10 Ways to Take Great Looking Drone Shots

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1 Look at your location on a map.

2 Turn your camera to the highest resolution possible.

3 Shoot during sunset or sunrise.

4 Take a variety of different shots.

5 Keep your camera movements slow and steady.

6 Fly closer to large objects in sport mode.

7 Move forward and backward for smooth shots.

8 Go above or around an object for a big reveal.

9 Turn on tracking mode to stick with a moving object.

10 Zoom in to add drama.

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Co-authored by Jear Keokham and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Whether you’re new to drones or you’ve had one for a while, taking cinematic shots is no easy feat. Shooting from the air is much different than shooting from the ground, and using a drone to get stunning shots can come with a steep learning curve. However, with just a little bit of practice and a lot of patience, you can take beautiful drone shots to impress your friends and family.

Steps

1

Look at your location on a map.

1. 
   It’s hard to know where to fly if you aren’t sure about the landscape around you. Spend a few minutes on your phone or a computer exploring the area before you head out.

   • If you don’t have time to look on a map (or you forgot to), send your drone up to explore the area before you worry about getting good shots.
   • You can look for good scenery, dangerous objects to avoid, and the best light source.
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2

Turn your camera to the highest resolution possible.

1. 
   This will make your editing job much easier. Head into the settings on your phone while it’s attached to your drone, then turn the video size all the way up.

   • The resolution varies from drone to drone. The highest resolution available now is 4k video, or Ultra HD.
   • If you’re filming in slow motion, go down to 1080P for smoother shots.

3

Shoot during sunset or sunrise.

1. 
   This will really give your shots a cinematic feel. Turn your drone away from the sun to capture the beauty of nature.

   • You can shoot at any time of the day, but sunset and sunrise are the prettiest.
   • As you plan your shots, think about where the sun will be coming from. If the light is shining directly into your drone, you might not be able to see anything at all.
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4

Take a variety of different shots.

1. 
   Make the most out of your drone battery while it lasts. Get a few shots up high, a few shots down low, some fast ones, some slow ones, and whatever else you can. The bigger variety you have, the more shots you’ll get to choose from in the editing process.

   • Drone batteries usually only last between 15 and 25 minutes, so make the most of it while you can!
   • You can also try taking still shots if you’d like photographs instead of videos.
   • It’s a good idea to bring multiple batteries out with you. That way, you don’t have to wait for one to charge before sending your drone up again.

5

Keep your camera movements slow and steady.

1. 
   Jerky, abrupt motions don’t look good in cinematic shots. Set up your camera angle, then don’t touch the joystick until the shot is over.

   • Try not to fly your drone too fast! If the scene looks blurry on screen, it won’t be a good shot.
   • This is especially important if you’re shooting a subject that’s fairly close to your drone.
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6

Fly closer to large objects in sport mode.

1. 
   Most drones have safety features preventing them from getting near objects. If you want to zoom in and around large buildings or structures, go into sport mode on your drone app.

   • Use extreme caution when flying in sport mode! Your drone won’t automatically stop when it gets near an object, so you can crash.
   • You can also fly much faster and make sharper turns in sport mode.
   • Test out sport mode in an open field before you try it near any large, dangerous objects.

7

Move forward and backward for smooth shots.

1. 
   This is one of the most simple shots you can do. Pick a large, open area, then slowly press your joystick forward for a fluid shot.

   • This is a great way to get an establishing shot that reveals the entire area you’re in.
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8

Go above or around an object for a big reveal.

1. 
   Think of it as the opening to a movie. Pick a large object, like a castle or a hill, then fly your drone around it to reveal the city or the sprawling countryside.

   • This is a great way to get practice with moving around large objects.
   • Again, you want to keep your camera angle steady here. Set up your shot, then move the drone, not the lens.

9

Turn on tracking mode to stick with a moving object.

1. 
   You can follow a person, a car, or an animal. Head into the settings on your drone app, then turn on “tracking.” Put a moving object in the camera’s field of view, then let the drone fly on its own.

   • This is a perfect way to pull focus onto one object within the area.
   • Most drones fly around 40 to 50 MPH, so you can follow an object going up to that speed.
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10

Zoom in to add drama.

1. 
   A slow zoom can take your shot to the next level. If you’re filming a wide shot, try adding a super slow zoom by using the drone app on your phone.

   • Make the zoom super subtle. If it’s too quick, it could look jarring on camera.
   • You can also use most video editors to add a zoom after you shoot.

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  How do you make cool drone shots?

  

  Jear Keokham
  Marketing Expert

  Jear Keokham is a Marketing Professional and the Director of Operations and Creative Strategy at Aerial Canvas, a full-service agency providing real estate marketing solutions in California. With 6 years of experience and education, he specializes in marketing strategy, content production, creative processes, and organizational systems. Jear holds a BA in Art with a Minor in History of Art from The University of California, Berkeley. His dedication to high-quality photography, cinematography, and aerial drone services has allowed for Aerial Canvas’ work to be featured on various platforms including Compass, Sotheby's, Coldwell Banker Realty, and Vanguard.

  

  Jear Keokham

  Marketing Expert

  Expert Answer

  Try not to move the camera around at all when you go forward or backward. The steadier the camera angle, the smoother the shot will be.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  Do I need a drone as a freelance filmogropher?

  

  Jear Keokham
  Marketing Expert

  Jear Keokham is a Marketing Professional and the Director of Operations and Creative Strategy at Aerial Canvas, a full-service agency providing real estate marketing solutions in California. With 6 years of experience and education, he specializes in marketing strategy, content production, creative processes, and organizational systems. Jear holds a BA in Art with a Minor in History of Art from The University of California, Berkeley. His dedication to high-quality photography, cinematography, and aerial drone services has allowed for Aerial Canvas’ work to be featured on various platforms including Compass, Sotheby's, Coldwell Banker Realty, and Vanguard.

  

  Jear Keokham

  Marketing Expert

  Expert Answer

  It's not mandatory, but it definitely helps. You can capture so many different angles and perspectives with a drone that you'll have a lot more freedom if you get one.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  How do I keep the drone stable?

  

  Jear Keokham
  Marketing Expert

  Jear Keokham is a Marketing Professional and the Director of Operations and Creative Strategy at Aerial Canvas, a full-service agency providing real estate marketing solutions in California. With 6 years of experience and education, he specializes in marketing strategy, content production, creative processes, and organizational systems. Jear holds a BA in Art with a Minor in History of Art from The University of California, Berkeley. His dedication to high-quality photography, cinematography, and aerial drone services has allowed for Aerial Canvas’ work to be featured on various platforms including Compass, Sotheby's, Coldwell Banker Realty, and Vanguard.

  

  Jear Keokham

  Marketing Expert

  Expert Answer

  Usually, people will either hire a pilot to operate the drone for them, or they'll use something called "tripod mode" to keep the drone stable. That kind of stabilizing feature is only available on certain models, though.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Tips

• Keep practicing! The more you shoot your drone, the better you’ll get.
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Warnings

• Be careful when shooting in sport mode. When the safety features are off, you could crash your drone.
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