Why You Should Hire a Drone Operator for Your Wedding Photos

DRONE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Drone Photography at Weddings

When and Why

We started including drone photos with every wedding package in 2023 and it has elevated our photos both figuratively and literally. Tyler is my flight guy and it has quickly become one of his favorite part of photographing weddings.
Drone photography has changed the way I see venues, decor, light, and weddings in general. So why do we love it?

The Benefits of Drone Photography for Weddings

One of the most compelling reasons to hire a drone operator for your wedding photos is the unique perspective that drones can provide. Although I love my camera, traditional photography is often limited to eye-level shots or ground-based angles. A drone, on the other hand, can soar above your wedding venue and capture images that showcase the full scale of the scenery around you. Whether you’re getting married in a bustling city, by the beach, in a lush vineyard, or at a picturesque mountain lodge, drones can give you a bird’s-eye view that no other camera can achieve.

Imagine looking back on your wedding day and seeing the entire venue surrounded by a stunning landscape, with all of your loved ones gathered in one place. This aerial perspective tells the story of your wedding day in an incredible and epic way. Besides the shots I get when I’m hoisted up on Tyler’s shoulders, it simply isn’t achievable with a standard camera. The unique view of the day will make your wedding photos truly stand out.

For couples getting married in an urban setting, drone photography offers the chance to capture breathtaking city views. The skyline, iconic buildings, and the surrounding urban environment create a dramatic backdrop for your wedding photos. Drones can capture wide-angle shots of the city that highlight its architecture and bustling vibe, which makes your wedding feel somehow so much bigger.

So whether your ceremony is set against the backdrop of a famous cityscape or on a rooftop with panoramic views, a drone can capture those moments from above, allowing you to see not just the venue but the beauty of the city around it. These images can make your wedding feel like the main event in the heart of a vibrant metropolis.

In addition to capturing city views, drone photography excels at highlighting specific architectural features, historic landmarks, and unique building designs. If your wedding venue has notable architecture or if you’ve chosen a location with significant landmarks nearby, a drone can frame these elements in your photos in a spectacular way.

Drones can hover above buildings, giving you dramatic shots that incorporate the structure of the venue into the composition. This allows you to include the venue’s beauty as a part of your wedding story, which adds a timeless quality to your photos. For example, if you’re getting married in a historic building or old church, a drone can capture its entire facade or intricate rooftop details, along with you and your guests below.

Speaking of guests, if you need a group photo with a hundred people in it the drone can usually fit them in. There will still be the hurdle of rounding everyone up to one place, but at least you don’t have to worry about the first row of people blocking everyone else.

Drones are particularly effective at showcasing outdoor wedding venues. Whether you’ve chosen a beach, forest, vineyard, garden, or mountaintop, a drone can capture the expansive beauty of your surroundings. Imagine seeing aerial shots of your wedding by the ocean, with waves crashing in the background, or a bird’s-eye view of your ceremony in the middle of a sunlit field surrounded by wildflowers.

This lets the natural beauty of your venue to shine through in your wedding gallery, creating images that highlight not just the close-up details but the stunning landscape in which your wedding day takes place. It’s the perfect way to ensure that every part of your venue—from the ceremony setup to the breathtaking horizon beyond—is beautifully captured and appreciated.

One of the most exciting aspects of drone photography is the ability to create epic cinematic shots. Drones allow us to capture breathtaking images that make your wedding feel like a scene from a storybook. I want your wedding day to feel larger than life. With a drone, photographers can create sweeping aerial shots that frame the entire venue from above, highlighting the landscape, architecture, and all the details of your big day. This capability allows for stunning compositions that traditional cameras can’t recreate.

Drones can capture wide-angle photos that showcase the beauty of the venue, as well as intimate shots that focus on you, surrounded by the beautiful scenery. This style of photo adds a level of drama and grandeur to your wedding photos, making them truly memorable.

Aerial photography with a drone ensures that no detail of your wedding day goes unnoticed. Drones can cover large areas quickly, capturing shots of guests arriving, the entire venue, and the various parts of your wedding celebration. This coverage means that you won’t miss a moment, even those that might not be as easily visible from the ground.

This can be especially useful during outdoor receptions or large wedding ceremonies. While one of your photographers is focusing on close-up shots of you and your guests, the drone operator can be photographing the broader scene, providing you with a full story of the day from multiple perspectives.

Why Hiring a Professional Drone Operator Matters

I hate to admit this but when we first got our drone we treated it like a toy. I flew without enough practice and launched it into a tree and watched it fall a hundred feet. Luckily I wasn’t near anyone but my stomach turns to think about what could have happened if I was. Since then, safety and legality are my biggest priorities.

Tyler has his Part 107 license, which is required of all drone operators that are working commercially. He has gotten used to not just flying, but working with venues, insurance, and the FAA in order to safely and legally operate his drone.

Operating a drone requires skill, experience, and knowledge of FAA regulations. A professional drone operator has the expertise to navigate these requirements, ensuring that your wedding photos are not only beautiful but also legally compliant. This is especially important if your wedding takes place in a city or near landmarks where airspace regulations can be more strict.

An experienced drone operator will also know how to handle the equipment in various weather conditions, set up the best angles, and avoid any potential issues that might arise during your wedding day. This expertise guarantees that the drone photography runs smoothly and delivers high-quality results.

Drones are delicate little babies that require careful handling and not being launched into trees. A professional drone operator understands how to operate the drone safely, ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with the flow of your wedding day. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of aerial photography without any distractions or interruptions to the ceremony or reception.

Professionals also know how to manage battery life, flight time, and environmental conditions to capture all the shots you need without missing any critical moments. Their knowledge ensures that everything is done efficiently, maximizing the time the drone is in the air to get as many beautiful images and videos as possible.

“What if My Videographer Has a Drone?”

I am a big advocate for doing what you know best. Still photography is what I do best, and that does not change with the drone. We have worked with videographers who also have their own drone and always try to be mindful of their needs. It is important that they are able to get what they need, and I believe videography gets priority of the skies.

Video from the videographer’s drone is not going to be the same as ours, though, and that goes further than just the difference in stills vs video. Each of us will have different styles, and the photos I take will match the rest of your gallery.

A bride and groom lay in the grass smiling at each other. The wedding photo is a birds eye view taken by a drone from above the couple.

Drone photography is more than just a trend—it’s a powerful tool that elevates wedding photography to new heights. From capturing breathtaking city views and architectural landmarks to showcasing the full beauty of outdoor venues and creating cinematic shots, drones add an incredible dimension to your wedding album that traditional photography can’t match.

Hiring a professional drone operator ensures that you get the best results, with stunning, high-quality images that tell the complete story of your wedding day. Whether you’re tying the knot in a luxury city venue or a scenic outdoor location, drone photography will give you memories that truly reflect the magic of your day. Let us make your wedding photos unique and extraordinary.

Inquire

Do you want a wedding photographer who will provide larger than life drone photos like these? Then we should talk! Don’t be shy, I love hearing all the details.