The Lifecycle of a Drone Photo
Updated: Oct 3, 2024
I've been taking drone portraits for about 2 years now, and I've noticed a pattern with the process of a drone photo from idea to the final product. Below, you can find the common steps and how those manifested into particular shots.
Step 1: Initial Idea
My initial ideas for a drone photo can come from many different sources: an outfit, a location, a story, etc. Sometimes, the ideas just pop into my head, seemingly out of nowhere. Whenever I think an idea has merit, I'll quickly jot it down in my phone in a notebook called "Drone Ideas".
Here's an example of an idea that stemmed from a location:
The walls of a parking garage staircase with large glass windows got painted in vibrant colors, so that every floor was a different color. I imagined positioning 1 person on each floor to coordinate with the colors and shoot through the glass.
As an example of a photo idea that was created from a story, I wanted to create an image that was the epitome of "summer fun" for kids. I thought having a few kids lounging on floaties in a pool and playing with a beach ball could create something really cool.
Step 2: Research & Planning After the idea comes to me, the real work starts.
First, I have to figure out if the location I want has restrictions or airspace regulations that prevent me from using it or flying a drone. If the location is too close to an airport, I have to file for an airspace waiver. If it's on private property, I have to make some calls and hope for a friendly response. Secondly, I have to determine the time of day or type of weather needed to do the shoot. For example, when I did a shoot in an all-glass overpass, I knew I had to do the shoot on a cloudy day to avoid harsh shadows from the beams.
Next, I have to determine the props, outfits, and any other supplies that would be needed for the shot and whether or not I can get those supplies while staying within a reasonable budget.
Finally, I do a test flight. Countless times, I've thought a photo would look so cool from the air, only to get the drone up and see that the scene is completely "blah". Other times, I discover that an unplanned spot looks way cooler than the one I was planning and change my ideas accordingly.
Many ideas get thrown out in this second stage because they won't work for one reason or another. I should have an "idea graveyard" with all my sketches of ideas that never saw the light...
Step 3: Model Call
For each idea I have, there's a specific kind person or set of people that I need to pull it off.
For a photo shoot at the Sunken Gardens, I knew I wanted someone with a dance background who had natural grace and could hold complicated poses for an extended period of time.
For a boat photo, I needed a mother and daughter who were good swimmers and not afraid of lying on a modified boat with no way to control it. (We had them attached to a rope, so they couldn't float away.) :)
Step 4: Shoot & Iterate Even with all the planning, scouting, and communication, things don't always go as planned on photo day. The wind is blowing at 25+ mph I get interrupted by bystanders who want to chat about their own drones and YouTube followers
The lighting suddenly changes as a storm comes in or the clouds clear out
The frozen lake that I was going to shoot on has melted overnight
The list goes on and on. Sometimes, those changes that happen give us even more beautiful results. For example, 40+ mph wind gusts can do some beautiful things to a dress...
Step 5: Finishing Touches
The final stage of a drone shot is the editing. Drone images often look pretty dull straight out-of-camera with not a lot of contrast.
A little editing can go a long way to bring that life back to the image. Editing is also essential to remove distractions or imperfections and maybe even add a little magic.
I hope that gave you a little insight into my creative process for drone photos. If you ever want to make your own ideas come to life, give me a holler!
-Bonnie
