It’s 2019, and drone videography isn’t the “next big thing” anymore- it’s certainly here to stay. With that said, everyone wants aerial views of their business or property but without the added stress of figuring out how to fly a drone without crashing. Is it possible to achieve these results without breaking your marketing budget? The answer is yes. Ever since the inception of FAA Part 107 (better known as the 2016 commercial drone regulations), we’ve captured companies and employees alike from a bird’s eye view for a wide array of uses. As long as your office resides outside of the 5 statue mile radius (or ‘No Fly Zone’) from a major airport, we can help you get that aerial video footage. And if you are within this range, helicopter tours are certainly an option.
Before diving in, it needs to be mentioned that we cannot predict the weather. While the drone will work in cold temperatures and winds up to 20 MPH, it’s certainly not going to make your location look its best. In New England, we’ve noticed clients want their properties filmed during the late summer/early fall, when the foliage is at its peak. We’d recommend you take shots during a preferred time of year, and then keep the assets in your back pocket.
Now that mother nature has been spoken for, here are three ways to utilize drone photo/video capabilities.
Establishing Shots
In almost any marketing or company video, the first few seconds establish where we are. Unless the setting is downtown in a major metropolitan area, this shot is usually an exterior of a building. It is much more energizing to see a flyover of a building, farm, or shop than the basic low angle “tilt down” move that many videographers are guilty of taking. A flyover of a college campus on a spring day says a lot more about the school than a shot of the sign and logo out front.
Construction/Renovation Processes
Something that’s just as amazing to the eye as the shiny new addition to your company’s campus, is the process it took to get there. Drone technology is getting to the point now where you can create a pre-determined path, and fly it multiple times. These flights can happen days, weeks, or months apart and distinctly capture the same flight path over and over. How cool would it be to see an aerial orbit of the construction process that showcases all phases in just a single loop? Now you can.
Tracking Text, Stats, or Subjects
Depending on your audience, white pages of percentages and stats are an easy way for people to tune out. Instead, try recording some smooth flyover shots where you can employ motion graphics and animation to track titles, statistics, or any other on-screen graphic. Anything above the horizon line is a blank canvas for larger amounts of text, and anything below is good for icons and shapes. This technique also works well if you’re flying directly over your subject, with the camera pointing straight down. A street, field, or body of water is typically homogenous enough to use for these things. Each environment has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, so use your best judgement.
Finally, like anything else, drone shots are great in moderation. Part of what makes them look so unique is that they’re juxtaposed with closer shots, and the contrast is what the audience likes to see. Use them, but don’t abuse them.
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