you need to be aware of a few key factors for best results. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO all work together to create the atmosphere and look of your photos. For a good start, try f/8 aperture, 1/500th of a second shutter speed, and ISO 100.

White balance helps create consistent colors across indoor and outdoor photos. Most drones have an auto white balance setting that works. But you may need to change it manually sometimes.

JPEG files are small but offer limited flexibility for editing. If you want more data for color grading, choose the RAW format if available on your camera model.

Picture style profiles like Neutral or Landscape can be used to fine-tune contrast and saturation without specialized software.

Drone Flight Planning

Before you take off with your drone, plan ahead! Consider your surroundings, the drone model, and what kind of shots you want. Study the area and check for any restrictions. Look out for hazards like trees or power lines. Pay attention to the weather too – wind speed and humidity can affect the drone’s flight.

Make sure your goals match your drone’s capabilities. Know its operational range and camera settings. Lastly, remember to follow pre-flight safety measures and local laws.

Now get ready to capture awesome footage from a new perspective!

Capturing the Perfect Shot

No matter the skill level of the photographer, to capture a professional-grade drone shot requires more than just pressing the shutter button. There are many essential tips and techniques to achieve the perfect shot.

First, prepare for the shoot. Select a location with minimal wind or other environmental factors that could affect the drone’s flight or subject position. Make sure the battery is fully charged and camera settings are optimized.

Second, consider the light. How well images will be captured from different angles depends on the light. Aiming directly into the sun will likely lead to overexposed shots. Be mindful of where you position the drone and its subject when shooting.

Lastly, post-processing can enhance the image. Experiment with subtle image adjustments like extra contrast or saturation for landscapes or softer focus for portraits. Minor tweaks can improve composition and create dramatic visuals. With practice anyone can become an expert in drone photography!

Post-Processing Techniques

Post-processing is a must for professional drone shots. Photographers often use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to touch up images. For beginners, free software can be used to crop, brighten and add filters. To further enhance the look, hue and saturation levels can be adjusted. Tone mapping and vignetting can be added for an edgy mood.

Don’t overdo post-processing – natural colors are best. But experimenting with different techniques can result in unique pictures!

Tips for Working with Clients

Good relations with clients are key to successful drone shooting. When briefed on the job, pay attention to requirements and advise on the best methods for capturing the required shots. Beforehand, get familiar with the location, and how your images may be affected by actors’ movements and other crew members’ camera angles.

Explain any safety regulations to the client before beginning the project. Talk about different angles and heights for shooting — accept suggestions as it may help produce better images. Test fly at the location before meeting the client, so you get an understanding of the area, its features and risks or limitations. Agree on expectations in advance; data storage and delivery formats should all be discussed beforehand, so both parties stay on track.

Conclusion

Ready for your next aerial photography mission? Here are some top tips!

Check the weather. Plan for the best shot angle. Check the battery life for long-hauls. Practice flying in manual mode. Invest in quality equipment. Bring filters to reduce sunlight. Try time-lapse photography – capture the mesmerizing movement over time.

Follow these tips and your photos will be stunning!

Drone Thermal Inspection (FLIR) Services:

Our drone thermographic inspection is non-destructive and requires no contact with the property. You do not need to risk workers climbing on your roof

Our expertise is in aerial infrared imaging and commercial building thermal inspection services. Using our proven aerial inspection techniques, along with the top of the line thermography (FLIR) equipment, we can rapidly identify hidden damage to your residential or commercial. Our thermal inspection services provide the interested party with an independent analysis of the building’s structural integrity.

Thermal Inspection Services with imaging also known as infrared thermography services is a service we started offering at the request of our clients. We had several of our commercial clients asked us if we could help them assess damage after a severe storm in the area that damaged commercial and residential property.

Commercial Building Inspections

• Identify and map trapped moisture penetration in roofs
• Perform energy audit inspections for thermal insulation efficiency
• Detect thermal hotspots within walls from faulty electrical circuits
• Take HD aerial images for insurance claims and inspection
• Inspect residential solar panel installations for defects
• Detect delamination and spalling defects in concrete structures
• Map heat flow and prevent thermal bridging due to faulty insulation
• Perform forensic moisture intrusion inspections of plumbing facilities
• Detect insulation leaks in HVAC or refrigeration equipment
• Proactively identify areas of concern for moisture leaks

Creative Drone Photography and Video for Advertising and Marketing

We have our #107 certificate from the FAA as Safe-To-Fly. We adhere to all FAA guidelines. For safety and quality, we shoot with a two-man crew, and we are fully insured. Our pilot always keeps visual contact with the drone, while our navigator guides and directs the shot.

Our Drones perform aerial photography & video services in the St Louis and Southern Illinois area and is looking forward to working with you on your next aerial video production.  We are professional Aerial Video Service providers and strive to make your production an overwhelming success. We provide video editing, music selection, and a complete production – for a low, turn-key cost.

We have provided professional St Louis aerial photography & St. Louis drone videos for all kinds of communication uses such as for real estate, construction, mining, agriculture, marketing and insurance purposes. Aerial photographs or drone videos of your business location are great for marketing materials, print, or even on your website or video channel.

Fred Hamann

Producer

stlouisfilmproduction@gmail.com

314-892-1233