What are the best ways to capture aerial shots in TV production?

2 Choose the right location

The location of your aerial shots is crucial to achieve the desired effect and mood. You need to consider the landscape, the weather, the lighting, and the legal and safety aspects of flying over a certain area. You should scout the location beforehand, either online or on the ground, and look for interesting features, angles, and patterns that can enhance your story. You should also check the weather forecast, the sunrise and sunset times, and the wind direction and speed, as they can affect your flight and your image quality. Moreover, you should research the local regulations and permissions for flying over a specific area, and avoid restricted zones, such as airports, military bases, or wildlife reserves.

3 Plan the shoot

Once you have chosen your equipment and location, you need to plan the shoot in detail. You should have a clear idea of what you want to capture, why, and how. You should create a storyboard or a shot list that outlines the key scenes, the camera movements, the transitions, and the duration of each shot. You should also prepare a flight plan that specifies the route, the altitude, the speed, and the waypoints of your aerial vehicle. You should also have a backup plan in case of technical issues, weather changes, or unexpected situations. Finally, you should coordinate with your team, such as the pilot, the camera operator, the director, and the editor, and communicate clearly and effectively throughout the shoot.

4 Execute the shoot

On the day of the shoot, you need to execute your plan as smoothly and efficiently as possible. You should arrive early, check your equipment, test your communication system, and brief your team. You should also monitor the weather, the traffic, and the battery level of your aerial vehicle. You should follow your storyboard or shot list, but also be flexible and creative, and look for opportunities to improvise or capture something unexpected. You should also review your footage periodically, and make sure it meets your standards and expectations.

5 Edit the footage

After the shoot, you need to edit your footage and make it look amazing. You should import your footage to your editing software, and organize it by date, location, and scene. You should also backup your footage to a secure storage device, and delete any unwanted or unusable clips. You should then trim, crop, and arrange your clips according to your narrative and artistic vision. You should also adjust the color, the contrast, the brightness, and the sharpness of your clips, and apply any filters, effects, or transitions that can enhance your footage. You should also add any music, sound effects, or voice-overs that can complement your footage and convey your message.

6 Enhance the footage

Finally, you need to enhance your footage and make it stand out from the crowd. You can use some advanced techniques and tools to improve your footage and add some wow factor. For example, you can use stabilization software to reduce any shakiness or distortion in your footage, and make it look smoother and more professional. You can also use motion tracking software to add graphics, text, or animations to your footage, and make it more informative and engaging. You can also use 360-degree software to create immersive and interactive videos that allow your viewers to explore your footage from different angles and perspectives.