Contributed by Max Harrison.
In recent years, becoming a professional photographer has never been easier as photography gear and education have become more accessible and affordable. For this reason, local photography markets have been overly saturated, and competition is stiff.
In order to get ahead of your competition, you should think innovatively and incorporate new tools that can boost your career and improve your portfolio. One such tool is a photography drone, which can help you take stunning images and footage, increase your skillset, and give you a leg up on the competition — no matter your specialisation or niche. If you’re keen on adding a drone to your photography arsenal, here are five things you should first consider before buying one.
CAA Permission
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) oversees all aspects of aviation in the UK. Drones are covered by the CAA and using one for commercial purposes necessitates permission from the corporation. In this regard, it’ll do you well to prepare and obtain certificates that prove your competency as a drone pilot. Organisations such as EuroUSC and Resource Group provide training and certification for those who want to apply for a CAA drone permission. During training, you’ll be taught the aviation rules for drones, as well as all the things you need to know to safely fly your photography drone.
Your Budget
The price of a drone depends on the specs and features attached to it. Drones on the lower end of the price spectrum tend to be less stable and harder to manoeuvre — resulting in low-quality images and footage. On the other hand, drones with special features that permit them to fly smoothly and remain stable in the air can put a dent in your pocket. So if you really want to add a drone to your photography gear list, be sure to do your due diligence and find one that fits your budget and satisfies your needs the best.
Type of Drone
It’s important to note that not all drones are the same. When buying a drone, it’ll do you well to be familiar with the different types to ensure that you’re getting one that boosts your craft the most. Below, we’ve listed some of them:
RTF or Ready-to-Fly. Most drones that you see in the market are RTF drones. These types of drones are the most convenient as they can be used once you’ve installed the propellers and batteries.
BNF or Bind-to-Fly. These types of drones don’t come with controllers, so you’ll have to purchase them separately or download a compatible app on your phone. However, these do come completely assembled.
ARF or Almost-Ready-to-Fly. If you plan on owning a photography drone that’s completely tailored to your needs, an ARF drone is for you. These drone kits don’t come with receivers, motors, transmitters, controllers, or batteries. However, these can be customised to your specific flying needs.
FPV or First-Person-Video. The great thing about these types of drones is that you can see the footage on the camera in real-time — allowing you to always capture a perfectly framed shot.
Flight Time
Toy drones have notoriously short flight times. However, drones that can be used for professional photography, such as the DJI Inspire 2 and DJI Phantom 4, can last at least half an hour in the air. This can be attributed to the advancements in PCB design, which allows devices to use high power delivery systems without any malfunction. These, in turn, have made it possible to fly drones for long periods of excursions — something that you can’t get out of cheaper and smaller toy drones. If you really want to maximise a drone’s flight time, carefully map out the photos and footage that you want to take.
Adding a drone to your list of photography gear can get you ahead in today’s competitive market and enhance your photography skills. For more photography tips and insights on how to make it as a professional photographer, be sure to check our other blog posts.
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