Drone photography has changed the game for amateurs and professionals alike. The popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has literally taken off, and there’s no sign of a plunge any time in the near future. If you’re new drone photography, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Start Cheap and Use a Simulator
Unlike most cameras, “playing around” with the equipment in order to learn more about your freshly purchased UAV is not encouraged. You can easily end up damaging it and/or others’ property. Practice on a simulator before using your camera. Once you’ve got the hang of that, it’s best to start out with inexpensive equipment while you’re getting your wings in flight.
Respect Your UAV’s Limits
If you map out what you’d like to capture and establish a plan ahead of time, you can avoid crashes and failed footage. Also try to avoid awkward conversations with park rangers and residents regarding zoning. It is possible to stay in your lane without causing a stir, but making it up on the fly is not encouraged.
Watch and Learn
Buddy up with someone who is familiar with drone photography and observe their process. It’s a great way to learn, and you can also get more in tune with the whole zoning debate during this time. Altogether, you’ll be able to make better decisions with your own UAV after "shadowing" someone who has experience.
Don’t Rely Solely On GPS
Learn how to fly your UAV with the GPS setting turned off so that you know how to operate it if the signal gets lost. This can easily happen when you’re getting great aerial shots in the wilderness. Plus, if you’re like most drone photography enthusiasts, you want to be caged in as little as possible!
Once you’ve mastered drone photography, you’ll have stellar shots to add to your portfolio. Don’t forget to turn them into digital prints with Duggal!