Drone photography is one of the most popular uses for drones these days. With a drone, you can capture stunning aerial footage that is impossible to capture with a regular camera. But getting good drone footage isn’t as easy as it seems.
However, not everyone knows how to shoot good drone footage, which can lead to some pretty bad footage.
Follow some rules to record cinematic and high-quality drone footage with confidence.
Tips on How to film with drone
Check out the tips and guide to get good drone footage:
Know the Rules
Many areas have restrictions on flying drones. Find out the no-fly zone and point to the restricted area. Ensure that the drone flight is carried out following local regulations and with the safety of people and property.
Plan Your Shots
make a plan and predict the subject movement to fly the drone smoothly. Choose a location that fits the purpose and offers suitable surroundings and perspectives.
Check the weather forecast to ensure safe flying conditions, then plan the flight path and altitude to get the desired shots. Before making any changes, take a break for 10 seconds.
Choose the correct camera settings to capture the desired shots, such as exposure, shutter speed, and ISO. Also, think about each shot’s composition, including the subject’s placement and camera angle.
Understand the Fundamental for cinematic drone shots
knowing the shutter speed, frame rate, ISO, and aperture is crucial for better drone footage. The drone must be properly flown to ensure stable and smooth footage. Also, a good composition involves balancing the elements in the shot and using leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye.
Drones come with built-in cameras or allow for interchangeable lenses. The quality of the camera affects the overall quality of the footage. So, choose a quality camera for better footage. Know the flight ability because the drone’s stability during flight is crucial for capturing smooth and stable footage.
Then learning the post-production techniques, such as color correction and editing, can enhance the final output of the drone footage.
Maintain the Lighting Condition for the best drone shots
The footage could get blurry because of shadows and highlights. Choose the right time and avoid flying your drone in direct sunlight, especially mid-day when the sun is at its brightest. Fly early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light is softer and more even.
Also, adjust the white balance and ISO value. You may also need to change the exposure to prevent over or under-exposure of the footage.
Some filters, like neutral density, can help reduce the light entering the lens and prevent overexposure. Also, keep an eye on the live view from your drone’s camera to monitor the lighting conditions and make any necessary adjustments on the fly.
Capture shots at basic angles when filming
When capturing footage with a drone, it’s best to keep the shots straightforward. Utilizing turns and dives can take viewers out of the scene. Rather, employ basic paths and perspectives to keep spectators enthralled and unaware that the video was recorded from a drone.
If you require further ideas for angles, consider reading Pond5’s article for more insight.
Popular maneuvers with drones include:
When flying up from eye level, maintain your gimbal in the forward direction (or gradually lower its angle) to easily capture a wide-angle view of any setting.
Launch your drone into the sky (at least 50 feet) and keep the gimbal pointing down while moving ahead slowly. Gradually adjust the gimbal to show your vicinity. Be mindful of your environment when executing this maneuver.
Fly up to a high altitude and begin shooting with your gimbal pointed downward while you fly forward in an uninterrupted path.
Change the Frame Rate
frame rate is an essential factor for better footage. Different frame rate shows various footage quality. If you want to change the frame rate, you need to access the settings for your drone’s camera and adjust the frame rate to the desired value. Such as 30fps for raw footage and 24fps for Hollywood features. And the highest is 4k, which captures more minor details.
Change Gimbal Sensitivity
most drone gimbal has default sensitivity levels of the gimbal. Connect your drone to a remote controller or mobile device. Go to the advanced settings for gimbal sensitivity. Look for the option to adjust the gimbal sensitivity, often referred to as “gimbal speed” or “gimbal response.”
Adjust the sensitivity to your preferred setting. It can do by moving a slider or selecting different preset sensitivity levels. Save the changes and test the new gimbal sensitivity by flying the drone and controlling the gimbal movement.
Embrace Creativity
Flying drones opens many creative situations to record footage. Use your creativity to get unique shots. Try capturing unusual angles and perspectives that are not easily achievable from the ground.
Adjust settings such as ISO, shutter speed, and aperture manually to capture stunning footage. Use smooth, steady movements to add an artistic touch to your footage.
Experiment with lighting conditions like sunrise, sunset, and backlight to create dynamic and visually striking footage. Also, experiment with different editing styles and techniques to bring a creative touch to your final product. Don’t be afraid to try new things and think outside the box. Creativity often comes from taking risks and embracing new ideas.
Pay Attention to Shutter Speed
A fast shutter speed is good for getting a sharp image. Ensure that your drone’s camera settings are configured to allow manual shutter speed control.
The shutter speed should be chosen based on the lighting conditions and the effect you want. A faster shutter speed can use in bright light to avoid over-exposure. While in low light, a slower shutter speed can help to capture more light and prevent underexposure.
Try using different shutter speeds and observe how they affect the footage. Finally, review the footage and make necessary adjustments to the shutter speed. Keep experimenting and learning to achieve the desired look for your footage.
FAQs
How Do You Prevent Drone Flyaways?
To prevent drone flyaways, ensure your drone has a strong GPS signal before taking off.
Practice flying your drone in a safe area and become familiar with the controls before attempting to fly in more challenging environments.
Keep your drone in sight at all times, plan your flight path before taking off, and avoid flying over areas with potential radio interference.
Also, update your drone’s firmware regularly to ensure it has the latest features and bug fixes.
How Far Can a Drone Go Without Losing Signal?
The maximum range of a drone without losing signal depends on several factors, including the type of drone, the altitude it’s flying at, the presence of obstructions, and the quality of the radio control system. High-end drones can fly 2.5 to 4.5 miles, while simple drones can fly 20 to 100 yards.
Last Few words
Drone photography has opened new horizons for many photographers in terms of technology, composure, and creativity. If you have a passion for it, the sky is the limit no matter the challenge. Nicely captured cinematic drone footage is not only stunning but also valuable commercially.
We have mentioned basic guidance that will be helpful for young drone lovers. Stay tuned with us for more upcoming information.
Related Article: Best Drone with night vision camera., How far can a personal drone fly.
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