Drone Videography: First Steps

Not so long ago, you had to get on a helicopter to shoot from the skies, but now cameras have their own way to fly, and they do not need us up there with them. Today, drones are an essential element in the art of videography and have greatly expanded the boundaries of the profession: they have become the easiest and most popular way to create an aerial view.

• Aside from the extensive use of drones in cinematography, professional drones are used in sports, festival, and event videography.
• Long-range drones are used for aerial photoshoots of forests and fields to assess conditions.
• Drones operate precisely and quietly, so they are also used for “intelligence missions” over industrial facilities and construction sites.
• Drones are used to shoot weddings and parties, and help real estate businesses: a beautiful aerial video of a house will certainly impress clients.
• Amateur videomakers use drones in their daily shoots, taking them on vacations and expeditions to capture mountains, seashores, and desert views from above.

Drone Filming: Where to Start?

We can skip the stages where you decide that you want to film with a drone, scour the internet for drone reviews and comparisons, and finally buy the drone that is right for you. What next? Where to start? What to avoid? Here are some tips to get you started off on the right foot.

Take your time and explore the technology

Don’t try to plan your first shoot right away, and don’t count on great results on the first few attempts. You need to learn to “drive” first: get a feel for the drone and its controls. That includes learning to manipulate it in the air, and to rotate the camera. The first couple of flights will be training ones, because the technology is new to you. So, if you buy a drone to film a specific event, buy it well in advance.

Choose the location for the flight

Think of a place to test your drone. You should keep in mind that it is forbidden to fly near airfields and other restricted access facilities. It is also inadvisable to fly over a private territory, if only because of the difficulties that can occur if your drone lands there. It is dangerous to fly a drone near city buildings and power lines, close to mountains and water reservoirs. There may also be local laws in your location you need to follow.

The best location for the flights is an open space: a field, a wasteland or a park with a large lawn.

Read the manual for your drone carefully

Although we provide general tips in this article, to know the precise capabilities of your model, you must read the manual. Sure, you don’t feel that enthusiastic about reading a thick manual instead of throwing yourself into shooting right away, but… It’s better to take your time here, because it will save time and possible trouble later when you put your drone to work.

Buy extra batteries

A normal battery will last for 10-30 minutes, depending on the model. And don’t wait for it to die with your drone high above the clouds. It is better to start out landing your drone when the battery is at about 35%. When you feel more confident with the controller, you can lower this figure. Buy 2-3 extra batteries – they will allow you to shoot longer.

Prepare your drone for flight

Before sending your drone up, activate it in the system, adjust the settings, and calibrate its sensors. Do this outside: the GPS signal is poorer inside buildings.

• Activation in the system. Some drones should be activated in the geospatial information system. That is the case for the popular DJI drones. After activation, you’ll get access to data about restricted areas and altitude limits which will help you avoid risks while shooting with your drone.
• Adjustment and calibration. Calibrate the compass, GPS, and other sensors. Pay particular attention to the altitude limit and distance limit settings, as well as to speed settings, auto landing altitude, and sensor sensitivity.
• Battery charge. Once you’ve adjusted the settings, recharge all the batteries: the ones for the drone, the controller, and the smartphone (if there is no screen on the controller).

Pay attention to the weather

The optimum temperature range for drone flights is 30-95°F (0-35°C).
Do not send your drone up in the rain, during strong winds or in the dark – you risk losing or breaking it.

First Flights

So, now you’ve chosen the location, the weather is beautiful, your drone is activated and calibrated, you’re ready to give it a go.

Choose a spot for take-off and landing

How do you get your drone into the air properly? First: put it on the ground. It may seem obvious, but a widespread mistake is to raise a drone while holding it in your hands. Look for a dry and even spot, free of anything that might get caught in the rotor. The same spot will serve for landing if your drone is capable of returning to its starting point.

Learn to maneuver

Start by raising and lowering your drone. First, raise your drone to 2m and feel the dynamics of its movement. You’ll see that even a slight wind will cause the drone to deviate, so you’ll need to adjust the position accordingly. Then, master the “upwards-backwards” horizontal movement, which is generally performed with a separate joystick on the controller. The next step is to turn the drone around on its axis using the joystick for vertical movement. Finally, try “left-right” moves. Memorize the roles of the joysticks: to learn to fly a drone successfully, you need to train your motor skills so that, over time, control becomes more or less automatic. When you feel confident with the easy moves, you can try more complex ones – movement in different planes and all kinds of turns.

Always keep an eye on your drone

Do not rely entirely on your controller, especially during your first flights. Keep the drone in sight so as not to lose or damage it. Control its position in relation to trees, power lines, and other obstacles, and don’t forget about the wind. If you lose the signal or any other problem occurs, you have better chances to land your drone if you can see it.

Filming with a Drone

When you have figured out how to get your drone off the ground and how to control it, you can move on to the video and photo techniques. Keep in mind that, while the time of day is irrelevant for maneuvering, the best hours to get good photos and videos fall into two periods:

• One hour before sunrise
• Two hours before sunset

The camera is attached movably to the drone and can change its direction within 90°, the limit points being a vertical downward view and a horizontal view. The position of the camera is usually configured before the shoot and is not altered during the process; all the dynamics of the video are created by moving the drone.

To learn the basics of drone camera movement, try these exercises:

• Downward camera + Upward movement. You’ll notice how the ground recedes, and the lens captures the expanding perspective.
• Downward camera + Upward movement + Slight rotation (lightly press the joystick left or right). The ground will recede, producing a subtle dizzy effect.
• Camera horizontally + Upward movement until 100 meters + Forward movement. This will give you an extra long-range view of the horizon.

Watch the video on our Vlog for more detailed descriptions: