Diving into the art of aerial drone photography offers a unique and captivating perspective. As audiovisual experts, we guide you through the secrets of a successful image. Go beyond the limits of the ground, master the flight and capture breathtaking views. Learn to play with light to bring your photos to life, think about composition to tell a visual story and improve your skills in post-processing for a made optimal. Get inspired by our images: your next piece of aerial art is just a propeller beat away!
Choosing the right equipment
Select your drone
The choice of drone is the fundamental step for a successful aerial photo. Opt for a high-performance model proves essential. We must favor those equipped with a quality radio control, which offers perfect control of movements and thus allows precise shots. We also recommend using a drone with a very good integrated or optional monitor to view in real time what the camera is capturing.
- Drone with precise radio control
- Good integrated or optional monitor
- Long-lasting battery
- Powerful motors for flight stability
The Marseille operator Drone-Pictures, for example, uses high-performance professional drones .
Optimize camera settings
The second crucial step is the optimal adjustment of the camera attached to the drone. Considering that each lens has its own technical and artistic characteristics, it is appropriate to adapt the parameters according to the type of photos to be taken: urban or natural landscape; big plan ; night scene etc. These include :
- The choice of mode (manual or automatic)
- Adjusting the diaphragm (to control the depth of field)
- Adjusting the exposure time (to manage crazy motion)
- White balance calibration (to manage colors)
So, with a high-performance drone and a well-adjusted camera, the sky becomes your new artistic playground.
Mastering the flight
Mastering drone flight is essential to taking a successful aerial photo. Altitude, speed, direction and trajectory are all parameters to take into account when piloting.
Altitude is a key factor in gaining a unique perspective on your subject. High altitude allows for impressive images to be captured; however, care must be taken to comply with local regulations on the use of drones.
The hovering of the drone is imperative in aerial photos. This guarantees a sharp and perfectly framed image. But the total stability of the drone also allows shooting at slow speed in order to keep the image an effect of movement, as for example for cars in a city at night.
Direction and trajectory are two fundamental elements in composing your photo from the skies. It is therefore advisable to plan your route carefully so that each move is thought out and contributes to creating a harmonious composition.
Let’s not forget that stability is essential during flight to avoid any vibration that could affect the quality of your images. Gentle and precise steering is necessary to ensure this stability.
Mastering these different variables will undoubtedly allow you to take full advantage of the potential offered by your drone to take spectacular aerial photos.
Manage lighting
Play with natural light
Controlling lighting is fundamental in aerial photography. Brightness, contrast and shadows are elements to consider to create a beautiful photo. We must learn to play with natural light in order to obtain perfect intensity and impressive visual results. Backlighting, although it may seem like an obstacle at first, can be exploited to give relief and depth to your images. For this, you need a good lens on your on-board camera!
Take advantage of different times of day
Each hour of the day offers a different quality of light. Dawn brings unparalleled softness, while dusk gives warm, golden hues that can enhance your aerial shot. Remember that the intensity of light also changes throughout the day: it is strongest in mid-afternoon but can produce sharp shadows. In summer, the light is too harsh and too white between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. So avoid this time slot and adapt to the seasons. Learn how to exploit these variations to capture the very essence of a landscape from different lighting angles.
Think composition
Master aerial framing
The art of framing in aerial photography is decisive for the success of your shots. In drone, it is a dance between the device and its environment, which requires careful composition. Perspective plays a crucial role in visual balance: from a low angle or on the horizontal plane, it offers new angles and enriches your work. The drone is a fantastic creative tool. Take advantage of this freedom to position it precisely where you want it! Don’t leave anything to chance in your composition, because remember: it’s these little details that make all the difference between aerial photographers!
Find original points of view
Drones offer a unique opportunity to explore innovative angles. For example, a diagonal shot can reveal details usually unnoticeable from the ground. It is this ability to offer new visions that is the strength of promotional videos produced with a drone: they captivate with their originality and their unparalleled dynamism.
Carry out careful post-processing
Carrying out careful post-processing is a crucial step in producing a successful aerial drone photo. This process, often neglected by beginners, allows you to enhance your images and give them a unique artistic dimension, provided you have taken the photo in Raw or Dng format. Only the Raw file will allow the photographer to access a vast range of parameters to work on a computer in software such as the famous Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. The Jpeg format is not recommended for retouching because it offers very little adjustment margin. For example, an overexposed photo in Jpeg will remain so, whereas in Raw, you can compensate up to +/- 3EV (aperture)!
Editing begins the moment you transfer your photos to your computer. At this stage, it is appropriate to carefully analyze each image in order to identify possible improvements through different parameters such as brightness , contrast or even framing.
Editing is then a privileged moment to refine your creation. It consists of precisely adjusting essential elements such as:
Saturation : it gives pep to your colors and can transform a bland image into a real work of art.
Contrast: it offers depth and relief to your composition.
Sharpness: it highlights the details of your photograph for a professional result.
Exposure : it ensures the balance between light and dark areas throughout the image.
Also, don’t hesitate to play with special filters or effects to bring your artistic vision to life. The secret lies above all in the balance between these different elements. A great aerial photo isn’t just beautiful; it also tells a story thanks to the meticulous work done in post-processing.
Examples of photos taken by Drone-Pictures
The magic of aerial shots
We love taking sublime aerial photographs captured with our professional drones because they always reveal a new perspective, revealing the hidden beauty of the world seen from above, and in particular of our city of Marseille and by extension the sublime Provence region. Each image is a living painting, a visual symphony that harmoniously mixes colors and shapes to create a unique work.
The secret to the most beautiful shots lies in the ability to capture the perfect moment, where light dances across the landscape and transforms an ordinary frame into an extraordinary vision. From majestic mountains to the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, from lavender fields to hilltop villages, each photograph is a sensory journey that sparks the imagination! You too, with a little practice, and a lot of experimentation and of passion, will soon be happy to photograph your environment by drone! Contemplating these images after a flight session is a pure delight, where the magic happens, as long as you have followed the few tips above.
Professional know-how: The key to a successful image
Beyond the sophisticated equipment we use at Drone-Pictures, our professional know-how makes all the difference. Our team of audiovisual professionals not only have in-depth technical knowledge but also a keen artistic sense which allows them to compose original images.
Each shot is meticulously planned and precisely executed to ensure that every detail is faithfully captured. By using different flying and framing techniques, we are able to elevate aerial photography to its highest level of excellence.
If you would like to discover other aerial photographs captured by Drone-Pictures, go to our information page dedicated to our drone photography services.
