Experimentation is the birth of innovation. In our ever progressing technological society, it’s no secret that we have advanced a great deal in only a small amount of time. The development has led to some amazing breakthroughs, including the topic of this conversation: drones. Drones are a new hot commodity in the media world, namely for getting landscape videos. However, today, I want to explore the prospect of using drones to accomplish the task of wedding photos. For the record, this is not an endorsement of using only drones, but a thought experiment that could lead somewhere interesting. So without further ado, let’s dive in.
Are Drones Compatible with Wedding Photography?
Drone photography is an incredibly useful tool and a major trend in the industry. Its use has become extremely common in practice, especially for stock photography and videography. According to Expert Photography (2024), GoPro cameras can be mounted to drones and some include a camera capable of taking pictures in 5472×3648 resolution, which is comparable to a 3:2 aspect ratio. Smartphones and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras utilize the 3:2 aspect ratio, which are the most commonly available cameras on the market. Not to mention, DSLR cameras are what the vast majority of wedding photographers utilize for their craft. Which means that it is compatible. However, in the case of wedding photography, drones are best utilized as auxiliary means of taking photos rather than a primary means, which means establishing shots and the like.
Consider Your Shot List
The use of drones are pretty common for landscape shots, as I mentioned previously, which means they are excellent for overhead imagery. Outdoor weddings are the best for the use of drones. I can imagine that was relatively intuitive, although I’m sure someone would try to use drones for an indoor wedding somewhere. Anyways, when using drones for outdoor weddings, their best uses are for group shots, showing off the setup, and promoting the venue. But the most important part is that these drone shots should complement your boots-on-the-ground photography, which are indelibly the most important factor of the wedding day.
Regulations and Compliance
Now, one thing that I absolutely must inform you about is the regulations regarding the use of drones and UAVs. This was something I discovered while researching this topic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has strict regulations regarding the use of drones in unauthorized airspace. There are designated locations known as “no drone zones”. Most of these are relatively common sense locations such as flying drones near airports or within a 15-mile perimeter of Washington D.C., however, there are some no–fly zones around national parks and nature reserves as well (Johnson, 2022). Essentially, what I am saying is that it is vital that you do your research about the venues and any FAA regulations within the area. Otherwise, it could resort in violation fines upwards of $10k (Rupprecht, 2022). Needless to say, you do not want to violate the FAA regulations while on the job.
While I pursued this topic as more of a thought experiment, I was not surprised to discover that this practice has been considered previously, although still a recent development. However, the information here is only the beginning of the conversation, as many others have done a much more thorough job in covering the subject. I think in the future, I will be keeping my finger on the pulse of this trend, so I can better cover it in the future. I hope that I may have added something to your day!
Warmest regards,
Logan Clark
Works Cited
“How to Take Drone Photos: A Complete Guide.” Expert Photography, 13 March 2024, https://expertphotography.com/the-complete-guide-to-drone-photography-73-tips/. Accessed 17 May 2024.
Johnson, Chapelle. “9 Drone Wedding Photography Basics to Know.” The Knot, 25 February 2022, https://www.theknot.com/content/drone-wedding-photography. Accessed 17 May 2024.
Rupprecht, Jonathan. “FAA Has Busted Multiple Drone Flyers. Here Are The Expensive Results.” Forbes, 18 January 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanrupprecht/2022/01/18/faa-busted-multiple-drone-flyers-here-are-the-expensive-results/?sh=7fce21d6413d. Accessed 17 May 2024.