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Drones are growing in popularity and are great tools for photography, videography, and just having fun!
Drone photography gives photographers a new perspective and way to shoot photography. As far as the cost of camera equipment, drones can be surprisingly cheap comparatively. That being said, it’s a great piece of equipment that will unlock new and interesting ways to capture photos.
In this article, we’ll give 7 tips for improving your drone photography skills.
1. Check Local Regulations
Before you start flying your drone, make sure you follow local regulations. There are a lot of resources with the FAA for beginner drone pilots that lay out what these rules are. Here are some of the federal regulations to follow while flying a drone for recreational purposes:
- Stay at or below 400 ft
- Give way to other aircraft
- Fly only for recreation
- Keep your drone within in sight
- Do not fly in a dangerous manner
Though the municipality you are flying in may have other rules you need to comply with. You should also make sure the area you want to fly in allows drone flight.
2. Find a Beginner Friendly Drone
You may already have a drone to take photos on, but if you don’t, you’ll need to find one.
Because you’re just getting started you don’t need to spend a ton of money on a drone. The best beginner drone for photography doesn’t need all the bells and whistles, but the quality of the camera is important.
Most drone photography is used for big landscapes or sweeping vistas. If the camera quality is low, landscapes will look choppy.
Online reviews say the DJI mini 3 is the best starter drone. When compared to other drones, it’s a great deal at under $500.
Our expert drone photographer, REDC's own Corey Carlson, spent a long time looking for a great first drone. Ultimately he settled on the DJI Mini 3 (the 4 hadn’t come out yet, but he would have gotten that one if it did).
“This little guy continually exceeds my expectations. It is tiny when folded up and not in use. It is pretty small still when fully expanded and running. I’ve taken it everywhere and have captured some amazing images and footage that have opened new doors to my photography with this drone!”
Take the REDC’s self-based course for a DJI mini 3 operation deep dive.
3. Choose the Right Image Format
Almost every image shared on the internet is in the JPEG format. It’s an incredibly common image format, and for good reason. JPEGs have a low file size but are somewhat compressed. They look fine as is, but if you want to edit them you may lose more detail.
On the other hand, RAW images capture all the data from the camera sensor. This makes their file size a lot bigger and makes it easier to edit post shoots.
Many would advocate for shooting in both RAW and JPEG. However, depending on your available storage, this could become unruly. Others advocate for shooting in JPEG and just honing in the best settings during the shoot.
Corey had this to say about image format: “I try to shoot in the highest resolution possible since storage is so cheap. For photos, it really depends on the shot and feel that I’m going for. Most likely I’m shooting at the highest definition though regardless.”
As a beginner drone photographer, shooting in RAW will give you a greater margin of error and make it easier to fix photos later.
4. Shoot in Manual
Auto settings can be very helpful when you’re in a pinch, but shooting in manual will help you learn your drone better and improve your photo shooting skills. Once you get the hang of it, shooting in manual will unlock more creative opportunities.
Learning how to shoot drone photography manually can be a difficult process. However, many of the concepts are exactly the same as shooting with a traditional camera. Here’s what you need to know:
- Shutter speed: How quickly the shutter stays open. This affects how much light comes in and how moving objects are captured. Fast shutter speed will be darker but fast moving objects won’t appear as blurry.
- Aperture: This setting changes the size of the aperture. Think of it as the pupil of the camera. This affects how much light enters and the focal length. The higher the number, the wider the aperture, the brighter the photo, and the smaller the focal length. This setting is less important for drones and some drones don’t allow it to be changed.
- ISO: This changes how sensitive the sensor is to light. It affects the brightness and noise level of the photo. As the ISO gets higher the picture gets brighter and noisier.
Balancing these settings is the game of shooting with manual settings. Set the shutter speed too fast and the image will be too dark, but the subject will be frozen in time. Slow down the shutter speed too much and the entire photo will be a blurry mess.
When you start shooting manual photography with your drone, a good rule of thumb is to keep the ISO at 100. Adjust shutter speed, and aperture if you can, around what you’re trying to shoot.
Related Article: Six Photography Tricks for Beginners
5. Consider Composition
Shooting random pictures isn’t the best way to create compelling photography. Before you start shooting willy-nilly, learn a bit about composition.
Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within a photo. A tree, a person, a distant building. How you place these elements within the photo is important for creating a good looking photo.
There are different ways to compose a shot. These are the most common:
- The rule of 3rds: This is the simplest composition method. Imagine a 3x3 grid over the frame. Now place the subject or point of interest on one of the intersecting lines. This method is simple but effective. Some cameras even come prebuilt with 3rd guides built in.
- Framing: Create a natural frame for your subject to live in. This style can lead to interesting photos and give a “picture within a picture” look to the photo. Framing can be used along any other method of composition.
- Leading lines: This might be the most complex way to compose a photo. Essentially, it requires photographers to observe the natural lines and patterns within a scene and use those to direct the viewer's eyes to the subject. This can be used to create images with a great sense of movement.
- Try something new: When shooting a subject try shooting from different angles and find new ways to view the subject. Iteration is key in the creative process so keep shooting even if you think you have the shot you want.
Being mindful of composition means you'll be on your way to taking interesting photos that go beyond a typical picture.
Ready to get out and get flying? Take the REDC’s drone photo/video masterclass course and get even more practical instruction and training in drone photography.
6. Practice, Practice, Practice
Drone photography requires skills for both photography and drone flying.
Practice flying your drone and hone your skill. The better you are at flying your drone, the better you’ll be at finding the perfect angle and taking pictures you’re proud of.
There is a lot of advanced tech built into drones that make it easier to fly. However, being reliant on advanced flying tech won’t make you better at flying. Instead, practice flying in controlled spaces to improve your directional awareness and skill at flying.
There are a ton of exercises you can try to improve your drone flying skills including:
- Target practice
- Square pattern with no yaw
- Square pattern with yaw
- Out back and land
Corey started his drone flying journey through trial and error. However, he said that YouTube tutorials from the Pilot Institute and others are a great starting point.
7. Get Certified
This might not be necessary for you, but if you’re interested in making money using your drone photography, an FAA Part 107 certificate is a must. However, if you only want to take photos recreationally, this isn’t for you.
Receiving your FAA Part 107 certification is a multi-step process that can last anywhere between 4-6 weeks. Those steps include:
- Study
- Take and pass test at a local center
- Apply for the license on the FAA website
You don’t need to show flight proficiency, but it does test knowledge of everything relating to drone flight.
When asked if the FAA Part 107 certification is helpful, Corey said this: “Yes. It is definitely helpful to get Part 107 certified. Even if you’re flying a drone less than 250g. Just understanding the rules and regulations makes flying much more comfortable and safer in my opinion!”
Prepare for The FAA Part 107 Test With The REDC
Preparing for the Part 107 exam without direction is near impossible. Luckily The Regional Economic Development Center at Yavapai College offers a course to help you prepare for the FAA Part 107 test.
Enroll today and start shooting incredible photos with your drone. And for even more drone piloting information, check out our catalog of aviation courses for beginner drone pilots.