5 Quick Tips For Producing Better Aerial Cinematography Shots

Over the years, drones have increasingly become popular in creating videos and movies. Drones come in a wide variety of sizes, features and prices to suit different needs and requirements. Much like photography or other forms of art, it doesn’t matter what brand of equipment you use, but how well you use the tools.

When it comes to aerial photography, the key to producing incredible footage starts with knowing your rig well. This means devoting countless hours flying and controlling your drone, experimenting with different types of shots, and knowing how to keep the drone steady while shooting footage. 

A professional video production company in Dubai has shared the following tips for creating better quality drone footage.

1.  Scout the location

Always try take a few test shots with your drone before doing the final recording. Doing a few passes around the area gives you a better idea of the site’s layout and the surrounding area. The shots will allow you to see if there are any obstacles or hazards that you need to avoid, and develop a flight plan. In addition, doing a test flight ensures that there is no magnetic interference in the area that could affect the quality of your footage or how you control your drone.

2.  Give your editor some space

Video editors use handles to modify the length of the shot and determine what happens before and after it. They may need extra frames to add transitions or other effects. Editors hate it when video graphers don’t give them enough room to edit the shot. This typically happens when the drone pilot swoops in and out of the shot right away. When using your drone for cinematography, you should start flying the drone and recording video several seconds before and after the planned shot. This technique is known as flying through the shot.

3.  Practice makes perfect

Try visit the site and practice as much as possible. Rehearsing your shots can make you feel more confident in flying and shooting videos with your drone. Watching your rehearsal footage can help you see which areas you can improve on or give you ideas on alternative shots. Plus, you can use the practice footage as your backup in case something disastrous occurs during the actual day of the shoot.

4.  Watch your battery

Knowing your rig allows you to better determine how much time you can devote to flying your drone. Ideally, a fully charged battery can give you airtime of around 15 minutes. To be safe, you should leave at least a minute’s worth of energy. Conditions such as settings and usage can still affect the amount of time you get with each charge. You don’t want your drone to run out of juice mid-flight and crash.

Before using your drone, make sure the batteries are fully charged. Time each of your flights carefully and see how much power the system uses. Once you know what conditions can affect how much power your drone uses, you can use this knowledge to plan your shoots and productions better.

5.  Avoid extreme weather conditions

Even with using forecasting tools, it is impossible to predict what the weather will be like on specific times or days of the week. Drones are sensitive devices. Extreme weather conditions can affect the quality of your footage.

Never try to shoot videos with the sun in the drone’s line of sight. The sun’s glare might render the footage unusable. Depending on the sun’s position, parts of the drone may also cast shadows and dark spots on your lens. This could also potentially warp your video.

When it comes to using your drone on windy days, make sure that you are flying in wind speeds of under 10 mph. At around 17-23 mph, you will find it more difficult to maneuver your drone and get smooth footage. Also you can check that brisbane aerial photography.

Raindrops are not your drone’s friend. It is generally not recommended to use your drone while it is raining outside. There are drone systems designed and tested to work even when rain hits the device. You can do so at your own risk. Another factor to consider involves the other devices attached to your drone, such as the camera itself. Moisture may develop and accumulate inside the camera or the lens if you decide to use your drone during a rainy day.

Regardless of the brand or model of the drone that you are using, these devices can still cost a bundle. Take the time to learn about your drone better and practicing your shots to get the most out of your machine. Learning more about what your drone can do is what can help you create better quality footage. 

Author Bio: Chief Executive Officer Ammar Alkhrisat began the idea of Alkatraz. He has worked with various government bodies and agencies in the United Arab Emirates, giving Alkatraz a tight relation with the municipalities. Ammar is a renowned speaker in coveted events and other festivals in the film industry, and is currently the only GCC representative in the Locations Guild of America. Lamborghini, Sony and Red Bull are just some of the big industry brands that allowed him to become the expert he is today.