Become a Certified Pilot for Drone Wedding Photography

The easy accessibility of drones and technology has given birth to aerial videography and photography. With dronewedding photography, you can easily document unique and memorable moments. You can take all types of emotional and creative pictures, thanks to its versatile angles. Doing so will enable you to cherish all the happy moments of the day. 

Drones do, however, come with unique needs and limitations. Once you know the things you need to avoid, you can conduct a smooth wedding photoshoot via drone. 

Certification as a Drone Pilot

Even when you are highly experienced in drone photography, you must obtain a certification as a drone pilot. Many soon-to-be-married couples are tempted to hire amateurs or beginners for drone photography to save on the budget. But it’s not a good idea because it might lead to plenty of risks with less reward. 

Getting a certification will help you avoid unnecessary problems from taking place in the process. It will also provide you with plenty of confidence within drone photography and allow you to work as a reputable drone wedding photographer. 

It is important to note that drone laws are not the same in all the countries across the globe. For instance, the drone laws within the UK (United Kingdom) are that you have insurance for all types of projectsthat involve drone photography. 

You also need to obtain permission from the CAA, and your drone should not fly more than 122 meters. These are just some of the several laws when it comes to doing drone photography. 

Why is Obtaining Insurance for Drone Photography So Important?

Drone photography isn’t that popular due to the unfortunate accidents and mishaps over the past years. Many guests have reported that they were injured or got hurt because of a drone at a wedding. When such incidents occur, you will have to pay out of pocket for all the damages without proper insurance. 

It doesn’t matter where you reside, you need to make sure that you opt for insurance when you conduct drone photography. If something unexpected happens, the insurance will help in covering the damages. 

Things a Drone Pilot Needs to Consider

When you have been hired by someone to conduct a drone wedding photography session, you must take some important considerations into account as the drone pilot. In case you don’t know what they are, check out the information below:

1. It takes plenty of planning and time to take the perfect cinematic shot. So, as a drone pilot, make sure you have enough time to explore the location where you will conduct the photography. Doing so will let you obtain excellent footage.
2. Make sure that you conduct the drone photography in clear and good weather. The drones will not fly when it’s raining or if the wind is too strong. If there is bad weather, the device will need to remain grounded. As a drone pilot, you have to make sure both the guests and the device are safe and secure. For such reasons, it will be better to avoid flying the drone when the weather isn’t good. 
3. There are endless possibilities to create stunning footage. So, it would be best if you were careful when planning to capture the wedding venue, the epic sunset, and even the spectacular view through aerial photography and videography.
4. Before you get down to business, make sure to carry all the gear and various other components of your drone. On some occasions, your drone might need a battery replacement, or you might need to replace the drone’s propeller. Carrying some spare parts will be a session-saver for you. 
5. You might come across locations that are not drone-friendly. It might be because there is a natural park where drones are not permitted, or it has too many overhead cables or trees. Before you conduct the drone photography, do check out the venue before making any plan. 

Drone Wedding Photography: Important Things to Keep in Mind

Below are some of the essentials for drone wedding photography, which you need to keep in mind. 

• Check the regulations and rules

It’s highly essential to understand all the drone safety rules that apply to you when it comes to drone photography. You have to check all local rules and regulations to ensure that all your drone photography plans go smoothly without any interruptions.

• Safety should be first

A wayward drone can unintentionally become risky for the wedding guests or can cause a disturbance during the wedding proceedings. If you want to avoid incidents or issues at all cost, you have to consider everyone’s safety before you proceed towards wedding photography. 

It’s recommended that you conduct a proper risk assessment and ensure that your drone flying skills are excellent. You can also get yourself a drone that comes with obstacle avoidance tools. 

There are many drones out there, out of which the Mavic Air Drone from DJI will be an excellent choice. The drone comes with a Flight Autonomy 2.0 that will help detect obstacles and avoid them with immediate effect. 

• Capture the day, but don’t get in the way

Weddings are special events, and having a noisy drone flying around could be distracting and could ruin the entire mood and meaning of the special day. Drones should not necessarily capture moments, such as the exchange of vows. up close. Instead, they should capture all the beautiful surroundings, the overall feeling of the day and the arrival and enjoyment of all the wedding guests. 

Sticking to sky drone photography will enable you to deliver an extraordinary view of the special moments and proceedings. It would be best to use a pre-programmed flight pattern. Doing so will allow you to capture consistent footage from the sky in a format you like. 

• Opt for different angles

For your drone photography to be successful, you must capture all the action from multiple angles and views. Whether it’s the wedding party, the location, or the guest, there is a wide range of fun and alternative wedding photography ideas. You can use the drone to opt for the various views available and get to capture unique wedding photos that will instantly impress your clients. 

Is Drone Photography Worth the Money?

In short, yes, it is. When you have a venue that’s prized for its setting and grandeur, it will give individuals the chance to capture breathtaking and spectacular views through aerial videography and photography. 

It will enable soon-to-be-married couples to showcase their special day in an entirely new way. The entire imagery will be cinematic, and the footage will stand out and be valued for a lifetime. 

Is it Possible to Use Multiple Drones?

Yes, it is possible. Many drone pilots have claimed that using more than one drone stands out as an excellent idea for drone wedding photography. Opting for several drones will help you capture a lot more of the wedding day. 

But when it comes to operating more than one drone, you’ll probably need help, as it’s likely not possible for you to manage several drones at once. Make sure to get the help of another drone pilot or an assistant who will help get the job done well.

Capture Important and Emotional Moments

When you don’t tell the wedding’s full story, the drone photography done for the special day will be lifeless. Drone pilots must keep their concentration on the emotional side of the wedding and capture the ambiance of the day. Doing so will enable you to make the images or pictures stand out. 

You can shoot or take photos from various corners and angles. You can also opt for the atmospheric drone landscape shots that broaden the scope of the video. 

Try to go at lower and higher elevations so that the outcomes are interesting and diverse. The main thing you have to do is take plenty of pictures when the guests arrive at the venue, the bride walking down the aisle, and the couple exchanging their vows. Other things you could capture are any children playing after the ceremony and the couple’s first dance. 

Summary

Drone wedding photography is a unique and extraordinary way to make a wedding day a lot more special. Even though it comes with many individual needs, you have to be prepared both technically and mentally. 

Be sure to obtain a drone license, have insurance, make an effective drone photography plan, and capture all the critical moments of the event. You can also discuss with the soon-to-be-married couple what their unique needs and wants are. Above all else, try to conduct drone photography that will satisfy the couple. 

If everything goes smoothly, you will be rewarded with some of the best wedding photos and videos around