Everything you need to know about drone photography
An eye in the sky was once only possible from an airplane or helicopter. Today, drone technology has changed everything.
A small machine can put a high-quality camera in the sky to capture amazing aerial photography. You can control it from the ground faster, easier, and cheaper than ever. There are some things you should know, though, before you purchase and launch a photography drone.
Most municipalities and regions have laws regulating drone flights. We recommend you carefully research your area's rules before venturing into drone photography.
The Basics of Drone Photography
How to choose a drone: Before you purchase a drone, consider your needs carefully. If you're just starting out, you might want a sturdy and light drone that's less expensive. (These also tend to have fewer features.) Select a drone very carefully according to your needs and experience level.
Why do you want a drone?
What will you photograph with it?
Will it be for a commercial purpose?
Photography Drones: You will likely consider either an onboard or a built-in camera drone.
Built-in cameras are typically large and less likely to have high resolution.
Onboard camera drones, which tend to be smaller than built-ins, allow you to attach any camera to its body.
Drone regulations & laws: As we said earlier, you must familiarize yourself with all local and regional drone flying regulations. Too many people end up in serious trouble because they think they can just put one in the sky. It might be illegal as well as dangerous! You might be required to register the drone or obtain a special license in some areas, similar to a driver's license. Often, there are flight restrictions regarding where you can and cannot fly over in some areas. It can vary by country, region, and municipality.
Flying a drone: Whatever drone type you choose, you will need to learn to use it. The more proficient of a drone pilot you become, the better drone photographer you will become.
Do your homework, study, and practice where it's safe to do so.
Take a course on drone flying.
Pour over the instruction manual before you buy a drone and, certainly afterward! You'll need to become an expert in whatever drone you're going to fly.
Drone features
Drones come with various features that help optimize your flying time. Even before you buy a particular model, you should know and understand those features. While they vary for each brand and type of drone, these are the typical features you will encounter:
Smart Mode: This is similar to photography's "auto" mode. It's beneficial to the beginner. It can help compensate for that which the photographer doesn't do. For example, smart mode typically has a stabilization feature to compensate for the new (and shaky) photographer/pilot.
Smartphone Feed: This is another excellent feature for the beginner. You'll be able to see exactly what your drone is capturing.
Tracking: Let's face it. When you're on the ground, it can be easy to lose sight of your drone as it flies beyond a tree line or building. Some drones allow smartphone GPS tracking. You can even use this feature to take a drone selfie!
Geofence: Don't lose your drone with geofencing. It restricts how far and high your drone will fly.
Before You Launch
We recommend that before you fly your drone, you should prepare a pre-flight checklist (and use it). It's as if you're heading out for a photo session with a client. You'll want to be certain you've left nothing behind and are well prepared to launch the drone. Here are a few things to include on your list:
Battery: Be sure the battery is charged and ready to go. Will you have enough power to meet the time you plan on flying? If possible, take a back-up battery for the drone and remote control if you use one. Unlike cameras, drone batteries have a very short life. The average drone battery will last you about 10 minutes. High-end drones last around 20-25 minutes. Most drone photographers might want to have an extra battery on hand. (Don't forget to keep it charged.)
Drone: Check the condition of the drone's body, like the propeller and motor, several days in advance to be sure everything is flight worthy.
Weather: Always check the weather before heading out.
Controls: Double-check your controls. Whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or remote control, is it charged or have batteries?
Fly Zone: Pre-identify your fly zone to be sure you're cleared to fly there. Will you need to avoid flying low? Will there be people around? Are there buildings or other things you will need to avoid?
Settings: Advance preparation means having a good idea of what settings you'll need to use in flight. Will there be wind (meaning you'll need to use stabilization)? What shutter speed, ISO, etc., will you likely need?
Camera: If you're using a camera on the drone, do a thorough check of it as well to ensure it's ready for flight.
Flying your Drone
Practice: Be sure you've practiced - a lot, especially before you attach a camera to your drone. The last thing you want is to launch a drone with a camera only to crash because you couldn't fly it properly!
Drone photography techniques: Just like there are techniques specific to types of photography, there are drone techniques. It's not necessarily easy or intuitive to take pictures from a drone.
Most photography fundamentals apply to drone photography as well, including the Rule of Thirds.
Look for interesting things to photograph. Think of it like shooting landscape photography (or street photography) but from above.
Take your time. For the most part, you wouldn't rush through any photography out in the field. Don't rush your drone imagery, either.
Take advantage of the light. Play around with various times of day to shoot. Look for shadows, contrasts, and the play of light.
Test flight: We suggest one test flight without the camera before you launch it with a camera - even if you think you're ready to go. You should feel 100% comfortable before you fly a drone. Airplane pilots have to practice a certain number of hours before they can fly solo. You, too, should practice a certain number of hours until you're totally comfortable controlling your drone.
Accessories
Drones have accessories just like cameras! Yeah! More things to buy! Seriously, though, these add-ons can make your life as a photographer easier. At some point, you might want to invest in these. If possible, consider buying an extra battery early on.
Batteries
Propeller Guards to protect the propellers and anything they come in contact with.
Extra Propellers because they're fragile enough that sooner or later you might need replacements.
Extra SD cards because drone pictures take up a lot of memory space.
Light kit, because, why not? Also, some LED lights for the drone body.
The Best Photography Drones of 2021
If you’re thinking of buying a new drone for video and photography and getting into aerial photography, we’ll take a look through the best photography drones available on the Amazon market at the moment. Here are BeArt-Presets’s recommended photography drones for pilots in 2021.
1. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
About this Drone:
Equipped with a Hasselblad L1D-20c camera with a 20MP 1” CMOS Sensor, the Mavic 2 camera drone lets you capture gorgeous aerial shots in stunning color detail.
Up to 31 minutes flight time, 44 mph max speed, 907G takeoff weight, 3-axis gimbal for steady shots, 8GB internal storage, SD card Support up to 128 GB
Functions include ActiveTrack 2. 0, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Hyperlapse, Low-Noise Design, Adjustable Aperture, HDR Photos
The standard remote controller offers up to 135 minutes of battery life on a full charge. Use the DJI GO 4 app on your smartphone.
DJI GO 4 App requires iOS 10.0.2, Android 5.0, or above.
What you get: DJI Mavic 2 Pro, Intelligent Flight Battery, Gimbal Protector, Remote Controller, 3x Propellers (Pair), Battery Charger, Power Cable, Communication Cable (USB3. 0 Type-C), USB adapter, Spare Control Sticks (Pair), RC Cable (Lightning Connector), RC Cable (Standard Micro USB Connector), RC Cable (USB Type-C Connector)
2. Parrot - Drone Anafi Extended
About this Drone:
With its 4K HDR camera and 180° vertical swivel gondola, unique on the market, impress your friends with cinema-quality videos with breathtaking effects: low angle compensated traveling, automatic subject framing, original aerial selfies.
Never miss another shot with the help of 3-axis Hybrid Stabilization, which will allow you to make crisp, smooth videos under every circumstance.
Parrot Skycontroller 3, a new, intuitive, and safe piloting app with a state-of-the-art, ergonomic remote control that is designed to allow novices to have as much fun as possible starting with their very first flight.
The Anafi drone will go everywhere with you. With its carbon frame and 320g featherweight, it takes less than 3 seconds to unfold.
With the Extended pack, you won't be missing anything. It features a compact carrying case, 2 additional smart batteries, 3 USB-C cables, a 16 GB micro SD card, 2 months access to the Adobe Creative Suite Cloud, and a spare remote control and propellers.
Parrot has announced a partnership with Adobe to give access for free for 2 months to the Creative suit for all ANAFI owners. Enhance your aerial photo with ANAFI & ADOBE
3. Autel Robotics EVO 2
About this Drone:
Autel Robotics EVO II Drone is the world’s first 8K foldable drone on the planet! The EVO 2 packs a punch with a 1/2" sensor that's capable of shooting 8K video and 48MP stills. Grab incredible screenshots, punch-in, scale, or display on massive monitors up close.
EVO 2 8K Drone comes standard with a 7100mAh rechargeable EVO 2 battery, providing up to 40min of flight time in forwarding motion and 35min at a hover.
EVO II 8K camera drone comes with 12 computer vision sensors, 2 sonar sensors, and 2 LED landing lights, working together to create an aircraft with the best obstacle avoidance.
Autel Robotics EVO 2 allows video transmission and drone control from up to 5.59 miles away. A longer-range also means a stronger signal, which also means the 2.4GHz signal is strong enough to control the drone in crowded urban environments and thick forests.
4. DJI Inspire 2 Drone
About this Drone:
The Inspire 1 was a revelation. The first filmmaking drone in the world to integrate an HD video transmission system, 360° rotating gimbal, and a 4K camera, as well as the simplicity of app control.
The Inspire 2 takes everything that was good about Inspire 1 and improves it. The image processing system CineCore2.0 has been upgraded to CineCore2.1, recording video at up to 6K in CinemaDNG/RAW and 5.2K in Apple ProRes when used with Zenmuse X7 camera.
A dual battery system-prolongs the flight time to a maximum of 27 minutes (with an X4S), while self-heating technology allows it to fly even in low temperatures.
Increased intelligence adds multiple intelligent flight modes, including Spotlight Pro, giving even single pilots the ability to create complex, dramatic shots.
5. Hubsan Zino Pro Plus
About this Drone:
Hubsan Zino Pro Plus supports 13MP aerial photos and 4K/30fps with max 60Mbps bitrates for shooting stunning videos. 4K UHD camera mounted on a 3-axis gimbal camera stabilizer that offers smooth and stable footage.
Up to 8KM video transmission (no interference, no obstacle); Max flight time: 43 minutes (25km/h slow-speed cruise); Drone battery capacity: 5000mAh. With brushless motor. GPS Auto Return to Home: One-button RTH /Low Battery RTH / Failsafe RTH
Time-lapse Photography&Panorama Mode - It has free and circles time-lapse photography mode, the drone will take a series of photos and combine them together to make a time-lapse video automatically. Supports sphere, 180°, vertical, and wide-angle panorama modes, it takes a series of photos and you can stitch them together for a panorama aerial photo.
With a smart charger adapter, it supports charging 3 batteries in sequence at once and the battery can be used as a power bank for external power supply. Intelligent battery capacity: 11.4V 5000mAh. Two batteries and a carrying bag included.
6. RUKO F11Pro Drone
About this Drone:
Experience breathtaking 4K Ultra HD picture quality and 2.9k video for stunning clarity, deep contrast, and vivid colors. Feeling the unbelievable beauty in ultra-high definition.
Equipped with an upgraded 2500mAh intelligent battery provides up to 30 minutes of flight time. The package comes with 1 extra battery, extends your flight time to 60 mins. Charging only takes 3.5 hours, fast charging time, give you more fun! (5V=3A adapter).
The drone can reach live video transmission of 300-500 meters. Up to 500 meters (1614FT) image transmission distance(Outdoor and unobstructed). With Stronger GPS positioning, F11 PRO can hover stably to catch clearer images and return to home precisely.
It is easy for newbies or beginners, equipped with functions like Auto Return, FPV, Tap Fly, Headless Mode, One Key Take Off/Landing, With a simple press, even little boys and girls can take it under well control.
Ruko promises 30 days of return or exchange and 90 days of free warranty. If you have any questions about our products, such as the operation of the drone, please contact RUKO Support.
Conclusion
We hope this post is useful to you as you venture into drone photography, a relatively new and very exciting area of photography that's increasing in demand. It's quickly changing the face of how we obtain images and create videos. Remember that it will take time and a lot of practice to master this genre like all photography. Meanwhile, enjoy it!