Booking a wedding photographer is high on the list of things to do when planning a wedding. Family and guests are likely to take their own pictures on the day, but this is no substitute for a professional wedding photographer. One of the additional services some professionals are beginning to offer is aerial photography with a drone, and this is worth considering if you have a suitable venue.
Using a drone for wedding photography opens up exciting creative possibilities. Photographs and video footage shot from the air have a cinematic quality, and there’s no better way to capture the grandeur of a wedding venue. Large groups of guests shot from above look more interesting than traditional lines of people shot from the ground. Wedding photography with a drone is becoming increasingly popular, but there are some things you should consider before booking a service. The following tips will help you understand the things you should know about drone wedding photography.
1) Not all wedding venues are drone friendly. Unmanned aircraft are still a relatively new development, and not all wedding venues will permit them to be flown.
Noise, invasion of privacy and the risk of damage to property or injury to people are some of the concerns. It may be possible to convince your venue to allow the use of a drone if your photographer agrees to work within specified guidelines. A professional drone pilot will operate to a health and safety policy, and this should satisfy most venues that the risks are minimal.
2) Drone photography will be an additional cost. Traditional wedding photographers are beginning to offer aerial coverage, but it usually comes at a cost. A photographer may hire in a drone pilot rather than invest in his own aircraft, equipment and training. Limiting the aerial photography to a few specific shots is one way of keeping the costs down.
3) Drones can be disruptive. Video footage captured from the air has a serene quality, but the aircraft recording it can be noisy and disruptive. The engine and propellers are particularly noisy during take-off and landing. It’s not a good idea to have a done in the area during the wedding ceremony or other intimate moments during the day. Give the aircraft operator specific times when the drone should be on the ground.
4) You must schedule time for aerial photography. Most wedding days run to a tight schedule, so consider if there’s time within this specifically for aerial shots. It takes time to organize guests and arrange groups, and this will be in addition to the work a wedding photographer will carry out on the ground. There are also health and safety issues for a drone pilot to consider when working with people, and this adds to the time required.
5) Unmanned aircraft can’t fly in all weather conditions. With very few exceptions, drones can’t be flown in the rain. Water and electronics don’t mix. Smaller aircraft can’t fly when winds are gusting, and fog and mist can also present challenges. When booking a drone wedding photography service, remember that weather conditions may result in cancellation by the pilot on the day.
Developments in drone technology offer an exciting new way to capture memories of your wedding day. Aerial photography should be regarded as an additional service rather than a replacement for a ground-based wedding photographer. If you have the budget, wedding photography with a drone is a unique way to record moments from your special day.
Comments