St Louis Drones is a fully insured aerial cinematography company offering professional photography and video for the St Louis and Midwest region.

FAA approved. We are Safe-To-Fly. We have our 333 exemption and our 107. We also have licensed pilots. We adhere to all FAA guidelines. For safety and quality, we shoot with a two-man crew, and we are fully insured. Our flight specialists always keep visual contact with the drone, while our navigator guides and directs the shot.

Our drones use the latest safety and technology in aerial cinematography.

St Louis Drones strive on safely capturing aerial footage that will highlight your unique vision and produce stunning visuals from a diverse perspective. We offer cost efficient drone packages that enable our clients to obtain aerial footage where it once would have been too expensive.

Safety is always our first priority. Our drones are operated by experienced pilots and camera operators. We’ve been in the photography and video production business since 1982 and we have been shooting aerials also just as long but through more conventional means.

Whether shooting your home, commercial property, or 45-acre campus, we can fit you with the right equipment and professional operator to achieve stunning aerial photography and video.

Ready for takeoff!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Drone Aerial Photos.

Capturing aerial photos with a drone is a great way to capture unique perspectives of the world and add a unique touch to your photography. Drone aerial photos can be used for a variety of purposes, such as capturing stunning landscapes, documenting construction projects, inspecting infrastructure, and more. With the right techniques, getting the most out of your drone aerial photos can be easy. From choosing the right drone to the best camera settings and post-processing techniques, there are several key steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your drone aerial photos. By following these steps, you can take high-quality aerial photos that you’ll be proud to show off.

Choosing the Right Drone for Aerial Photography

The first step in getting the most out of your drone aerial photos is choosing the right drone for the job. Different types of drones are designed for different tasks, so it’s important to know what type of drone you need for the job. For example, if you’re looking to capture epic aerial shots of landscapes or buildings, you’ll want to look for a drone with a long flight time and a wide-angle lens. If you’re looking to capture close-up shots of objects, you’ll need a drone that can fly close to your subject and has a zoom lens. It’s also important to consider the size, weight, and portability of the drone when making your selection.

Once you’ve chosen the right drone for your needs, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the drone’s features and controls. Most drones come with a user manual that you can use to understand the basics of how the drone works and how to operate it. You should also research the best practices for using the drone to ensure you’re using it safely.

Understanding Drone Safety Regulations and Best Practices

Before you can start taking aerial photos with your drone, you’ll need to understand and follow the safety regulations and best practices for drone use. Depending on where you live, there may be laws and regulations in place that you must follow when flying your drone. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these regulations to ensure you’re in compliance with the law.

In addition to laws and regulations, there are also best practices for drone use that you should follow. These include things like flying in good weather, keeping the drone in your line of sight, and avoiding flying over people or property. It’s also important to make sure your drone is in good condition and ready to fly before each flight.

Camera Settings for Drone Aerial Photography

Once you’ve chosen the right drone and familiarized yourself with the safety regulations and best practices, it’s time to start thinking about the camera settings for your aerial photos. The settings you use will depend on the type of photo you’re trying to capture and the conditions you’re flying in.

When setting up your drone for aerial photography, you’ll want to make sure the camera is set to the highest resolution possible. This will ensure you get the best quality photos and videos. You’ll also want to adjust the exposure and ISO settings to match the lighting conditions you’re flying in.

If you’re shooting photos, you may also want to adjust the shutter speed and aperture settings. Shutter speed affects how long the camera shutter is open and determines how much light is let in. Aperture affects the size of the opening in the lens and determines how much of the image is in focus.

Best Practices for Drone Aerial Photography

In addition to understanding the camera settings, it’s important to understand the best practices for drone aerial photography. These include things like flying at the right altitude, using the right flight path, and avoiding obstacles.

When flying your drone for aerial photography, you’ll want to make sure you’re flying at the right altitude. Generally, you’ll want to fly at an altitude that provides the best view of your subject without compromising safety. You’ll also want to make sure you’re flying along a straight flight path that allows you to capture the images you’re looking for without having to change direction. Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re avoiding obstacles such as trees, buildings, and other drones.

Post-Processing Techniques for Drone Aerial Photos

Once you’ve captured your aerial photos, you’ll need to process them before you can share them with the world. Post-processing is an important step in getting the most out of your drone aerial photos.

One of the most important post-processing techniques for drone aerial photos is color correction. Color correction is the process of adjusting the colors in your photos to match the colors of the scene you were shooting. This can be done manually or with specialized software.

Another important post-processing technique is image sharpening. Image sharpening is the process of making your photos look sharper and more detailed. This can be done manually or with specialized software.

Finally, you may want to consider using other post-processing techniques such as cropping, resizing, and adding vignettes to your photos.

How to Use Drone Aerial Photos in Different Industries

Once you’ve mastered the basics of drone aerial photography, you can start to explore the different ways it can be used in different industries. Drone aerial photos can be used in a variety of industries, including construction, real estate, agriculture, and more.

In the construction industry, drone aerial photos can be used to monitor progress on a project and to identify potential safety hazards. In the real estate industry, drone aerial photos can be used to showcase properties and to provide potential buyers with an aerial view of the property. In the agriculture industry, drone aerial photos can be used to monitor crop health and to detect potential problems.

Advanced Drone Aerial Photography Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics of drone aerial photography, you can start to explore more advanced techniques. For example, you can use drones to capture long-exposure shots, panoramic shots, and time-lapse videos.

Long-exposure shots involve keeping the camera shutter open for a longer period of time to capture a blurrier image. This can be used to create dramatic effects, such as capturing the stars in the night sky or capturing the movement of clouds.

Panoramic shots involve stitching together multiple images to create a wide-angle view. This can be used to capture stunning landscape shots or to document a large area.

Time-lapse videos involve capturing multiple images over a period of time and stitching them together to create a video. This can be used to capture the movement of clouds or the changes in a landscape over time.

Tips for Capturing Stunning Aerial Photos

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of drone aerial photography, it’s time to start thinking about how to capture stunning aerial photos. Here are a few tips that can help you get the most out of your drone aerial photos:

• Be creative with angles and perspectives.
• Look for interesting light and shadows.
• Use a polarizing filter to reduce glare.
• Shoot in RAW format to get the most out of your photos.
• Experiment with different shutter speeds and aperture settings.
• Take your time and wait for the perfect shot.

Tips for Sharing Drone Aerial Photos

Once you’ve captured your aerial photos, it’s time to share them with the world. Here are a few tips for sharing your drone aerial photos:

• Choose the right platform for sharing your photos.
• Use hashtags to help people find your photos.
• Take advantage of social media platforms to promote your photos.
• Create a portfolio website to showcase your work.
• Join online forums to connect with other drone photographers.

Conclusion

Getting the most out of your drone aerial photos doesn’t have to be difficult. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can take high-quality aerial photos that you’ll be proud to show off. From choosing the right drone to understanding safety regulations and camera settings, there are several key steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your drone aerial photos. With the right techniques, you can capture stunning aerial photos that will impress your friends and family.

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