Drone Photography & Filming
Below are answers to the most common questions relating to our aerial photography and filming services.
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- What services do you offer?
- We offer aerial photography, photo editing, aerial filming and video production services for many applications. We offer aerial property photography for estate agents, aerial photography for the construction industry, aerial surveys, aerial inspections, promotional videos for marketing, drone photography for weddings, sports and community events and much more. We are happy to advise on the feasibility of any type of aerial photography. Please get in touch.
- Where are you based and where do you work?
- We are based in Hampshire, UK but provide our aerial photography services throughout the UK and further afield. We have filmed in Europe on several occasions. Locations closest to us are Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex, Kent, Essex, Oxfordshire. We will consider any location for our work so please get in touch to discuss your site/location.
- Are you qualified?
- Yes. Our pilots are qualified through the UK's leading drone training course, ICARUS (International Certificate of Approval for Remote Unmanned Systems). With experience as military helicopter pilots we have trained with the best to become safe, competent and confident in our work.
- Do you have permission to operate commercially?
- Yes. We hold a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) granted by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority). This means we have had to undertake extensive training, produce the necessary documentation to support our commercial drone operations, be assessed on our competence and demonstrate safe handling. We are also required to hold adequate insurance cover for our drone services. We are happy to produce evidence of our insurance on request. It is illegal to fly a drone for commercial purposes without a PfCO, granted by the CAA. Our registration number with the CAA is 3398.
- Are you insured?
- Yes, we are covered by £1 million of Public Liability Insurance. We are insured with Coverdrone, a specialist drone insurance provider. Insurance forms part of the requirements of the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to operate commercially. We are happy to produce evidence of our insurance on request.
- What's the difference between a drone, SUA, UAV, SUAV and RPAS?
- Nothing. The term “drone” is a catch-all name for the same thing.
SUA = Small Unmanned Aircraft
UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
SUAV = Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
RPAS = Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
- What are the advantages of using a drone for aerial photography?
- A drone is very versatile and can capture footage from previously unseen perspectives. It can be deployed quickly, get to small spaces compared with a helicopter or plane, fly close to target objects and can even fly indoors. We can program a drone's flight or fly it manually to capture the perfect shots with the high quality camera on board. Using a drone is also very cost-effective, much more so than hiring a helicopter or erecting scaffolding to facilitate the same job.
- Can you fly in bad weather?
- We can't fly in rain as the water will damage the electronics of the drone. We also don't fly in winds over 20mph. We check the weather forecast regularly and prior to any shoot to ensure that it is safe to go ahead as planned. Unfortunately, if the weather isn't good enough to fly on the scheduled date, we will arrange an alternative date to fly. We do not charge any additional fees for rearranging shoots due to bad weather.
- Can you fly over other people?
- We must always remain more than 50 metres from any person and 150 metres of crowds greater than 1,000 people, unless they are under our control. We are happy to fly over people within our control and who have been notified of our operations.
- Can you fly in built-up areas?
- We must always remain at least 50 metres from any vessel, vehicle or structure not under our control. If permission is granted by the owner, we can fly as close as we like, assuming we stay within other rules set out by the CAA. Drone operators that are not approved by the CAA must remain at least 150 m from any congested or built up areas.
- How far away can you fly?
- Under standard permissions we are permitted to fly to a maximum distance of 500m from the drone operator, who needs to maintain unaided visual line of sight with the drone at all times. This gives a circular area of 1km diameter for our operations.
- How high can you fly?
- Under standard permissions we can to fly at a maximum altitude of 400 ft (120 metres).
- Can you fly at night?
- Yes, we are approved for commercial night operations. A separate CAA permit is required for flying a drone at night, which we have. It is illegal to fly a drone at night without this permission.
- Can you fly drones in London?
- There are very few places in London where drones can be flown without special permission from the CAA. These permissions can be obtained upon special request to the CAA.
- Are drones safe?
- Drones are just as safe as any other vehicle. We perform inspections prior to each flight to ensure they are fit for purpose and that the flight can be made safely.
- How noisy are drones?
- It really depends on which drone is used as they use different motors. The drone we use most for our work reaches approximately 88 dB.
- Do you need me on site with you?
- Not necessarily. As long as all the permissions are agreed and any party involved is aware we can perform the job according to the agreed brief.
- How long does a shoot last?
- It really depends on what the subject is and what footage is required. The setup of the drone takes less than 10 minutes to prepare for flight.
- How long can you fly for?
- The drone can remain airborne for approximately 25 minutes non-stop. After that it would need to land in order the flight battery to be replaced.
- How fast can you fly?
- Good footage and photos are usually captured when the drone flies slowly but we are able to fly at around 35mph in calm conditions, if required. This can be useful for fast-moving subjects, sports or filming vehicles in motion.
- Can you fly indoors?
- Yes, we can fly a drone indoors, providing there is enough space.
- Can you see what you're capturing from the ground?
- Yes. We have a screen attached to the controls on the ground, which we also use to control various flight and camera options. We are able to see from a ‘first person view’ what the camera is capturing in real time.
- What control do you have over the camera and what it captures?
- We have full control over the camera gimbal from the ground. We can capture a subject all the way from the horizontal to directly underneath the drone and 360 degrees around it. The flight controls and camera controls are independent of each other.
- What resolution do you film in?
- We usually film in HD, 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels; also known as Full HD or FHD) at 60 fps (frames per second). We can also film in 4K on request (4096 x 2160 pixels; also known as Ultra HD - four times Full HD). However, 4K playback equipment is necessary to view 4K footage correctly.
- What is the image quality of photos like?
- We use a camera that captures images at 12MP (megapixels), which has a resolution of 4000 × 3000 pixels. The maximum recommended print size for this resolution at 300 dpi (dots per inch) is 16 x 24" (40 x 60 cm). We like to make sure that your photos look as good as they can be. We can add effects, adjust brightness and contrast and process colour correction and grading, if required.
- Do you have any sample images or videos?
- Yes. Please see the photography and videos used throughout this website, all of which we have captured ourselves. If you are looking for a sample of something in particular please get in touch and we will search our archive for you.
- What format can I receive my footage or photos in?
- We can supply your footage or photos in whatever format suits your application best. For photos it's usually JPEG and for videos it's usually MP4 or MOV. We have industry standard Adobe and Apple editing suits available and can convert your files to whatever format you need them in or we can simply supply the unedited 'raw' files/footage. Photographs are captured in RAW (Digital Negative DNG) and compressed JPEG format simultaneously. Please get in touch to discuss further.
- How do you supply files?
- We usually use an online file sharing service, such as WeTransfer.com, to deliver your files to you. However, we can send them to you on DVD, USB stick, upload them to YouTube or even add them to your own website for you if you like!
- Do you offer an editing service?
- Yes. We do usually edit all aerial photos and video footage, unless this is not required. The photo editing service we offer draws on previous experience in web design, sales and marketing. Video editing is left in the capable hands of our producer who has a Masters degree in Post Production Editing and a Bachelors degree in Creative Writing and Film Studies. He's also Apple Certified in Final Cut Pro for good measure.
- How quickly can I have the photos / footage?
- We aim to provide a 7 day turnaround from being on site to delivering the edited files. However this all depends on the specifications of the project, the desired end product format and the amount of post-production work involved. It is best to contact us with your requirements and we can give you a more precise timescale.
- Do I need to get special permissions for your work?
- You will need to ask permission from anyone who is going to be on camera and each project needs to be assessed individually. Please get in touch and we can advise of any additional permissions that may be required.
- What are the rules regarding privacy?
- Drones with cameras are covered by the Data Protection Act (DPA). You can find out more at the Information Commissioner's Office website. Note: We wear highly visible clothing to clearly identify ourselves as UAV operators.
- Can I buy and fly my own drone to take photos or videos for my business?
- Yes, but only if you have a Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) certificate issued by the CAA. It is illegal to fly a drone for commercial purposes without a PfCO. It is also a requirement to have adequate insurance cover in place. We hold a PfCO and have had to undertake extensive training, produce the necessary documentation to support our commercial drone operations, be assessed on our competence and demonstrate safe handling. We are fully insured and covered by £1 million of Public Liability Insurance for our drone services.
- Can anyone sell aerial photographs taken from a drone?
- No, in order to sell aerial photographs taken from a drone, the operator must have permission from the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) for commercial work. We have this permission, which you can see here.
- What are your prices for aerial photography and/or filming?
- Every project is different. We price each job individually and treat our clients individually too. Please get in touch and we will be happy to provide a free quote for your project.
- How can I book you in?
- Just use the online form to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
Further Questions?
Please get in touch and we'll be pleased to answer in person.
