Drone Photography at Weddings FAQs
A DJI Mavic 2 drone with camera gimbal
Aerial photography and/or videography can be a wonderful addition to your wedding day experience, offering an unique perspective and providing the opportunity to capture wonderful shots of the wedding venue and grounds. But couples should be aware of some key facts and information before asking someone to fly a drone at their wedding.
What is a drone? A drone is simply an unmanned air vehicle typically flown by a pilot on the ground in close proximity to the area of operation. Drones can carry all sorts of payloads; including video and stills cameras. Most modern photography drones can capture 40MP photographs and 4K video.
Can anyone fly a drone? In theory yes - there are many small drones that can be flown by hobbyist users. But for commercial work you will need a suitably qualified drone pilot (depends on the weight of the drone). You should ask your drone pilot to share his CAA credentials and third party insurance details.
Will I need to seek permission from my venue to use a drone? Yes. Your pilot will need permission from the land owner and/or venue before flying. Arranging to have a drone photography/videography your wedding will require considerable planning and preparation, so make sure you discuss the safety considerations with your pilot.
Can a drone fly in bad weather? No, there are wind limitations and drones cannot fly in any rain or poor visibility. Ask your drone pilot to explain this.
Are drones noisy? Yes, in some cases. Typically the larger the drone the noisier it will be. That said, there are a lot of modern, lightweight drones that don’t present a noise nuisance at all.
What height can a drone be flown at? Most of the time your pilot will be limited to ground level up to 400 feet.
Can drones be flown close to people? It depends on the drone and the CAA approvals held by the pilot. Even if this is permitted, it is not wise to ask the pilot to fly closer than 50m or to overfly groups. Most drone camera equipment can zoom-in by a factor of x4 and capture perfectly good images without being close to people. Children are usually fascinated by drones - it’s important to keep them well clear of the take-off and landing areas.
How much should I expect to pay for a drone pilot? Prices will vary depending on what you are asking the pilot to do. As a guide, you can expect to pay around £300 for unedited footage and as much as £1000 for a fully edited video film.
If I need anymore information, where should I look? Read the guidance at https://www.caa.co.uk/consumers/remotely-piloted-aircraft/general-guidance/information-for-the-public-about-uas-and-drones/