In wedding photography, the usage of aerial drones has been the biggest game changer as they provide a creative dimension and capture breathtaking birds-eye pictures. More than any other device, these gadgets photograph the magic of the momentous occasion that is your wedding.
Imagine hovering over your marriage ceremony imagining the spectators, green trees, or even the picturesque setting of the sun setting over the sea. An ingenious construct of your real wedding scenes with film music in the background.
So, to make your wedding more captivating using drone shots, we have some tips to make amazing wedding video with drone. Let’s get into it!
What Is Drone Videography?
Drone videography involves drones equipped with cameras to capture shots from the sky is called drone videography. The high-definition cameras can take still images as well.
This unique technology has opened new paths for filmmakers, event planners, and many others to create visuals from a stunning aerial viewpoint. However, a wedding videographer with drone requires expertise in both drone piloting and cinematography.
Also, for greater projects, you must acknowledge the local airspace regulations. This particular technology has changed the industry forever.
Why Drone Footage Is Ideal For Weddings?
Video wedding with drone nowadays have become the biggest hit. If your big day is around the corner and you are wondering whether to opt for drone videography, chill out! We are about to bring up the aspects that can help you decide.
Get An Aerial View Of Your Wedding
Drone videography has to be the ideal way to film landscapes in your wedding venue. If you’re having a destination wedding, you will need shots of mountains, valleys, beach venues, lakes, or any other wide location.
That’s exactly when drone footage turns out to be a cherry on top. The aerial view will highlight the decorations with very stunning visuals.
So, your wedding video will have the venue with enhanced beauty, context, and elegant landscapes. Traditional cameras can never capture the essence of the venue to such an extent.
Absolute Cinematic Perspective
Drone footage lets you capture dynamic and creative clips. During your special moments like walking down the aisle, zooming out and capturing the storylike moment becomes easier.
Top-notch Video Quality
The latest drones come with a high stabilisation feature. Therefore, the footage turned out to be extremely professional and smooth. With complex shots, high resolution, and different motions, your wedding video looks no less than a cinema.
Get Bigger Shots
For big weddings with large areas or multiple locations, you need larger coverage. Drones do that effortlessly. They can zoom in on the bride and groom in a group photo as well.
Capturing Stunning Photographs
Couples who choose to have their wedding photographs taken don’t know that the use of wedding video taken with a drone can revolutionise wedding photography. It can capture beautiful, spectacular images that no other type of photography can achieve.
Whether your outdoor wedding is held in a domain with gorgeous mountains or at a secluded beach, or nowhere else, drone images always give a perspective that is a beauty enhancer of the environment.
Photographs taken from the skies add glory to any place. It could be the interior of a contemporary auditorium or the exterior of a castle or a country hotel. These couples can opt for a large scenic venue that is so appealing, drones can cover the entire area creating an illusion that the site is more expensive than it actually is.
Handle A Large-Scale Shooting
Classic wedding photographs are such because they can freeze beautiful moments, however, classic wedding pictures would not serve to convey the greatness of your venue.
The sheer size of the gathering and the breathtaking landscape can always be better appreciated from above by having aerial footage filmed by a drone. A camera high above the scene of the ceremony, the guests, and the view all in a single shot for the purposes of filmmaking.
These types of views create an illusion of depth and extent, which gives the viewer the chance of appreciating the whole effect of the space areas as well as the fixtures in it. Thus, these are the images which will help you create the whole picture of your wedding day rather than the details of the married couple only.
Originality
Drone shots by DC Media have gotten everyone into a new way of thinking since they bring such creative and strange angles which can not be gotten through ordinary cameras.
An interesting picture can be taken of guests that can lie on a flat surface such as a grass and be made into the shapes of symbols such as the love shape and rings, and then shoot over the guests.
Further still, one may choose to wait until the bride and her father are walking to the ceremony and use the drone to capture their movements. This will capture the emotions of all the people while the groom stands at the altar and waits.
Or else, picture capturing the entire parade of the newly wedded couples who walk holding hands in their wedding vows with hills or sunset in the background. Each shot in the album gets its uniqueness with the correct combination of the little, intimate images and the “big picture” shots from high above.
Beautiful Scenario Capture
Traditional still images will be transformed if the wedding videography includes aerial views. It can produce amazing, dramatic views that no other cinematography can give.
Regardless of where your outdoor wedding is: in a calm valley, on the beach or even in the flat nowhere, drone photography offers a fresh perspective and highlights the prettiness of your surroundings.
Aerial views can help elevate the level of beauty of the location regardless if it’s an ordinary modern arena or an extraordinary historic edifice such as a castle or a country hotel.
The wide, sweeping, and panoramic shots give the geographical perspective and sheer visual impact that cannot be obtained with any other form of shooting.
Large-Scale Shooting
Although traditional photojournalistic images, known as wedding photography, serve as perfect tools for capturing jubilant occasions, they may fail to do justice to the splendour of your place.
The massiveness of the celebration and the beautiful surroundings can be conveyed better by aerial shots done by a drone. Such views create a feeling of spatial volume which lets the viewer appreciate the enclosure along with the arrangements.
Novel Ideas For Photography
With drone photography, creative and out of the box views can be brought more than what can only be done by normal cameras.
Besides that another interesting idea is to pose the guests on the grass forming a few symbolic shapes like rings of hearts and take an aerial shot.
One and other suggestions are about taking the drone and shooting the bride and her father on their way to the wedding. It would capture the feeling of anticipation everyone has when the groom is waiting at the altar as the rest are on their way.
One more option is to imagine that you’re capturing the entire procession as the new couple walks out with their heads and fingers entwined against a backdrop of setting sun or steep hills.
How To Create A Stunning Wedding Video With Drone Footage?
Creating a stunner wedding video with a drone requires you to be thoughtful enough. Well, we have some super beneficial tricks that will get you an amazing wedding video with a drone. Let’s get started
Visiting the Location
Before the actual shoot day, consider visiting the location at least once. This way you’ll be able to specify the ideal spots for getting drone footage. Point out obstacles as well to avoid any potential mishap.
Plan Your Mandatory Shots
It’s better to plan the key shots with your team and the couple. List the moments they want to be captured from the sky. Suggest the moments you have in your mind including venue setup, aisle walking, family shots, friends shots, etc.
Dealing With The Legalities
You must check if the area of the venue authorises you to fly drones. Many areas have no-drone zones. So, you better check it if you don’t want any legal issues on your client’s big day. Otherwise, your reputation as a professional will be compromised.
Be Careful With Flying
Make sure you keep a safe distance from all the guests and staff at the wedding while flying the drone. This is important for incorporating uninterrupted videos and avoiding unnecessary issues.
Using A Good-quality Drone
To shoot a wedding professionally, you need a drone with high-quality cameras. It also should be smooth at flying. Experts suggest drones with 4k resolution for good results.
Shooting During Golden Hour
With drones, the perfect time to shoot is the golden hour. The nature and lighting during sunrise and sunset are very elegant for drone footage. Especially for couple shoots in soft and warm tones, you must plan a session during the golden hour of the day.
Be Versatile
Don’t be specific to shots, try capturing both close and wide shots. Depending on the moment, zoom in and zoom out the cameras.
Communicate With Your Team
Make sure you establish good communication among all the members of your team. This way neither you nor your ground-level photographers are going to interrupt each other’s responsibilities.
Being Patient
Don’t rush into shots with the drone. Take your time to be smooth enough with clips, transitions, reveals, etc. Use different motions to bring a cinematic vibe.
Editing Mindfully
The actual beauty of drone films comes from thoughtful editing. The music, color, tones, moments, and transitions should complement each other to make the final video look perfect. Since it’s a wedding video, make sure the video leaves an emotional impact.
Drones’ aerial view and picture perspectives can improve the wedding videography by several notches when compared to traditional wedding videography. But, there are certain particular things that you need to remember to make the outcome outstanding. Here are a few of them:
Consider Background Noise As A Critical Factor
Drones can be quite noisy. Because of the buzzing sound produced by their propellers and motors, they may not be suitable for use in the midst of a wedding ceremony. Or, at the very least, the hostility may not be constructive.
Take for instance a drone flying over the couple’s head as they are busy exchanging matrimonial vows. That can also supplant this problem. Drones are reality so one should motivate the photographer to formulate a plan to shoot without a drone at key moments.
Understand Drone Flight Zones And Areas
There are certain limitations to the places that a drone is permitted, and one of them is that drones cannot be flown at all general public places. Drones are likely to fly into risky places such as congested spaces with many high buildings, electric posts, or thick forests.
Besides, there are legal places with some binding conditions and some other spaces which have no legal right to fly legally. Some drones are actually prohibited within the boundaries of a number of cities or national parks.
Therefore, it is wise to understand the grounds and systems surrounding the place. To avoid embarrassment, one should try and seek permission in advance at best.
Consideration Of Weather Conditions
When it comes to drone photography, one’s luck relies heavily on the weather. Drones may not work reliably in wet or windy weather. There is also the risk of damage to property or equipment when it rains, and quality of the film may be poor or even shaky if strong winds are experienced.
If the forecast says storms and heavy rains, flying with a drone is the riskiest option, so the best one is to keep the drone grounded. It was most ideal for outdoor shoots and photography when the winds are calm, and the sun is out. This shall ensure safe handling of the drone and optimal picture taking.
Take Insurance For Drones
Drones are cool but sometimes unpredictable machines. They have a tendency to break down, get out of sight and never resume operations or just refuse to work.
It is possible to have some sort of indemnity cover on account of insurable Perils such as moisture, technical default or human error.
This protects you from unexpected overheads in case the drone crashes into something or someone. It is good to have wedding coverage to reduce the risk of monetary loss.
Keep Guests Engaged To The Least
However, these drones might just be misperceived to be part of the occasion and take away the couple from their romantic time together. While it is obligatory in every occasion to focus on the ceremony, some guests might direct their attention on the drone instead.
They ruin the photos. It is recommended to have drone film shots for less important moments like cocktail parties or general meeting hours to prevent this. This lets the drone shoot exquisite spontaneous pictures instead of interfering with the wedding or the reception.
Verify Any Legal Limitations
Not all countries have the same regulatory laws when it comes to drones. Private property and selected national parks in the United States are for instance no-drone zones.
Therefore, before you warm up to the idea of drone photography, check out first the laws and regulations in the target area. These restrictions are of course put for security and privacy purposes.
Air Map or Federal Airspace Restrictions are examples of such tools, which should be utilized to ensure that your activity is compliant with the law. Saving lives or getting into trouble on your wedding day id advisable.
Choose A Talented Photographer Operator
Shooting fantastic aerial views of a wedding is as different as night is from day, compared to controlling a drone. Make sure the person handling the drone is also a very good photographer.
The operator must have sound knowledge of creative shot composition and should have experience covering weddings.
Ask for samples or look at their previous project(s). This way, you will ensure they can easily get wide and long distance global view images, and also within the surface reach closer images.
Prepare For More Charges
As seen from the above prices, most wedding photography packages do not cater for drone video footage. It all depends on the hour and the complexity of the project, but it can reach 1000 dollars to 1500 dollars.
This is something that you need to discuss with your photographer and ensure that you leave the option open if it is a good fit for the budget. The spectacular, film-like video you receive nearly always justifies the expense incurred.
Communicate With Your Venue And Event Suppliers
Regardless of the circumstances, when one is commissioning drone photography, all parties including the bride’s planners, the location, vendors such as DJs and videographers, among others, must be kept in the loop.
Informing them helps with rearranging all the people and making sure that no one will be in the way of the drone. If your event will have activities that involve blimps or drones with lights or fireworks, this is crucial.
Use Drones For Awesome Picture Taking
With a drone, there is no other device which could possibly match the angles that can be captured. Enlist the use of this mid to capture wonderful pictures and even ask for more creative images such as when the bride is arriving, during the first dance, or a group picture with all the guests.
From different viewpoints, these occasions become more precious. To make sure that your wedding video does not blend in with the rest of the videos, try incorporating some new angles or movement designs into the routine.
What Time Of Day Is Best For Drone Photography?
Aerial photography is most breathtaking in drone photography during the “golden hours” which can be defined as around dawn or dusk. These times are characterised by soft, warm light and beautiful landscapes.
Your images will evoke a fairytale feeling as the sky turns orange, pink, and yellow. This light when taking bridal portraits or landscape photographs is best since it reduces contrast by cutting shadows and enhances the overall mood.
Dawn captures perfect light that makes your compositions vibrant. The invite management concept of a wedding is out of question owing to its feature of bringing new beginnings. If the venue has an open sight of the horizon, the sun can serve as a magnificent background in aerial shots.
On the other hand, sunset creates a softer and more dreamy mood. The sky glows with hues of gold and all weird fairytale surroundings as the light goes down. It is during this time of year that a warmer, more sentimental and dramatic photography can be achieved.
This is a common phenomenon usually attributed to the golden hours during which skies are more colorful and dramatic. The soft light uncovers details and textures that would otherwise be lost in the vigor of the daytime’s brighter parts.
Droning, on the other hand, tends to suffer from the harsh light during the mid-day. Midsummer photography is especially difficult because the sun’s angle, which is directly above you, causes bright and dark parts of your picture to compete against each other way too much.
Some Do Not Rules For Wedding Drone Photography
Although couple or wedding drone photography is gaining popularity, a few things should be avoided from the very beginning before diving in. It should be noted that even if drones are quite efficient, that not all tasks are made to be done with a device on a drone. It is worthwhile considering the following guidelines if you want to ensure that your wedding photographs include drone footage.
Avoid The Use Of Drones In Bad Weather
You normally should not operate a drone in very high or heavy rainfall. Rainy, snowy and exceedingly windy conditions are not very good defence mechanisms for these drones. The pressure of the rain makes the electronics within the drone to short circuit and the drone gets lost or nose dives into the ground.
It is inevitable when flying in strong winds to lose control and this results in blurred images or worse crashes. As much as they help a lot, a photographer may find it hard to capture great pictures, and the drone gets damaging possibilities too. In spite of such good defence mechanisms, the planes should be grounded in a dire storm so as to reduce the risk of loss of equipment.
Portrait Photography Using Drones Is Not A Good Idea
Drones are not very good at taking close-up portraits, which is one of their drawbacks. However, they do well in broad angle pictures. Due to the motion and sound of the propellers, the couple and their friends may find it difficult to adopt a natural pose.
Since drones operate from high above the ground, there are certain details and granular effects that are usually absent in pictures. If you are a person who loves to do stunning portraits of people keep to ground level.
However, if you are interested in taking pictures of the grandeur and feeling of the location without any disruption, then the drone could efficiently provide wider group pictures and images of the surroundings.
Avoid Taking Pictures In Direct Sunlight
Sunny days tend to make it hard to accomplish drone photography. This is owing to the fact that the sun casts very strong shadows that make it difficult to correctly expose the image and get a good composition with sharp detailing.
Not to mention the fact that it can also lead to overexposed sections of the picture which may cause loss of important details in the images. The operator of the drone may also struggle with the glare making it more difficult to see the screen appropriately leading to further detachment from looking into shooting from other angles. It is usually wrong to shoot drone videos around noon, the best times being early morning or late afternoon.
Never Fly Over Heavily Populated Areas.
Flying drones in occupied areas or around large gatherings is dangerous. The risk of injuries increases since the drone can crash due to poor and erratic control. This is why most countries will put a limitation on flying too close to human populated areas.
Wait till crowds have thinned or choose some other less crowded sites for your shooting with the drone. This ensures both the safety of all persons present and the quality of any video you have taken.
Pay Attention To Venue Restrictions
There are several wedding venues which will regulate the use of drones during the celebration. Many may find it necessary to limit flying due to invasion of privacy, playback needs and zoning restrictions.
There are restrictions, and if you do not adhere to them, you may incur fines or be asked to stop filming. On the big day, you will feel like a superhero because you will have already done all the preparation needed for the venue’s regulations.
If due to restriction of the location, you are unable to achieve some stunning photographs, discuss with your photographer on other options.
Be Sure That Your Guests Are Aware Of Everything
If you plan to use a drone during the ceremony, kindly notify your guests about this ahead of time. The appearance and the noise of a drone may be quite frightening or disturbing for some people.
However, if you prepare them beforehand, then you may avoid tantrums and other unwanted behaviors during the shoot, especially from the kids. Make a simple suggestion or add some words in the wedding program so that the guests can understand and be prepared.
Moreover, you live the safe-clean of the day without the poking of an emergency airborne device that would have lusted pretty much all the guests.
Do Not Forget To Read The Drone Use Instruction
It may be great to use a few drone shots for a wedding video to make it more entertaining, however, do not overdo it. The video will be boring if the director opts to shoot from the air and uses too many aerial shots.
On the wedding day, only fly the drone at strategic moments. At dramatic moments like when the bride and groom are about to make an entrance or for an aerial photo of all the guests present, shoot with the droid for maximum effects. It also enhances the storytelling aspects of the video instead of taking over it.
Top Drone Wedding Videography Ideas
One magical way to treasure and cherish your memorable day is to take photos with the help of aerial drones. In case you want to use the magic of drone photography on your wedding day, here are some great ways to capture memories that will last a lifetime.
Bride’s Preparation For The Big Day
Begin the day with a first-light overhead view of the bride seen preparing for her big day with a breathtaking first-light up. In case the bridal preparations are held outdoors, for example, in the garden or by the pool, the drone can catch the affairs in a graceful way.
A panoramic shot from a drone at this time will make the bride appear to be a princess in her private little world. There are also quite a number of candid images that can be taken of the bride and her attendants in moments of laughter and joy.
There will be those spontaneous and unplanned shots that will serve to take some epic unscripted moments of the preliminaries as that great event called the ceremony draws ever closer.
First Look on A Lovely Landscape
The first reveal is one of the emotional highlights of a wedding. One method to enhance its visual impact is capturing it by drone. Help the couple to pose in an attractive location-a clearing in the woods, a mountaintop, a meadow, etc.
Set the drone at a good range, quite far, so as to capture the sweet embrace and the beautiful sights around. Because of this angle, the first gaze has significance as it is accompanied by the grandeur of the first view of the landscape. It brings out the connection of the two people perfectly amidst the beautiful scenery.
A Group Shot Of Guests Arranging In A Shape
Allow guests to be arranged in some shapes or letters to have great photographs as well. Attempt having everybody stand in a large heart shape or get a word spelled out like LOVE or the couple’s initials using the drone.
You cannot have all your loved ones in one picture unless it’s from a high perspective and it’s really enjoyable. The possibility to show the turnout is complemented by this particular action shot which I think is rather fun in that it also introduces some light elements and a hint of teamwork plus collaboration.
The guests will enjoy being part of this unusual shot and the final result will serve as a souvenir of the day for all of them.
Aerial Views Of The Grand Ceremony
To have a postcard-perfect wedding, capture the wedding set up from above. The happy couple can be circled by a drone, capturing views of the aisle, chairs and guests. It is very easy to comprehend the structure and the scale of the event from this point.
Pictures of the bride and groom from above can have beautiful scenery in the background, suitable for a wedding in a park or by the lake. The images add a dream-like sense to the place, as if it were something out of a hazy midnight thriller.
Abounding Nighttime Pictures Taken With Lanterns And Lights
As darkness sets in, understand the need for the drone for it must be used in delivering the magical feel of the wedding. The drone is also able to capture the beautiful outlines and soft flickering of your venue’s strings of lights, lanterns, or candles.
If you are out taking photos and some of your people feel like holding some little shimmer, you can arrange for a lantern release or some sparkles collection. When the light coming from the sunset and that coming from the artificial lights are all brought together, this is a very professional looking photo.
The pictures then acquire a more fairytale-like quality making it seem as if the evening celebrations were a fantasia and filled with a lot of joy.
Special Exit
From an overarching aerial photograph take the happy couple as they make their special exit. Drone is able to capture the entire event and scenery if the couple is going in a decorated car or a horse cart or simply walking hand in hand out.
Position the drone such that the angle of capture allows guests waving goodbye to the couple and the angle of their departure can also be captured. This gives one a sense of achievement and perhaps closure and the opening of fresh pages.
The image becomes even more vibrant and festive with the additional use of confetti, flower petals, or fireworks.
An Alternate Perspective On The Dance Floor
Use the drone to capture the partygoers as they dance. Shooting from above the dancers may incorporate the first dance of bride and groom or other artistic dancing concepts.
For that flat layered approach, the camera angle needs to be positioned in such a way that captures the entirety of the scene Though an attempt has been made for an even aerial strap the exaction provides a novel perspective and perceived paradigm of movement and interaction dynamics.
For outdoor venues the above shot can also include the entire venue while the dance floor is already used up which makes this shot not only beautiful but also quite effective capturing the spirit of the occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How are drones used for videography?
Drones present us with the beauty of natural locations and breathtaking aerial photography which is very difficult to achieve while standing on floor shots. These dynamic images are created using exquisite cameras associated with modern stabilizers, which make it obligatory to film from many different levels and angles.
Can I take a video on a drone?
Yes, it is indeed possible to film from a drone. Drones are getting smaller and cheaper with the incorporation of advanced cameras. Its perspectives are comparable with the ones from expensive equipment like dollies or even cranes, and this is the reason why drones are fast becoming a must-have for producers and directors who wish to take their works to the next level as soon as possible.
How to make drone footage look cinematic?
Obtaining stable, smooth footage, is essential if utilizing a drone is to obtain a cinematic look. For a sex speech to be professional, slow and controlled motions must be carried out. Don’t do these or avoid doing such backlash pan and jerky camera movements. Always plan your shots beforehand and for drone videos, make use of the gimbal to stead the drone while shooting.
How do you make cool videos with a drone?
To enhance the attention of your films, consider flying lower to the ground or even through narrow places such as under the bridge or through the cavity of the building. It is advisable to take pictures from such angles that the camera is tilted downwards. These methods may allow for a mix of exquisite views and action in the case of that movie.
Final Decision
In this day and age, drones have revolutionized videography, making previously impossible bird-eye views and angles achievable with ease. They capture enormous areas as well as very fine details of the structure in frame.
Thus, with our wedding video with drone guide and tips, we hope that you have got some wonderful ideas to make your wedding videography better than ever!