Wedding Drone Videography Is The New Black In The Industry

Every year, wedding planning differs more and more from the days when our parents said their vows. New technologies are visibly changing our lives, including how we celebrate and film weddings. No one is surprised by a wedding that is broadcast online or by an original wedding hashtag on social media.

Drone videography is another popular wedding trend in recent years. Our article will consider the pros and cons of drone video for wedding films.

What do drones do?

Drones allow videographers to capture large-scale footage from above, creating an incredibly immersive and dramatic effect for wedding videos. Aerial video filming adds a cinematic edge to wedding films and provides a unique emotional perspective.

Many Hollywood blockbusters begin with aerial footage, creating pleasant anticipation. Drone wedding videography technology uses the same effect, showing the wedding venue instead of epic battlefields or alien landing sites.

A videographer attaches a camera to a drone and manipulates it with a remote-control device to film from the air. Aerial vehicles can go over a mile high, but by law, they can fly no higher than 400 feet. However, this height is enough to create really impressive footage of the celebration.

What are the benefits of drone filming?

A drone video adds a whole new perspective to wedding videos. Of course, you should not film the entire wedding with a drone, as the celebration consists of many key moments that are better shot in alternative ways. For example, cake cutting, reading vows, etc.

Unusual drone footage will add life and variety to any wedding film. For example, aerial shooting can  show off the wedding’s location, whether it’s a white-sand beach, a vineyard, or a luxurious estate, in an unforgettable, picturesque manner. And if a wedding is in an old church, imagine how impressive it will be to highlight the landscape from a bird’s-eye view.

Another benefit of shooting from the air is the ability to add extraordinary shots to your film. For example, you can shoot how your guests are gathering and then show it with an acceleration effect.

Here are the main advantages of drone wedding videography:

• Capture new perspectives beyond the usual vision from the ground.
• Record various objects from the air, such as landscapes and buildings.
• Drone aerial footage is much cheaper than previously available methods, such as shooting from a helicopter. A drone even allows you to shoot indoors with high ceilings.

Understanding guidelines and regulations

Using drones for filming and other entertainment purposes is subject to various laws, rules, and regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets the national rules under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 107. According to this law, all drone owners must register them with the FAA.

After that, the owner must put the registration number on their aircraft. Also, you must have the registration certificate with you every time you launch the drone into the sky. A drone pilot must also have a flight plan, license, and insurance before filming.

Some states have their own drone regulations. Regardless of where you intend to fly your drone, we recommend you follow the rules below:

•  Learn the rules of safe drone control, and always use them.
• Always keep your drone in sight when flying.
• Fly no higher than 400 feet and no faster than 100 miles per hour.
•  Keep your drone away from airplanes, airports, and emergency services.
• Make sure all footage you capture does not violate privacy laws.

Following these simple rules will help you avoid getting into legal trouble while filming with your drone.

Planning stage

The preparatory stage for filming a wedding with a drone is no less important than the shooting process. We have prepared these helpful tips:

• Practice flying a drone. Piloting a drone can be more challenging than expected, especially if you are distracted by filming. Learn how to take off, stabilize your drone, create simple shapes, and land. Once you feel confident, you can start shooting with your drone.
• Set up your drone and camera. After takeoff, you cannot change the settings, so everything must be done in advance.
• Create a preflight checklist. This will help ensure you won’t forget anything, which means you will have good footage.
• Check the battery level. It is best to know how long your drone can stay in the air, and set the alarm for 10 minutes before the battery runs out so that you have time to land it . . . not on the guests’ heads.
•  Prepare flight and shooting plans. Planning is the key to a successful drone shoot. Determine in advance what and how you want to shoot, and then you do not have to improvise in the air.

Filming stage

The filming stage is by far the most important of the entire process. No matter how you plan everything, if you fail at this stage, then you will not have good footage for your film.

For this stage, we also have some tips that will make your life easier:

• Choose perfect angles. Changing the camera angle can have a real visual impact. For example, you can experiment with low and high angles.
• Do not rush—act slowly but steadily. Making slow, controlled movements will give you the best drone footage. If you want to change the flight path or angle, it is better to make a few minor adjustments. Major changes can result in choppy footage that is hard to watch.
•  Choose exciting objects. Beautiful buildings, local nature, picturesque landscapes—all this can beautify your film. Your drone footage will be as interesting as the objects you capture.
•  Use all drone and camera features. Many drones have special shooting features, such as center points for better framing. Make the most of your drone for wedding footage.

Editing stage

Preparing properly and making good footage is only half the battle. How your wedding video turns out will be decided during editing. But video editing is a whole separate art. To create spectacular wedding films, you need to spend tens or even hundreds of hours learning and practicing.

Therefore, it is always better to turn to professionals who have already created thousands of successful wedding films. Our team has dozens of experienced editors who work in different programs and know all the nuances and trends of wedding video editing. When outsourcing your projects to us, you will save time and get professionally made films to delight your clients.

The best drones for wedding videography

There are many models of drones available on the market, so choosing the right one is not so easy. Their prices also vary greatly depending on the feature set, shooting resolution, battery, and other characteristics.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, then DJI Mini 2, which costs about $479, is the best drone for the money. This model is an ideal choice for beginner drone operators.

In the middle price range, DJI Air 2S stands out. It is a highly versatile device with an excellent set of features and equipment. If you’re planning to own a drone and dive deep into the art of aerial cinematography, this is the one for you. It has 5.4K Ultra HD video support, 4x digital zoom, and many automated flight modes. DJI Air 2S costs around $1,299.

If you turn to the most expensive premium models, we can highlight DJI Mavic 3 Pro. It’s probably the best model on the market, with advanced 5.1K30 or 4K120 video support, all-around obstacle sensors, and a stabilized, triple-camera array. The price of this drone is about $2,199.

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