How drone videography can elevate your content

Drone videography is growing in popularity in commercial and leisure spaces as these exciting gadgets become more and more accessible. Videographers and photographers face a new world of possibilities thanks to the big capabilities of these, often small, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

Video content has taken a level up thanks to drone flying and now licensed drone pilots can shoot great aerial shots in more affordable and technically advanced ways. The possibilities of these nifty tools allow for greater flexibility in terms of shot type and narrative.

Commercially, businesses have also been able to take advantage of drones to elevate the content they are putting online. Should you be taking advantage of drone video production and aerial filming services for your content?

Drone flying uses

Drones are being used in commercial spaces by a variety of industries. In fact, UK drone retailer, Drones Direct, surveyed their customers and found the top sectors utilising drones were trades and manufacturing, information and communications and creative and photographic.

Now, more commercially available, drones have also gained popularity in real estate, event management, public safety and agriculture. In real estate, they allow for property showcasing in the form of video flythroughs or external shots. These save time on the classic walkthroughs and also add a more dynamic aspect to the sales content. For commercial real estate, where potential buyers might need to see the surrounding land, real estate agents can get great aerial shots.

In event management they can function as a creative drone video production tool. For example, capturing the guests or scenery at an outdoor wedding or filming large scale crowds at a music festival.

Furthermore, their use in public safety sectors is proving more popular all the time. For example, the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) teamed up with the RNLI in 2023 to test an emergency response drone pilot rescue service on Cornish beaches. The drones were being tested for their ability to improve lifeguards’ and coastguards’ visibility of swimmers as well as being able to broadcast safety messages from the drone itself.

Drones have been a part of the agricultural sector for a number of years and have many applications within this industry. From monitoring crops to managing livestock and even spraying pesticides, they can help farmers save plenty of valuable time and resources.

 

The benefits of drone videography

As well as the benefits mentioned, we of course need to highlight the benefits of using a drone for videography and aerial filming services. Particularly, when it comes to their use in creative spaces, such as marketing and advertising, drone video production offers so many advantages.

The first is that drones are accessible and affordable. Previously, only those with television or film budgets could hire cranes or helicopters to capture the perfect aerial shot. The drone shots featured in this case study we filmed for our client, Wildanet, helped to establish this rural location and showcase the environment too.

Now an entry-level drone is within many company’s budgets and there is the added bonus of the environmental benefits and safety. No more helicopters required, and battery powered drones, means a much lower carbon footprint for drone video production. Plus, you can film from a height while remaining firmly on the ground in a much lower risk way to film aerial shots.

Secondly, filming with a drone unlocks more levels of creative control to help filmmakers or those hiring filmmakers to achieve their vision. You can unlock different perspectives that would previously have been out of reach, both physically and metaphorically! For example, the drone shots used in this film we created for our client, the Good Growth Programme, helped with establishing locations and transitioning between shots while also highlighting the natural environment, which is a vital part of the storytelling aspect.

Overall, the dynamic content that drone videography creates can help with improving client engagement on social media and setting yourself apart from your competitors.

What do you need for drone videography?

While drones have become more accessible, that’s not to say that anybody can fly one, especially for commercial use. You need to be a licensed drone pilot with a flyer ID in order to fly a drone, and you’ll need to be qualified to fly any drone weighing over 250g (such as the A2 CofC) as set out by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). All drones require passing a theory test to learn how to fly safely and legally.

Secondly, if you own a drone, or are responsible for one, you need an operator ID which you receive after registering your drone. Without either of these things, you will not be able to fly one. Additionally, when used in a commercial setting, third-party insurance is a must. This covers damage to others or property should your drone cause an accident and protects you with public liability.

From that point onwards, the practice should begin. Learning to pilot a drone can eat up significant hours of practice time which in itself is a cost a business will need to think about on top of licenses, qualifications and insurance costs for pilots and drones. In addition to the technicalities of a drone flight, it is also helpful to have technical camera skills too. While most modern drone cameras have auto modes to set the exposure and aperture for you, you may not get the exact look you had in mind for the shot.

Finally, one of the most important things you will need for drone flying and particularly drone videography, is clear weather. Weather conditions are really important and will impact factors such as drone safety and the final result. While you don’t need a blue sky day, avoid rain and try to film on days where there isn’t too much wind.

Drone video production

On top of everything else, drone video production also requires some legal considerations. Getting the right approvals, ensuring you’re insured and licensed and familiar with the CAA’s rules on no-fly zones.

By far, the easiest way to elevate your content with drone videography is to hire a licensed and qualified drone pilot to do it for you. At DCA we regularly use drone videography in the films we create for clients using our own equipment in locations around the South West and wider Southern England. We are fully licensed, insured and have regional expertise perfect for our local clients available at competitive pricing.

If you are looking for commercial drone video production in the South West, book a consultation with one of our licensed pilots today by filling out the contact form on our website. 

You can also visit the DCA YouTube channel to view some examples of drone filming in our client films.