Do you sometimes find your aerial footage dull and wonder how you can give it a boost? Killer drone shots are not that hard to achieve. Below are six basic and six advanced aerial videography tips to make your aerial footage stand out! We’ve also included some drones that will help to take your aerial videography to the next level.
Drones have revolutionized aerial videography, empowering storytellers with unprecedented capabilities to capture stunning aerial shots that enhance the art of storytelling in videos. The unique perspectives offered by DJI’s drones add depth, scale, and visual interest to narratives. It empowers users to create breathtaking visuals that captivate viewers. Leveraging DJI’s advanced technology, videographers can push creative boundaries in aerial videography, unlocking new possibilities for dynamic, cinematic, and immersive storytelling.
Get More Drone Filming Ideas with Intelligent Functions
If you still need time to get the hang of drone operations, we recommend using the QuickShots mode. This intelligent flight mode has several different preset flight patterns that the drone will automatically execute while recording, making complex shots easy to achieve, which is great for beginner pilots wanting to capture stunning footage right away. Simply choose which QuickShot you’d like to execute and press and hold the target area on the screen and wait for the GO icon to appear. Then tap GO to confirm, and your drone will fly on it’s path automatically while recording your selected target. It’s almost like you have an experienced pilot assisting you. Let’s take a closer look at the QuickShot flight options and what kind of footage you can get with each.
1. Dronie
The drone’s camera centers on the selected subject as the aircraft travels backward at an ascending incline. Dronie creates a natural panning-out effect to capture the subject and the scenery around it effortlessly. The shot helps develop a sense of scale and grandeur in any location.
2. Helix
The drone ascends while flying in a spiral that expands gradually with the camera centered on the selected subject. You can select a clockwise or counter-clockwise helix. The shot captured with Helix allows the pilot to create a shot that blends the subject’s interaction with the environment instead of solely focusing on the subject alone.
3. Rocket
The drone’s camera focuses downward on the selected subject as the aircraft ascends rapidly. Whether your subject is in a crowded or empty space, this can give your video a sense of density as the camera keeps the subject centered and pans out directly overhead, enclosing it in its surroundings.
4. Circle
The drone’s camera centers on the subject and the drone circles around it once at a constant altitude. The pilot can select a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation. Circle creates a shot that captures the subject from every angle in the environment, enhancing the subject’s presence in its surroundings.
5. Boomerang
The drone flies around the selected subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away and descending as it returns. The pilot selects a subject, and the camera captures a quick shot highlighting the importance of the subject in the location in a dynamic way that increases the focus on the subject.
6. Panorama
Select from Sphere, Wide Angle, and 180° panoramas, and drone will do the rest, generating a panoramic masterpiece effortlessly with one tap. The different Panorama effects allow you to capture classic panoramic and other panoramic images with a wide-angle or spherical effect without having to do any photo editing in post.
Have you already been using the QuickShots and spending lots of time flying your drone? Maybe you’re ready to try out some more advanced and technically difficult maneuvers. As always, be sure to follow proper safety protocols when flying your drone and pay careful attention to your surroundings and keep your drone within your line of sight.
Improve Your Aerial Videography Combining Different Axis Movements
Your footage can hardly stand out when your drone only moves forwards or backward. To add more depth to your footage, you can try out different combinations of axis movements. For instance, simultaneously fly up and backward or fly sideways while flying up and forward. Be gentle on the remote controller’s sticks, as slow and steady movements make your footage more cinematic.
7. Orbit
Circling an object can add a tremendous cinematic impact to your footage. You can navigate a circle manually by maintaining the target in the middle as you fly sideways while yawing in the opposite direction.
Be aware it takes a lot of training to fly a perfect circle manually. You can take advantage of the Point of Interest intelligent flight mode. In this mode, your drone will automatically circle at a smooth rate, during which you can quickly adjust height and radius. However, note that there’s no obstacle avoidance when flying sideways. So, you’ll need to tap pause in case of an emergency.
8. Fly at Low Altitude
Many people assume that aerial videography is all about gaining height. Though high-altitude flying can accommodate an more ample shooting space, the low-altitude flight can show objects in detail and create an immersive experience. Additionally, you can easily convey an intense feeling to your footage when you speed up. But pay attention to the flight environment, especially the changes in obstacle height, to ensure flight safety.
9. Follow the Subject from Different Angles
Following a subject from behind is a classic filming move. But since filming from different angles with your drone is easy, why not try them out? ActiveTrack can assist you in effortlessly keeping the subject in the center of the frame no matter which angles you take. Trace mode will follow the subject as it moves away, even if they change direction. In Profile mode, your drone will fly parallel to the subject. It will stay the same distance away from the subject. You can constantly adjust the framing of the subject by using the tilt dial. Consider different combinations to make your footage more interesting. Always pay attention to the flight environment when flying sideways or backward.
10. Sideways Movements
Want to reveal the surrounding landscape from another perspective? Strafing movements, take care of that! Choose an object to start, then move to the side and let the subject slide across so you can show the landscape behind. When shot with a wide-angle lens, your footage will have a more intense sense of space.
11. Avoid Sudden Movements
Don’t make sudden adjustments unless it’s for safety reasons, as an unnecessary push of the remote controller stick may ruin a good shot, as demonstrated below. Maintain the preset direction and keep the gimbal motion smooth. Additionally, tap the record button a few seconds in advance so you won’t miss the ideal moment.
4 Best Drones for Aerial Videography
The list below will contain the best consumer drones for aerial videography, if you need studio level capabilities then you should check out the DJI’s latest update to its Inspire drone series the Inspire 3 its has everything a full production studio would need and more. Here are three drones that can be used to enhance your aerial videography.
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is the pinnacle of imaging performance for aerial videography. The Mavic 3 Pro sets a new standard for camera drones with its triple-camera system and innovative technology.
Featuring a Hasselblad camera and dual tele cameras, the Mavic 3 Pro empowers you to capture breathtaking scenery, explore creative storytelling, and create cinematic masterpieces with unparalleled creative freedom. With three sensors and lenses with different focal lengths, the Mavic 3 Pro opens up a world of possibilities for aerial videography, taking your visual storytelling to new heights.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is a powerful drone designed for professional aerial videography. Its advanced camera capabilities, including a high-resolution sensor and adjustable aperture, allow for stunning video footage in various lighting conditions.
Whether capturing breathtaking landscapes or fast-paced action scenes, the Mavic 3 Classic offers smooth and stable flight performance, making it ideal for aerial videography. For example, it can capture epic aerial shots of majestic mountains or follow and film fast-moving vehicles, creating dynamic and immersive videos.
DJI Mini 3 Pro
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a compact, lightweight drone perfect for on-the-go aerial videography.
Its 4K camera and three-axis gimbal offer stable and high-quality video footage. The Mini 3 Pro’s intelligent flight modes, such as ActiveTrack and QuickShots, easily enable creative and automated aerial shots. For instance, it can capture stunning panoramic shots of cityscapes or create dynamic tracking shots of moving subjects, adding a cinematic touch to aerial videography.
DJI Air 2S
The DJI Air 2S is a versatile drone combining powerful performance and exceptional image quality. Its one-inch sensor and advanced flight features, such as obstacle avoidance and automated flight modes, make it a reliable tool for aerial videography.
The Air 2S can capture stunning 5.4K video footage with a wide dynamic range, providing rich and detailed visuals. For example, it can capture cinematic aerial shots of natural landscapes or create engaging travel videos with its various flight modes, such as Point of Interest or Waypoints.
Do you find these shot techniques and maneuvers helpful? Try out some new maneuvers and share your stunning footage with us! Don’t forget to join our Offical Owners Facebook group to improve your flying techniques, learn tips and tricks from other pilots!
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