At first, aerial videography sounds relatively straightforward. Strap a small camera to a remote-controlled UAV, set up your shot, and then start recording. Oof…if only it was that easy to become an aerial photographer!

While recent advancements in technology have made aerial videography more approachable, I can say firsthand that cinematography with a drone is not a very forgiving activity. Learning to safely pilot a UAV is one thing, but knowing how to produce useable, squiggly-free video is another

From mastering basic aerial videography pans to balancing your propellers and using gimbals, let’s deconstruct what it takes to become an expert drone videographer. Here are some of the training tips for your first Aerial Video

Become a proficient UAV pilot

This may seem obvious, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to become a strong UAV pilot in a smart and safe way. Otherwise, you might end up needing to join a support group like the DJI Flyaway & Crash Psychological Support Facebook page.
It’s too easy to become engrossed in your new toy and to want to publish jaw-droppingly beautiful footage on the Internet. But trust us, you’ll be glad you took the time to learn how to fly. Don’t even think about the video footage at first. Just learn to fly, whether it’s on a flight simulator or, better yet, a training quadcopter like the Hubsan X4.

Choose your quadcopter

We say “quadcopter” knowing that you don’t necessarily need a UAV with four arms and propellers, but at the moment, those are the most approachable units when it comes to stability, pricing, availability, and community support for beginning and intermediate aerial videographers.

One of the most popular quadcopters for aerial videography is the DJI Phantom models. Here’s a review of the Phantom 1. DJI’s quadcopters come ready-to-fly (RTF) and with an out-of-the-box GoPro connector.

Choose your video camera

Of course, this depends on what unit you are flying. Most people choose their unit first, and then their camera. Some quadcopters have built-in video cameras, while others require attaching a separate camera. The trick is to get as much power in your video functionality and performance as you can, using as little weight as possible. Even if your quadcopter can support the additional weight while flying, the lighter your payload, the longer your battery will last, and the longer flight time you’ll have.

PHOTO SESSION IMAGES

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