Aside from the obvious benefits of being able to shoot photos and videos from the air, drones provide a new dimension of visual storytelling for live events. The ability to capture shots that are otherwise unattainable—and the flexibility to get them quickly—is what sets drone video and photography for live events apart from other aerial videos. Whether you’re shooting small concerts, private corporate events or large public gatherings, incorporating drone video and photography into your production can greatly enhance your final product.

Why Are Drones Great for Live Events?

Aerial photography and videography is still a relatively new practice, and using drones for live events is even newer. So why should you consider using them for your next gig? Here are just a few reasons why drone video and photography are an awesome addition to your live event production. Live events are unscripted, unpredictable and fast-moving. Drones allow you to be flexible, adaptable and quickly respond to changing circumstances. This is essential in live events because you never know what’s going to happen. You can’t be over-prepared; it’s just not practical. Drones allow you to capture shots you would never be able to get any other way. They provide a fresh perspective that is both exciting and dramatic. Just one or two shots from a drone can make your entire production stand out. Drones are also a great way to shoot aerial B-roll as well as get different angles on elements within your scene without having to place yourself in dangerous or uncomfortable positions.

What Type of Drone Should You Use for Live Events?

Simply put, if you’re using a drone at a live event, you want the best quality footage you can get. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all drone for all situations, so you want to find the drone that’s best for your needs. There are many different options for drones, but you should always consider a professional drone with a licensed pilot. For the best possible footage, you should fly with a professional-grade drone. These drones are designed to be as operator-friendly as possible and have a lot of built-in features that improve image quality, stability and ease of use. You’ll also need an FAA Part 107 commercial drone license to fly these drones in public.

Drone Footage Options

If you don’t have a plan for the footage you shoot from the drone, you’re wasting a great opportunity. Here are a few ways you can use drone footage in your live event production. – B-Roll: B-roll is any shot that’s not the primary subject of a scene. This can include shots of the venue, the crowd, etc. Using a drone for B-roll footage is a great way to add variety and visual interest to your shots. – Cutaways: Cutaways are images that are used to transition from one scene to the next. They provide a quick visual reference to build continuity throughout your production. You can also use drone B-roll as cutaways to build a visual story throughout your video. – Close-Ups: Using a drone to get close-up shots of your main subjects is a great way to bring them to life and showcase the emotion behind them. You can also use a drone to get close-up shots of props, special effects and more to add a different perspective to your scene.

Drone Video and Photography Basics

With the footage you’ve shot (and perhaps the B-roll you’ve collected), it’s time to start editing. Capturing visually stunning footage is great, but it means nothing if you can’t edit it into a compelling story. Here are a few tips for editing drone video and photography into a great live event production. – Build a visual story: Visual storytelling is an essential part of any live event production, but it’s even more important when using drone video and photography. You want to build a visual story that makes your audience feel something—whether it be excitement, awe or something else. – Keep it short: While you want to take advantage of the unique opportunity to use drone video and photography at your live event, you also don’t want to overdo it. Use color, contrast and movement: There’s a lot you can do with editing to make your drone video and photography pop. Use color contrast to create visual interest. Use movement to draw attention to specific elements. – Tell a story: While you want each shot to be visually stunning, they should all tell a larger story. Every element of your production should be there to move your audience in some way.

Call on our crew to get the job done right and safely.

Drones are a great addition to any live event production. They allow you to quickly get shots that would otherwise be impossible. Make sure you’re using the best possible drone for your needs and you’ll be able to create some truly stunning footage. With great footage, you can create visually stunning videos that will stand out among the competition.

stlouisdrones@gmail.com
Robert Haller, Drone Specialist
314-604-6544