Drone videography gives creators a unique way to produce exciting footage.
Whether it’s mastering aerial shots or motion shots, there are tricks to producing awe-inspiring drone footage. If you’re keen to improve your drone videography skills but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are our top five tips.
1. Fly at a Low Altitude
Many filmers think that aerial videography focuses on gaining height but this doesn’t always produce the best results.
In fact, one of the most important drone videography tips is to fly at a low altitude. Even though a higher altitude gives you more shooting space, low altitude flying highlights the object’s details, resulting in an immersive experience.
2. Orbit
The orbit shot is key to drone cinematography as it makes the video more dramatic. This aerial videography trick takes practice but manually circle an object as your drone flies sideways.
If you’re unsure how to do it, activate the Point of Interest (POI) intelligent flight mode. This means your drone will automatically circle the object while you tweak the height and radius.
You can get creative by zooming in or moving backward while rotating around the subject for unique footage.
3. The Chase
One of the best drone shots is the chase, perfect if you’re shooting a fast-moving object. You can shoot from behind the subject or the front but you must match the speed so it stays in the center of the shot.
To finish the video, let the object pass if you’re shooting from the front or pass it if you shot from behind.
4. Tracking Shot
For drone filming, the aim of a tracking shot is to match the speed of your subject while maintaining focus. The trick is to stay coordinated and rehearse the shot until you’re completely confident.
To do this, keep your camera at the same height and distance, adding more movement if you feel confident. Tracking shots are popular in sports events or if you’re following a fast vehicle.
5. Unveil Your Surroundings
At a low altitude, fly in front of a barrier like a line of trees and slowly gain height. Then when you’re at a good level, you can unveil the scenery to your audience. If you’re struggling to keep it steady, slowly pan or tilt the camera so you get a smooth shot.
Don’t be afraid to experiment by flying forward or backward so you can get different angles. At the start of shooting, you could also frame your shot with structures or trees in the foreground to get more intriguing footage.
More Drone Videography?
Now you know five drone videography tips to help you produce a high-quality film.
You must master the basics before you can experiment with harder shots like the orbit and a fantastic way to do this is by taking my drone filmmaking course so you can produce killer aerial drone content.
