No matter if you’re a wedding photographer or videographer, you can use a drone to create some unforgettable shots of the bride and groom. Alina and Stewart of Drone Film Guide share with you 12 helpful tips that will raise your drone wedding photos and videos to a new level and help you make the best out of them.
1. Add value with your shots
Your job as a wedding photographer or videographer is to tell the story of the couple, and you need to make sure to do it. Just like you will tell the story with photos or videos from the ground – your drone shots also need to add value to it.
2. Plan your shoot
Like in many other genres, preparation is key in wedding photography and videography. So, before you go to the wedding, visit Google Maps and Google Earth. This will give you the rough idea how much time you’ll need to shoot at the particular location, what you can shoot and how.
3. Shoot smart
There is a big time pressure with wedding shots, so think about how many shots you actually need. Plan ahead, and don’t overshoot – it will save you some time and effort both during the shoot and in port-processing.
4. Practice
A wedding is not a place to experiment with your shots. So, practice in advance, come up with a plan of action before the wedding, and get there prepared.
5. Fly with the edit in mind
If you’re a drone videographer, you should shoot with the edit in mind. This way, you won’t come back with shots that are too short, too long or completely unusable.
6. Expose for the dress
Always expose for the dress. Otherwise, you may end up with burnt out highlights and it will be difficult or impossible to recover the detail.
7. Be ready
Be time efficient. Get everything ready in advance and don’t let the couple and the other photographer or videographer wait for you to set everything up.
8. Timetable the shoot
If you plan to film or photograph the couple with your drone, make sure to ask them to allocate some time for it. Just you need to plan ahead, they also need to plan out some time for the drone shoot.
9. Speak to other photographer/videographer
Before the shooting begins, make sure to speak to other photographer or videographer hired for the wedding. Let them know what you agreed with the clients so you can synchronize with other creative.
10. Fly safe
The wedding day is one of the most important days in someone’s life – and it’s definitely not the day for potentially risky shots. Make sure that your drone and its battery are in perfect condition, don’t fly too close to people, and generally be careful and keep everyone safe.
11. Be licensed and insured
In most countries, you need a license if you want to fly commercially. Don’t take the risk, obtain the license and insure your gear. It’s not only professional and legally required, but it will also give you a peace of mind.
12. Use the right drone
Finally, use the right drone for the task. For example, while DJI Inspire may give you the best shots, it isn’t the best choice for wedding environment, as Stewart suggests. Instead, you should go with something smaller and lighter such as Mavic Air for example.
No matter if you’re just starting out or you’ve already used a drone for wedding photos and video, I believe that these tips will help you become even better. And if you have any tips for shooting with drones at weddings, feel free to share them.
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