Tag Archives: st louis film production

From Air to Story: A Practical Playbook for Drone-Driven Brand Films

What Drones Do Better (and When to Use Them)

Show scale and context: campuses, plants, job sites, logistics routes, retail footprints.
Clarify process: top-down passes and lateral tracking can explain workflows faster than VO and b-roll alone.
Transport the viewer: elegant reveals turn ordinary spaces into “arrival moments” that build pride and trust.
Reduce production friction: one aircraft can capture multiple angles efficiently when a scene is time-sensitive (pour, install, ribbon-cutting).
When not to use: tight, emotionally intimate scenes where dialog and micro-expressions matter—use grounded cameras and let aerials establish context.

The Story Framework: People, Place, Process, Proof

Tie every flight to one of these pillars:

People — leadership, makers, crews, customers.
Place — your footprint, access, safety culture, community.
Process — how you build, care, deliver, innovate.
Proof — outcomes, scale, quality, sustainability, reliability.

Design each aerial move to strengthen at least one pillar. If a shot doesn’t serve a pillar, it’s probably a vanity pass.

Pre-Production: Decisions That Make Aerials Work

Objectives & audience

Define the business outcome (conversion, recruiting, investor relations, PR).
Match deliverables to channels (16:9 web banners, 9:16 reels, 1:1 carousels).

Locations & permissions

Identify controlled areas, rooftops, loading bays, parking, helipad/TFR proximity.
Confirm landowner permission; schedule around peak traffic and critical operations.

Compliance & safety (commercial work)

Part 107-qualified crew, LAANC/airspace checks, site-specific risk assessment.
Establish emergency procedures, visual observer roles, and cordoned zones.

Creative brief

Story beats, shot priorities, must-have signage/milestones, talent/vehicles, wardrobe/PPE, hero times (golden/blue hour), and weather plan.

Technical targets

4K or 5.1K capture, 10-bit log profile, ND filters for 180° shutter rule, consistent white balance, waypoints for repeatability, RAW stills for hero frames.

Shot Design: Moves With Marketing Intent

Rise-Reveal: Begin behind a foreground (signage, product, machinery), ascend to reveal facility → strongest for “Place.”
Parallax Orbit: Slow, wide orbit around a subject (doorway, team, machine) to imply stature and activity → “People + Proof.”
Dolly Down the Line: Low, lateral track along a conveyor/assembly line → “Process.”
Top-Down Diagram: True nadir pass to turn a floor layout into a living infographic → “Process + Proof.”
Push-Through Transition: Start outside, transition through a bay door to the interior (with prop-guarded cinewhoop) → “Place → Process.”
Pull-Back to Scale: Begin close on a product, retreat to show the campus, trucks, or customer arrival → “Proof.”

Speed & altitude discipline

Exterior “hero” moves: 8–16 mph reads confident; indoor cinewhoop: 2–6 mph feels intentional.
Keep horizons level unless motivated (e.g., purposeful tilt/angle during dynamic sports or event shots).

Flying Indoors: How to Make It Cinematic and Safe

Aircraft: lightweight, prop-guarded platforms (cinewhoop-style) for hallways, labs, showrooms.
Path rehearsal: walk the route, mark hazards (sprinkler heads, signage, cables), and pre-light corners.
Crew roles: pilot, spotter, and floor safety—doors controlled, comms on discrete channel.
Lighting: continuous practicals plus soft fills; avoid strobing; lock exposure and white balance for continuity.
Sound plan: capture room tone and effects between flights; drones are loud—record clean dialogue separately.

Audio & Narration That Survive Rotor Noise

Treat drone passes as visual b-roll. Record interviews, VO, and nat-sound on separate takes.
Use cutaways (hands, machines, customer moments) to cover dialogue edits while the aerials establish space.

Post-Production & AI-Accelerated Finishing

Color pipeline: normalize log to Rec.709 with consistent contrast and skin tone handling; reserve heavy looks for campaign needs.
Stabilization & cadence: gentle stabilization; avoid over-smoothing that erases intent.
AI assists (used responsibly): object cleanup (cones, scuffs), plate extensions, subtle sky continuity, logo isolation for animated reveals, intelligent noise management, auto-captions, and multi-format reframing (16:9 → 9:16/1:1) while protecting composition.
Versioning: master cut (90–120s), 30s spot, 15s social, 6s bumper, plus 5–10 micro-moments for reels.

Distribution: Make the Aerials Earn Their Keep

Web: hero video with silent-first captions; LCP-friendly encoding and fallback images.
Social: platform-native aspect ratios; hook in first 2 seconds with motion or reveal.
Recruiting: campus fly-ins + people at work; pair with testimonial lower-thirds.
Sales enablement: loopable tradeshow edits; QR-linked facility tours.
Measurement: track view-through rate, dwell time on pages with aerial hero, CTR from aerial thumbnails, and assisted conversions on campaigns featuring the drone cut.

Sample Shot Lists by Industry

Manufacturing

Dawn campus reveal with trucks staging
Top-down line flow → robotic cell → QA station
Orbit of finished goods with brand mark foreground
Pull-back from product detail → warehouse scale

Healthcare / Campus

Approach along patient-arrival path (clear of PHI/people identifiers)
Roofline solar/HVAC for sustainability talking points
Courtyard orbit during shift change (faces controlled)
Interior cinewhoop: lobby → wayfinding → care areas (non-clinical zones)

Construction

Weekly waypointed progress orbits for consistent timelapse
Crane-level tracking of façade install
Nadir grid for site documentation overlays
Golden-hour hero of topped-out structure with crew wave

Corporate HQ / Brand

Signage rise-reveal with flag or kinetic element
Executive arrival and lobby energy pass
Product showroom push-through to collaboration spaces
Sunset pull-back to skyline for context

A One-Day Field Plan (Example)

07:00–08:00: Exterior hero passes (golden hour)
08:00–09:00: Nadir mapping/grid + parking/traffic coverage
09:00–10:30: Interior cinewhoop route (pre-lit)
10:30–11:30: Targeted process sequences (line, lab, showroom)
13:00–14:00: Leadership/photo ops; ground b-roll to match aerials
16:30–17:30: Sunset/day-to-night exterior closes

Risk, Access, and Brand Protection Checklist

Site permission, airspace review, NOTAM/TFR check
Part 107 crew, VO assigned, emergency plan posted
Indoors: path cleared, prop guards, spotter line-of-sight
PPE compliance (hard hats, vests, eyewear) as required
Data management: dual-card capture, checksum ingest, cloud backup same day
Release and signage plan (privacy-sensitive areas controlled)
Deliverables map: aspect ratios, runtimes, captioning, thumbnail plan

Why Partner With St Louis Drones

St Louis Drones is an experienced, full-service professional commercial photography and video production company with the right equipment and creative crew experience for successful image acquisition. We offer full-service studio and location video and photography, as well as editing and post-production, and our licensed drone pilots can tailor flights to your story, environment, and safety requirements. St Louis Drones can customize your productions for diverse types of media requirements. Repurposing your photography and video branding to gain more traction is another specialty—we are well-versed in all file types, styles of media, and accompanying software, and we use the latest in Artificial Intelligence across our media services for speed, consistency, and compliance. Our private studio lighting and visual setup is perfect for small productions and interview scenes, and our studio is large enough to incorporate props to round out your set. We support every aspect of your production—from setting up a private, custom interview studio to supplying professional sound and camera operators, as well as providing the right equipment—ensuring your next video production is seamless and successful. We can fly our specialized drones indoors. As a full-service video and photography production corporation, since 1982, St Louis Drones has partnered with businesses, marketing firms, and creative agencies throughout the St. Louis area for their marketing photography and video. If you want aerials that don’t just look good but move the needle, let’s plan your flight path to results.

314-604-6544 stlouisdrones@gmail.com

Simple Ways to Use Drone Shots in Your Storytelling

Why Drone Shots Are Essential for Modern Storytelling

Drone shots are versatile tools for filmmakers and videographers, providing sweeping landscapes, aerial perspectives, and smooth motion that elevate the overall quality of video productions. Here are some simple ways to incorporate drone shots into your storytelling:

1. Establishing Shots: Setting the Scene

Drone shots are perfect for establishing a location. A bird’s-eye view of the landscape, building, or surrounding area helps orient your audience and sets the tone for the scene. Whether you’re shooting a corporate video, a marketing campaign, or a promotional piece for a real estate company, drones allow you to capture stunning visuals that give your viewers an immediate understanding of the environment.

An establishing shot from above can make even the simplest setting appear grand and cinematic, building anticipation for what’s to come.

2. Aerial Tracking Shots: Creating Dynamic Movement

Aerial tracking shots—where the drone follows a subject from above—are excellent for creating dynamic movement in your video. This technique can be particularly useful for corporate videos, event photography, or product showcases. Imagine a drone following a person walking through a modern office, highlighting the workspace or product. This shot creates a smooth, continuous visual that engages the viewer and maintains their interest.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, aerial tracking provides context, showing how a subject moves within a space, giving a sense of freedom and scale that traditional shots cannot achieve.

3. Unique Perspectives: Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary

One of the most exciting aspects of drone shots is their ability to provide unique perspectives. What might be an ordinary shot from the ground level becomes extraordinary when viewed from above or from an unconventional angle. Whether it’s filming a construction site, a busy city, or a company event, drones can capture moments from an entirely new perspective.

This perspective creates visual interest and can evoke specific emotions. For example, a sweeping overhead shot of a corporate event or outdoor team-building activity can emphasize the scale of the event and highlight the energy and excitement of the participants.

4. Highlighting Movement and Motion: Showcasing Action

Drone footage excels at capturing action shots with its smooth, cinematic movements. This can be particularly useful in promotional videos, where motion and energy are key to engaging viewers. A drone can follow a moving vehicle, capture athletes in motion, or track a product’s journey from start to finish—offering a seamless and engaging experience.

Incorporating drone shots into your action sequences allows you to take your storytelling to new heights—literally and figuratively. The fluidity and grace of aerial footage enhance the overall pace and excitement of your narrative.

5. Enhancing the Emotional Impact: Creating Mood and Atmosphere

Drone shots are also powerful tools for setting the emotional tone of a scene. The ability to move in and out of a scene at various heights and speeds allows you to shift the mood and draw your audience into the story. A slow, steady drone shot over a quiet landscape can create a peaceful or reflective mood, while a fast-moving drone shot can add a sense of urgency or exhilaration.

In corporate storytelling, where emotion often plays a central role in messaging, drone footage can emphasize the feelings you want to evoke, such as the serenity of a product or the excitement of an event.

St. Louis Drones: Your Expert Partner in Drone Photography and Video Production

At St. Louis Drones, we understand the power of drone shots and are experts in using them to tell compelling, visually stunning stories. As a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company, we have the right equipment and experienced creative crew to bring your vision to life.

We offer both studio and location video and photography services, complete with editing, post-production, and licensed drone pilots. Whether you need breathtaking aerial shots for your marketing video, sweeping views for an event recap, or custom interview setups, St. Louis Drones has you covered. Our ability to customize productions for a diverse range of media requirements ensures that your content is tailored to your specific goals.

We are also experts in repurposing your photography and video branding to increase engagement and visibility. Our experience with various file types, media styles, and accompanying software means that we can deliver high-quality, optimized footage for all your digital platforms.

Our private studio lighting and visual setups are perfect for small productions and interviews, and large enough to accommodate props for complete set designs. From sound and camera operators to specialized drones that can be flown indoors, we provide everything you need to ensure your next production is flawless.

With over 40 years of experience, St. Louis Drones has been helping businesses, marketing firms, and agencies in the St. Louis area achieve their corporate photography and video goals. Let us help you create the stunning, impactful visual story you need to captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression.

Contact St. Louis Drones today and let us show you how our expert drone photography and video production services can take your storytelling to new heights.

Rob Haller 314-604-6544 stlouisdrones@gmail.com

Transforming Your Business Communication with Polished Video Interviews

Understanding the Importance of Video Interviews

Video interviews offer a dynamic platform to convey messages, showcase expertise, and establish credibility. Unlike text-based content, videos engage multiple senses, facilitating better retention of information. Moreover, they humanize the communication process by allowing viewers to see and hear the speaker, fostering a deeper connection. In the context of businesses, video interviews can:

Enhance Brand Visibility: Video interviews provide an opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality, values, and expertise, thereby strengthening brand identity and recognition.
Build Trust and Authority: When key personnel or industry experts share insights through video interviews, it enhances credibility and establishes them as thought leaders within their field.
Engage Audiences: Visual storytelling through video interviews captivates audiences, making complex topics more digestible and relatable.

Key Elements of Successful Video Interviews

Creating impactful video interviews requires careful planning, execution, and post-production refinement. Here are some essential elements to consider:

1. Preparation:

Research and Planning: Thoroughly research your topic or interviewee to ensure relevant and insightful content. Create a structured outline or list of questions to guide the conversation.
Equipment Setup: Invest in quality audio and video equipment to ensure clear, professional-looking footage. Test equipment and lighting conditions before recording.

2. Interview Execution:

Engaging Conversation: Encourage natural dialogue by fostering a comfortable atmosphere for the interviewee. Maintain eye contact, active listening, and appropriate body language.
Visual Composition: Frame shots carefully, ensuring the interviewee is well-centered and in focus. Consider the background and lighting to create a visually appealing scene.

3. Post-Production:

Editing: Trim unnecessary footage, enhance audio quality, and add relevant graphics or overlays to reinforce key points. Maintain a consistent tone and pacing throughout the video.
Branding: Incorporate your brand’s logo, colors, and messaging to reinforce brand identity and recognition.

Tips for Polished Video Interviews

Focus on Storytelling: Craft a narrative arc that engages viewers from start to finish. Personal anecdotes, case studies, or industry insights can add depth and resonance to your interviews.
Authenticity Matters: Encourage interviewees to be authentic and genuine in their responses. Authenticity builds trust and fosters a deeper connection with the audience.
Practice Active Listening: Pay attention to the interviewee’s responses and ask follow-up questions to delve deeper into interesting topics. Active listening leads to more engaging and insightful conversations.
Seek Feedback: After producing a video interview, solicit feedback from colleagues or trusted individuals to identify areas for improvement and refine your approach.

Elevate Your Business Communication with St Louis Drones

As a full-service professional commercial photography and video production company, St Louis Drones possesses the expertise, equipment, and creative crew necessary for successful conference documentation. We offer comprehensive services, including full-service studio and location video and photography, editing, post-production, and media repurposing. Our team is well-versed in all file types, styles of media, and accompanying software, ensuring that your productions meet the highest standards of quality and effectiveness.

Call to Action: If you’re seeking to elevate your business communication through polished video interviews, partner with St Louis Drones. With our experience and dedication to excellence, we’ve worked with numerous businesses, marketing firms, and agencies in the St. Louis area for their corporate photography and video needs. Contact us today to discuss how we can tailor our services to meet your specific requirements and objectives.

By incorporating polished video interviews into your communication strategy, you can effectively convey your brand’s message, engage your audience, and drive meaningful connections that propel your business forward. Unlock the power of visual storytelling with St Louis Drones and transform the way you communicate.

314-604-6544 stlouisdrones@gmail.com