Drones take spectacular photos and videos, but are they worth the extra cash to have one capture your wedding? Drone photography is rising in popularity, which is no surprise if you've seen the breath taking shots these flying machines can capture. But if you're still puzzled or skeptical about aerial photography, and the pros and cons of having one shoot your wedding photos, read on! We share some much-needed drone know-how!
Image Source via Stories From Above
Drones can be disruptive - Drones are not quiet things. They have propellers and engines, and they make noise. The last thing you’d want is a drone whirring away during an emotional moment. Always set down drones during the ceremony to avoid interruptions during the important bits.
Extra cost: Most photographers charge extra for drone coverage and this amount depends on the number of drones you need. In general drones coverage cost between 10,000-15,000 per day
Safety First - Safety is the most important thing to keep in mind if you plan to hire a drone. Drones are essentially mini-helicopters with cameras, so if the drone operator isn't a properly trained professional, you risk having any number of accidents on your hands (none of which you would ever want, but especially not on your wedding day!).
Drone Friendly Venues – It’s not safe to fly a drone everywhere. On the no-go list: indoor venues, areas with lots of massive trees, tented weddings and anywhere with overhead wires and too many telephone poles. For obvious reason, drones aren’t conducive for indoor venues. Also, not all places allow drones. Be sure to consult your venue on their drone policy beforehand.
Take Advantage – Drones elevate your normal, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to a memory that will never ever be forgotten! Take advantage of it. Strategize your photos and videos with your photographers on the ones you would want to capture. Are you tying the knot in palace in Udaipur? Imagine looking through your wedding album on your 20th anniversary and having a sweeping aerial snapshot of your venue. So cool!
Image Source via Stories From Above
No Audio – Remember, drones can’t capture audio so if you are trying to capture film on it with audio it won’t work. Drones should always augment and never interfere, so definitely stay away from close-ups
Keep the weather in mind - Drones are pretty tough, but they're still electronic devices, so that means no flying in heavy rain or crazy winds (over 25 miles per hour). The good news is that cold weather won't deter them. The drone likes cold air because it's denser so you get more lift. You can actually get a couple more minutes of flight time in winter because the aircraft flies more efficiently!
Go Crazy - Since drones are so versatile, you'll be able to get creative with your wedding shots. Gather your guests on the lawn to spell out words or organize them in other fun ways. You can capture several incredible, emotional moments that wouldn't be possible to get from the ground, like the bride and her father starting their walk while the groom waits at the altar or mandap—all in one shot. (We get choked up just thinking about it!) The contrast between the intimacy of those moments and the epic grandeur of the vista makes these shots so spectacular.
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Make Time - Make sure you have serious time to capture shots. It takes time to grab the beautiful aerial view shots. And you’ve got to be strategic. It doesn’t make sense to opt for drones if you are on a cut to cut schedule.
Extra Charges – Just because you have seen a particular photographer use a drone in another wedding, don’t assume that he has included that charge in your quotation. You need to ask photographers/videographers for drone shooting, and they will then let you know the extra charges. Just like airbrushing in makeup!
