Flying Into Aerial Drone Photography
Not too long ago I decided to purchase a drone after weeks and weeks of research, questions, and doubts I finally lamented and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Impressions
Drones are fun to fly, you will inevitably have strangers approach you, ask you questions, and inquire about cost, how fast it can go, distance and everything in between. I purchased the Mavic Pro manufactured by DJI, I chose this drone based on how compact it is. When folded up the drone can fit in the palm of my hands. When I’m ready to go out I throw it in my back pack, unpack at my location, take aerial pictures, pack up and go. I cant stress the convenience of having a drone that fits in a standard back pack with the added benefit of aerial shots.
The camera on this drone is incredible, here are the camera specs followed by some of my shots.
Camera Specifications
Sensor 1/2.3” (CMOS), Effective pixels:12.35 M (Total pixels:12.71M)
ISO Range video: 100–3200
Electronic Shutter Speed 8s -1/8000 s
Image Size 4000×3000
Still Photography Modes Single shot
Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames
Video Recording Modes
C4K: 4096×2160 24p
4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p
2.7K: 2720x1530 24/25/30p
FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/96p
HD: 1280×720 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p
Max Video Bitrate 60 Mbps
Supported File Systems FAT32 ( ≤ 32 GB ); exFAT ( > 32 GB )
Photo JPEG, DNG
Video MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)
Supported SD Cards Micro SD™
Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required
I shoot my images in raw format for more flexibility in post processing.



Learning to Fly
Learning to navigate the drone was not too difficult for me because I had someone with experience show me how to fly for my first time. One thing that I can call out is the controller and all its functionalities. It can be intimidating trying to fly, take pictures, and not crashing because there is a lot of information being presented from the controller. I would recommend utilizing the Flight Simulator option in the DJI Go App which has flight tutorials, and videos to help guide you on your way to flying.
If you decide to purchase a drone I would recommend…..
- Research, research, research! Seriously get on youtube and watch the various drone videos, you will be inspired, encouraged, and have questions answered you haven’t thought of.
- Identify your purpose / needs in purchasing a drone.
You don’t want to purchase this device without having a reason as to why, otherwise it’ll sit and collect dust. I have a background in photography so for me getting into aerial photography was an organic transition. - Identify your budget, drones and their accessories can be pricey, my Mavic Pro drone came in @ $999.00
- Figure out your outlet, your pictures and videos will be great, trust me! Figure out where you want to publish your drone pictures and videos. Post your pictures so you can gather feedback, get inspiration and continue to improve! A few places I can recommend are Instagram and Unsplash
- Wherever you decide to shoot video / pictures take a moment to observe the area / airspace before you start flying. This will give you an idea of who is around, how busy the airspace is and any safety concerns that may arise. Take this time to also plan out your flying route and make a plan on how to best execute your pictures / videos.


Accessories / Upgrades
- Polarpro ND filters
I highly recommend the purchase of a filter if video / photography is your thing, these filters will make a world of difference in your photography. Below is a description of when to use and what these filters are for.

ND4/PL Filter (1.31g): This filter reduces the camera’s shutter speed by 2 f-stops and polarizes light. Use this filter most often when filming at dusk or dawn, or on cloudy days.
ND8/PL Filter (1.31g): Reducing the camera’s shutter speed by 3 f-stops, the ND8/PL is the perfect filter for partly cloudy days. The polarizing aspect of this filter reduces glare and increases color saturation.
ND16/PL Filter (1.31g): Our go to filter when it is sunny out, the ND16/PL reduces shutter speed by 4 f-stops and polarizes the scene for capturing vivid colors on bright sunny days.
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- Batteries
I purchased 2 additional batteries but you will need at least 1 extra to the one that comes with the drone. With a flight time of 27 minutes in non windy conditions I find myself burning through at least 2 of the batteries when I go flying - Carrying Case
I purchased the DJI Mavic Soft Case which holds my drone and all its accessories. The case fits the Mavic, remote, 2 batteries, filters and best of all it’s a Lifetime Warranty!


Close Out
Adding a drone to my photography arsenal has inspired me to go to new places, try new ways of photography and share these experiences. Drones are here to stay, they are fun, and can produce some great pictures / videos and I’m happy about my purchase, I hope I can inspire others to get into this field and I’m looking forward to seeing what others have to offer!

