10 tips for filming with drones

We all know them: those beautiful aerial videos of your own area or your favourite city. They can only have been made with drones. Want to make impressive videos with your drone yourself? Then check out our 10 tips for filming with a drone below.

Preparation

1. Translate your vision into shots

The temptation to start filming straight away is of course great, but it's wiser to work out your ideas in advance in the form of a shot list. That way, you turn your vision into a concrete plan. Your shot list also makes it immediately clear which story you're going to tell. While filming, you have a worked-out concept and can still improvise.

2. Bring enough extras

Besides making a shot list, it's important to bring enough extras, such as batteries, propellers and memory cards. It doesn't hurt to bring a small laptop and portable hard drive when you're travelling, for example. Then you can review and save your footage straight away. Also check the regulations and geo-zones in advance.

Flying

3. Use the camera directions

It may seem an obvious tip, but many image makers overlook it. Most pilots point their drone's camera forwards, while other directions can offer new perspectives. For example, point the camera downwards to bring interesting lines and patterns to the foreground.

4. Extend your shots

Nothing is worse than discovering in post-production that a beautiful shot has become unusable because there's not enough room for a transition to the next shot. So always hold your shots for an extra 3 seconds. Viewers also find longer drone shots pleasant to watch, because they have to take in a lot of information.

5. Avoid hurried movements

Another drawback in post-production is a shot with hurried movements. This is often caused because, as a pilot, you discover a different perspective while flying. Drone footage is characterised by calm, smooth movements. So create these with your drone's flight path or use panning for calm footage.

6. Use objects for depth

Use objects in the foreground to create depth and convey movement. Large objects in particular make the subject stand out from the background. For example, fly close past a mountain to emphasise the depth of the valley. Do make sure it stays safe for you and your surroundings and that you can't damage your drone.

7. Use openings

Use fly-through shots in which you fly through an object. That way, you take your audience along on the journey. Openings are perfect for this. Note: these kinds of shots can be complicated. A fly-through shot comes across as cinematic and gives your video a professional look. For more cinematic shots for drone videos, see this page.

8. Fly backwards

By flying your drone backwards, you can reveal a subject. Instead of focusing on a single detail, you zoom out, as it were, to show the bigger picture. If flying backwards is still a bit tricky for you, you can of course also choose to manipulate the footage in post-production to make it look as if the drone is flying backwards.

Post-production

9. Speed up

Sometimes drone footage of large landscape elements, such as waterfalls and mountains, can come across as slower on screen than you initially expected. To make sure the viewer doesn't get bored, you can speed up the footage in post-production to as much as 300 in the playback speed settings. This adds more movement.

10. Use sound

In post-production, add sound effects and music to your footage. Look for sound effects and music that strengthen your images without distracting the viewer. Sound should add to the image. For example, place the sound of flowing water under footage of a waterfall to give viewers a complete experience.