Overview: Drone Videography / Aerial Videography

What is Drone Videography?

Drone videography is a new and exciting way to capture video footage from the air, free of restraints. Using drones fitted with cameras, our aerial videographers capture stunning footage of landscapes, buildings, events, construction and more from a completely unique perspective. Unmannedaerialoperations.com

Drone videography is still relatively new, but it is already being used by filmmakers, news organizations and even hobbyists to capture amazing video footage. As the technology behind drone videography continues to develop, we are excited to think about the possibilities that will be opened up for filmmakers, journalists and anyone else who wants to capture incredible video footage from the sky.

Here at UAO, we are more than just drone pilots. When it comes to drone videography, we are artists. Many commercial drone pilots know the basics, point the camera at the subject film it. They probably know the basics of camera settings, ISO, shutter speed etc. It’s possible some of the more skilled pilots know the routine flight patterns such as “balloon release”, “truck right”, “orbit”.

Here at UAO, we are ace pilots. Knowing the basics is important, but being able to execute a multi axis movement with the drone is crucial. Manipulating the drones controls to pull back, while ascending, and turning left, creates footage worthy of film. This extra skill goes a long way in creating footage that will make your real estate listing stand out, or show off the work your company has done, or even capture a feeling of a landscape. An example of this is shown below.

Why is drone videography important?

Drone videography is important because it allows us to capture video footage from a unique perspective. Drones allow us to get close to our subjects without being intrusive, and they give us the ability to capture footage that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to get. As we mention, the cost of aerial videography has diminished greatly, with some pilots with hobby grade drones charging minuscule amounts of money to complete a job. Our advice to our potential or current clients is to understand that you get what you pay for. Consider the quality of the pilots past work, their understanding of what needs to be captured, and whether or not they can even fly legally.

Luckily, UAO has all of the above covered. Most of our pilots individually have 7+ years of flying experience. ALL of our pilots are Part 107 certified. Last but certainly not least, we hold our pilots accountable and make sure that we delevery top notch deliverables every time.

Drone videography is also important because it is a relatively new technology, and as such, there are still many people who are not familiar with it. This means that there is a lot of potential for our clients to get ahead of their competitors with these new techniques and methods of capture.

What are the benefits of drone videography?

There are many benefits to drone videography, including the ability to capture unique perspectives and angles that would otherwise be unavailable. Drone videography can also be used to film in difficult or dangerous locations, such as inaccessible areas or disaster zones. Additionally, drones can be equipped with various cameras and other types of technology to capture high-quality video footage.

Commercial real estate properties such as office complexes, apartments, and shopping centers, cannot be seen from a single vantage point on the ground. Aerial photography and videography easily solve this problem! From the sky, a drone can not only see your entire property, it can also show what surrounds it. This is very important to potential clients, investors, and buyers.  With drone videos and photos, you’ll be able to show them parking locations, major access points, landscaping, and more. To survive in the real estate world you need to be unique. Embracing drone photography will help you capture unique photos that will make your firm stand out. The potential home buyers will easily notice you and your properties for sale. Drone photography will also help you come up with cinematic marketing campaigns that your competitors just can’t match.

How can I get started in drone videography?

There are a few things you need to know before getting started in drone videography. As we have covered before, you need to be aware of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) rules and regulations regarding drones. Second, you need to have a good understanding of how to operate a drone. And third, you need to have a solid understanding of video editing and post-production.

If you’re not familiar with the FAA’s rules and regulations, it’s important that you do your research before operating a drone. The last thing you want to do is get in trouble with the law! Once you have a good understanding of the FAA’s rules, you can start looking into purchasing a drone. There are a lot of different drones on the market, so it’s important to do your research and find one that’s right for you. At UAO, we hire drone pilots with top-of-the-line consumer drones or better.

Once you have your drone, it’s time to start practicing! If you’re not familiar with how to operate a drone, there are plenty of resources available online. YouTube is a great place to start, as there are tons of videos that will walk you through the basics of flying a drone. Once you feel comfortable flying your drone, it’s time to start thinking about filming. We offer drone filming/flying classes, so consider contacting us to get started flying!

What are some tips for shooting great drone video?

There are a few key things to keep in mind when shooting drone video / aerial video:

1. framing and composition – just like with any other type of videography, pay attention to the frame and composition of your shots. This will help make your footage more visually appealing and interesting to watch.

2. camera settings – make sure you understand the settings on your drone camera so that you can get the most out of it. Things like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO can all affect the quality of your video.

3. lighting – take advantage of the unique lighting opportunities that drones offer. Shooting at sunrise or sunset can give your footage a beautiful, golden glow.

4. stability – one of the benefits of drones is that they can provide stable shots that would be difficult to get with a hand-held camera.

5. angles – drones give you the ability to capture unique angles and perspectives that wouldn’t be possible with ground-based videography. Experiment with different angles and heights and drone movements. As discussed previously, multi axis movements are essential to spice up footage.

Conclusion

Overall, drone videography/aerial videography is an incredibly powerful tool that can add a lot of value to your project. Whether you’re looking to capture sweeping landscapes or get up close and personal with a subject, drones give you a unique perspective that can really make your video, real estate listing, project, or event stand out.

If you need any drone video / aerial video shot or would like to enroll in a low-cost training course, don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form below.