Why you should consider drone videography for your wedding

If you're on the hunt for your wedding videographer, then you should consider including drones in your package! Drone videography can really add something to your wedding video. We spoke to Ben of Race Wedding Videography to find out more about the pros of drone wedding videography...

How can drones add to traditional wedding videography? What shots are they particularly good for? 

With many wedding films now having a more cinematic feel, drone shots in your wedding video are the perfect answer. It enables you to have your very own Hollywood style wedding film that will be a smash hit for you and your partner to revisit time and time again.

Drone footage adds a new dimension and perspective to a wedding. The inclusion of drones in modern wedding films is a very recent one and has seen a recent rise in popularity thanks to the improvements in technology and products available.

Drones are great at setting the scene for the wedding ceremony and location. They're also great for capturing movement, such as filming wedding cars on arrival or departure from the church, as well as capturing the wedding guests from above. 

An obvious use of a drone is the classic higher perspective, perhaps with the camera looking straight down like a birds eye view or angled at the subject or desired location. However, they also have great advantages for creative use flying at lower heights and altitudes. Drones have also made shots easier that would have historically been shot with a jib boom device - that's the large counterweight operated on those high budget films!

Now of course, a wedding film won't be full of drone shots - a wedding film is all about the emotions, the smiles, the embraces and unique story of the bride and groom! However, some tasteful inclusion of drone footage will help tell the story. 

Can anyone operate a drone on the wedding day? 

No, only a drone operator who has a PfCO (permission for commercial operations) can legally operate a drone commercially in UK airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority is in charge of granting the PfCO. If you are thinking about booking a wedding videographer who offers drone videography, check that they have this. Alongside a PfCO certification, a drone operator will also need public liability insurance. Wedding venues may also want copies of the credentials and certificates before the wedding day. It's not just about achieving great shots in your wedding films - it's also about the safety of people on the ground. 

Can you take stills from drones to incorporate into the wedding album? 

You can! Some wedding photographers may also use a drone, but in general, it seems to be used more often with wedding videographers. 

Do drones cost a lot as an optional extra? 

This depends on the wedding videographer's package. At Race Wedding Videography this is actually included in the price. From my experience most couples now expect wedding filmmakers to have experience with drones, as it is extremely popular!