5 TIPS FOR HIRING AN AERIAL IMAGERY COMPANY

There are more and more "Drone" companies popping up to offer their services to the masses. They range from tech-oriented industrial drone services that do antenna inspections and land surveying, to your brother's kid with a high-end consumer drone that takes "nice" video. Depending on your needs and budget, you have to make a choice between doing things on the cheap or shelling out big bucks for the company with the coolest gear.

As it turns out, you can find something in the middle that suits your needs just fine, but you need to use these helpful tips to get the right person behind the drone:

1. HIRE SOMEONE WITH AN EYE FOR GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY/ CINEMATOGRAPHY - With today's technology, anyone...and I mean anyone...can learn to fly a drone. With the exception of following fast objects, most drone photography and video projects require the drone to do basic maneuvers at a slow pace. And since all professional level drones have GPS to keep them in place, you don't have to have a lot of skill to do these maneuvers. The difference between one drone company and the next is their ability to capture great images versus just shots from the air. Take the time to review their portfolio of work. Look for stunning imagery and visual storytelling. In the case of video, look for great camera work that "feels like a movie". You might pay a bit more for those folks, but it's worth it. 
2. BE SURE THEY ARE SECTION 333 OR PART 107 CERTIFIED BY THE FAA - Drones are fantastic tools that give you entirely new perspectives for video and photography, but there's a right way and a wrong way to use them. I personally used to think the FAA's reaction was overkill, but being a proud Part 107 certified Remote Pilot-in-command, I can tell you that it is not. If your shoot requires flying in an urban or suburban area, your pilot needs to know about the local air space they are about to enter, and if you're close to an airport, you'll need a waiver from the FAA to fly there legally. You want the company you hire to fly safely and follow the FAA rules so you don't run into liability issues trying to get that perfect shot.
3. BE SURE THEY ARE INSURED - All professional photographers and video production companies carry insurance in case something were to happen on set. Drones are no exception...in fact, even with the most skilled pilot, they are more likely to have an incident. Having flown drones now for a few years, I can tell you that things like wires, tiny tree branches, and birds (yes birds...the big ones that like to fight drones) can sneak up on you while you're flying. While I've personally never had to make an insurance claim, I've had some close calls that would have dropped my drone like a rock out of the sky. Insurance is a must for any serious professional drone company.
4. THEY SHOULD HAVE A DUAL OPERATOR DRONE - What do I mean by this? Some drones, like the popular DJI Phantom, are single operator. This means that the pilot and the camera person are one in the same. Serious drone photographers and video professionals will only use dual operator drones. One person is the dedicated pilot and the other operates the camera. One of the main reasons to do this is safety. By law, a drone pilot must keep the drone within line of sight and must keep an eye on it's position at all times. That's not possible if the pilot is looking at the screen while moving the craft. Up high with no obstacles, this is not as dangerous, but down lower, where a lot of drone video is captured, this can result in a crash. Another reason for dual operator drones is that they allow a skilled photographer or cinematographer to properly frame up a shot without worrying about where the copter is located in the sky. You will get more cinematic shots with a skilled two-person team.
5. RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO USE YOUR FRIEND'S KID - For many smaller companies, the cost of a professional drone operation can be a little high, but the result you get will be much better. First off, your friend's kid will likely have a consumer or pro-sumer level drone that simply doesn't capture video and photos at the same quality level (e.g. bit depth, dynamic color range, megapixel, etc.). Second, they will more than likely not be able to get the well framed shots that experienced professionals can get. And third, they will probably not have the same safety practices and will not be insured if there is a problem.
   
   

There's no doubt that drone photos and video can really enhance your company's or product's story. If it's done by competent professionals, you can greatly enhance your visual storytelling and boost your brand to the next level. 
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Brant Waldeck is a professional cinematographer, photographer and FAA certified drone pilot, whose company, My Creative Team, specializes in creative story telling for your brand. 

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