Since the emergence of drones for filming and photography purposes, many have taken quickly to this new technology for their shoots and footage. Some have taken up the art of drone videography as a commercial venture, delivering high-quality footage to clients. Being a commercial drone pilot requires professionalism and expertise.
Here are top-notch filming tips to help you maintain your status as a talented drone videographer.
Filming tips for drone videographers in Switzerland
Drone videography is not like traditional videography with usual cameras. Instead, the drone sets out to cover the event in ariel videography while the videographer controls the filming. Getting smooth and neat footage requires a level of skill and patience, undoubtedly, but you can’t achieve cinematic perfection with aerial filming without the requisite guide.
Below are expert drone videography tips that will help any drone videographer capture the perfect footage.
1. Get the right equipment
There’s more to flying a drone. As a drone videographer in Switzerland, you want to ensure that the drone is right for the filming project by taking into consideration the size, weight, and similar characteristics. In the same vein, the type of drone camera should also be considered – we recommend you go for expert drone videography cameras or drones with quality camera lenses.
*Drone footage is almost always used in combination with other ground based video as we see in this promo video
2. Slow and steady wins the race
No fast and furious shots except it is necessary that such be factored into the filming. For the best aerial footage, be slow and steady. Steadily control the remote and slowly lead the drone through its flight. By so doing, your shots will be meticulous and detailed. Similarly, you will avoid mistakes that could arise from fast and overly dramatic moves and prevent the possibility of your drone crashing.
3. Film during the two extremes of the day
The ethereal, magical atmosphere of sunrise and sunset is unmatched. Depending on the video production theme, the atmosphere and weather could make or break the uniqueness of the footage.
*a compilation of drone footage shot by Tulip Films based in French-speaking Switzerland.
For instance, shooting a wedding-themed production or any other love-themed footage at sunset will enhance the romantic aura of the video. Captured at such points of the day gives the right soft silhouettes and contrasting shadows for the ethereal effect.
4. Carry out a survey
A survey of the area you will be filming is a crucial practice in aerial videography. This is to give you a view of what you will be dealing with. It also helps you get familiar with the location and visualize the important areas you may need to direct the drone to get the perfect aerial shots. The scouting process is usually a pre-filming endeavour, and you mustn’t visit your production location for the first time on the day of filming.
5. Try different shots
Yes, you heard that right. Having a blend of different aerial shots in your video gives it a sense of professionalism. From the fly through shot to the flyby and reveal shots, there are many varying shots, each with a different mode of aesthetic.
*a drone film containing a variety of different aerial shots made by Tulip Films based in Switzerland.
The reveal shot is ideal for when you want to reveal the subject of the camera focus. This way, you fly the drone slowly towards the subject with the camera facing down until you are ready to reveal the subjects, then you gradually tilt it up to reveal the price.
The high pan shot is a regular shot but done at a high altitude and rotating the pan to different angles to better view the surrounding. And there are many other shots to consider.
6. Strafe when necessary
Regular forward and backward drone movements during filming helps capture large areas. To make your footage stand out, strafe your drone by controlling it to bend sideways at intervals while filming. This gives you different perspectives of the bird’s eye view of a landscape.
It’s recommended that a drone videographer obtains a pilot license before filming with a flying drone. This is important to stay within the parameters set by the laws of their region. Some nations require every commercial drone pilot to own the drone pilot license under the aviation regulation.
7. Combine camera movements
Panning or pushing shots with a drone already look very nice. But it gets really interesting if you manage to combine 2 or even 3 different movements at once, while maintaining focus on your subject. This requires lots of training and skills from the drone pilot. For some drones it works better to remove the joysticks and place your thumbs directly on the balls of the controller. In this way you will have more accuracy during flight and it will be easier to nail those difficult shots.
Another helpful tip is to adjust the controller settings with the objective to make the movements more smooth. In this video tutorial you can see exactly how this is done and what values to use, among lots of other tips for your drones settings.
It takes practice to get to perfection. Perfect your drone flight skills and be the best at what you do with these tips to guide you.