What to look for in a drone videographer?

With drones becoming more and more accessible, the rise in drone pilots has increased, knowing what to look for in a drone videographer is crucial for your business. This may be a good thing but this has led to a large number of “Cowboy Pilots” who cause more damage than good for the industry and clients.

These cowboy pilots often invest the bare minimum for a drone with a camera which offers the very basics of quality. A cowboy drone operator can make big money working for £50-£100 an hour with such a small investment but as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for, and amateur images are likely to be of poor quality.

The cheapest choice for hiring a drone photographer to showcase a property, hotel, or tourist site can be highly unsatisfactory. You might wind up having to hire someone else to redo the work which is why knowing What to look for in a drone videographer is so important before starting a project.

With this in mind, it’s always good to know what to look for in a drone videographer before making the investment. This will give you a good base to make a sound call on whether or not to hire the pilot.

Qualifications:

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) stipulates that no drone pilot can accept payment or complete work without having the required certificates, namely the GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) and the A2CoFC which permits pilots to fly for commercial purposes.

If your pilot isn’t able to provide these certificates, it’s certainly not a good idea to move forward with them as it’s unclear whether they possess the skills and knowledge to provide a service of quality and excellence.

Insurance

Insurance is one of the most important elements of flying a drone commercially. Insurance provides clients with a safety net and ease of mind as to any cover if something should go wrong. There are many different types of drone insurance policies, some cover pilots all year round and internationally while others can be purchased by the minute and on the day of the shoot. Either option ensures you and the pilot are protected. Again, if the pilot you are approaching to complete a project is unable to provide this, it should be seen as an immediate red flag.

Equipment

Equipment is a key factor when choosing a drone pilot. Different drones are built for different tasks, balancing flight time, video quality and agility.

The right pilot will understand your project goals and have the correct equipment to deliver them. For example, AerialJohnny’s FPV drones are ideal for fast, dynamic filming but are unsuitable for tasks like aerial drone surveys, which require different platforms. This is why a professional, varied drone fleet matters.

Untrained pilots may promise everything, but often lack the equipment to deliver. Choosing an experienced drone pilot with the right tools protects your results and your budget.

In-house capabilities

Something that is often overlooked is the ability for a client to brief one person from start to finish on how they expect the project to be delivered. By having a streamlined process dealing with as few people as possible, it means there are no crossed wires, there is a consistent flow and the result comes out a lot cleaner.

This means from briefing in the video requirements down to the fine details of editing, in-house capabilities means the editor understands the key moments from the shoot, what style and feel the client wants, making the end product so much more inline with the expectation.

Is the videographer easily contactable?

Being able to contact your videographer pre and post a video shoot is absolutely critical. A good sign to look for is if the drone pilot is constantly updating you with progress, flight plans, editing etc. A major red flag is if your drone videographer goes dark and can’t be reached (especially after a shoot) and even worse if it’s before when all the planning takes place. Make sure the lines of communication are clear and open to have the best experience.

If you’re looking for a drone videographer who ticks all the boxes then don’t hesitate to get in touch with AerialJohnny to see how we can bring your project to life.

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johnathan@aerialjohnny.co.uk

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Our office serves as a central hub, allowing us to efficiently service clients across the entire UK. With a team based in London, we’re able to provide local expertise and support for any project, regardless of complexity. This ensures close collaboration and a deep understanding of your needs, wherever you are.