How to shoot the best aerial footage with your drone
From swooping landscapes to dramatic selfie videos: a drone can capture it all.
In the past you would have needed a helicopter or expensive camera equipment. Thanks to drones, it’s easier than ever to shoot beautiful pictures from the air.
Before you grab your equipment, here’s what you’ll want and need to know when shooting stunning drone videos:
Select the correct camera settings
Setting your camera to have a high frame rate will help you avoid rolling shutter effects, an effect that makes your video footage have a jellylike movement. Capturing footage at 1080p is full HD, is the minimum resolution you should shoot in. Shooting in 4K will capture the tiniest details and give you flexibility to crop the frame while editing. For action shots, opt for 1080p at 60 or even 120 fps which will enable you to slow down the footage later.
Wait for Light
Shooting drone video at the “golden hour” (just before sunset) or first light (just after dawn) gives you dramatic contrast with shadows that help bring out detail. The colours are also warm and ethereal, creating a captivating feel. Before you do anything, picking the right location and time for your shoot is vital. Also make sure that you pick a time when there is good weather because that can affect your shoot.
Install a Filter
To keep the movement in the scene as natural as possible try setting the shutter speed at double the frame rate. Experimenting with filters can help you to find what effect lets too much light. You can even find cheap accessories to attach a neutral density filter to your camera which will regulate light and make slower shutter speeds possible.
Find Some Perspective
A unique perspective is what will truly separate your aerial video from something you orf your competitors could shoot with a phone. Look for opportunities where you can soar through a stone arch or doorway, then fly high into the sky in one continuous shot.
Just be sure to never fly above crowded areas, or anywhere in which drones are off-limits.
It’s All About the Angles
Filming on the same level as your subject will help you to ensure that everything is in focus. Focusing on angles will ensure that you are capturing visually interesting shots that will hold the attention of your audience. Planning will help to give yourself some leeway either side of your intended shot. Yes, it will give you a bit more to work with during the editing process, but you’ll be able to put together a seamless film that doesn’t cut abruptly or feel jarring to watch.
Be Confident
Last but not least, to improve your drone photography and videography you need to be confident. When first flying a drone you need to know what your drone is capable of.
When it comes to taking great aerial shots, you need to be confident but also fully concentrating on your flying and camera. If your mind is distracted before your head off on your journey, it will be quite easy to forget something.
In addition to being an increasingly popular hobby, drone filming and aerial photography presents a variety of benefits for businesses. Capturing stunning vistas and bringing new perspectives to familiar and unfamiliar landscapes is something you can master and perfect with drone footage.
