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How to travel with a photography drone

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Travelling without a drone is a rare occurrence when you are an avid photographer. With the help of drones, you will be able to capture all the stunning places you visit in a way that amazes the viewers. Your travel photography goals are not achieved without having visuals that pull the audience into the mesmerizing beauty of the landscape.

Luckily, drones are just the perfect tool to make that happen. But the challenge arises when you have to decide on the type of drone that will be a perfect travel companion. This is because the weight and size of your equipment matter significantly in this regard.

Drone destination photography
Drone destination photography
However, before buying the right drone for your travel photography ideas, you must first:

Check the Destination Country’s Rules for Bringing UAV’s

While drones are pretty popular across the globe, it’s better to review the local laws of the country you are about to visit. The drone laws differ greatly from one country to the other. Therefore, as a responsible travel photographer, it is your responsibility to read up on all the rules before you plan your adventure.

Bringing Your Drone Through Customs

Along with the laws that will apply once you are in the country, you must also learn the custom regulations. There are some places that will require you to have a registration certificate for your drone which you must show at the airport.

It should come as no surprise that there are some places that do not let travelers carry drones. Thus, if you do not want your drone to get seized, you should make sure that you are aware of all the rules and requirements that are applicable in your case.
Aerial travel photography
Aerial travel photography

Determine the Airline’s Limit

You will need to put the batteries in your carry-on bag since the checked baggage is generally placed in a battery-friendly environment. But even as you get ready to board the batteries onto the plane, you must be sure about what the airline’s limit is.

If your drone uses a battery that falls in the high-capacity category, you might not be able to carry more than two of them.
LA Surfers drone photo
LA Surfers Drone Photo

Choose the Locations Wisely

Once you have finally entered the country and passed customs, you should pay attention to the kind of places you cover. Staying away from places with massive crowds is always recommended. Moreover, make sure that the weather in the country you’re covering is drone-friendly.

Protect Your Gear

You cannot just travel with your drone in any bag. You must invest in a case that keeps your drone safe and secure. There are also special bags that lower the risk of damage due to the presence of batteries.

Bottom Line

Before you start your adventure of becoming a travel photographer, it is important that you learn all the important rules and regulations in place regarding drone travel. Once you have done your research, you can begin capturing breathtaking views with one of the greatest inventions in the world of photography.
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How to Select a Drone Insurance Plan and Provider for commercial Photography and video

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Drones have taken the world of photography by storm! They have revolutionized how we capture emotions and natural beauty in our daily lives. If a farmer wants to capture how their crops look from the sky, they can use these flying objects to take a snap from hundreds of meters above the ground.

If building contractors want to create a blueprint of their construction site, they can use drones to capture high-definition images through these unmanned aerial vehicles. For these significant reasons, businesses who want to provide best-in-class service to their clients, make efficient use of drones all the time.

This article would help you understand how you can insure your drone so that a provider can cover your expenses in case this cutting-edge flying technology gets damaged.
Large scale event and festival commercial photography insurance
Large scale event and festival

Insurance Options for Drone Owners

Like any other insurance plan, drone owners whether they are corporate entities or individual users can acquire either a basic policy or comprehensive coverage for their drones.

Basic insurance coverage

Losing or breaking gear sucks. Having to replace gear at full price is even worse and in some cases can bankrupt a small business. As per the Professional Photographers Association of America, basic coverage for drones can cover losses of up to $100,000. The coverage also includes theft and disappearance under mysterious circumstances. If you are not satisfied with a basic insurance policy, then there is always a comprehensive coverage plan that you can sign up for. Even if you’re just getting started and are still wondering what drone to choose from, always consider the worst case scenario and plan ahead.

It is a good rule of thumb that any time you can damage someone else’s property or be personally charged for damages, you should be insured. This is especially critical when dealing with real estate, construction projects, or large scale events and festivals.
Drone video insurance
Insurance is important, especially near water

Comprehensive insurance coverage

This type of insurance policy can include damage caused to other party’s property or body from your drone. It is important that you do not change any part of the evidence and wait for your insurance provider to evaluate and take pictures of the place where the incident happened.

Some companies might ask you for your remote flying license issued by the Federal Aviation Authority before they provide you with a comprehensive coverage plan.

How to select your drone insurance provider?

Your best bet for getting a suitable policy for your drone is to go online and search for different insurance providers and get a free quote for your drone.

The basic information that you will need to provide a potential drone insurer would include:
  • Type of coverage you are looking for.
  • Your contact information including name and email address.
  • The type and model of your UAV or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
  • Where and how you are planning to use your drone.
Real estate photographer insurance
Real estate drone photography

How Much will commercial drone insurance cost you?

While each company has its own fee structure and terms and conditions to insure your drone, you should be ready to pay at least $750 per year to ensure your remote flying object. However, there are certain items that your insurance provider would need you to keep track of.

These often include:
  • Flight time
  • FAA license
  • Maintenance log for your drone
  • Where do you usually fly your remote controlled flying object

Concluding Thoughts

Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles are a great way to capture images that you can cherish for a lifetime. However, it is important that you insure this equipment because you never know what it can collide with when it’s flying hundreds of feet above the ground. Protect yourself and your business physically and financially by carrying the proper insurance and always studying the local laws.
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Top Drones for getting started with Aerial Videography

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Getting started with aerial videography can seem like an enormous task at first but this article should help you get started in your journey to becoming a drone pilot. When we talk about a drone, we almost certainly think of a multicopter or a quadcopter. Featuring four or more propellers, drones now serve as flying cameras for all your aerial photography and videography needs.

However, the market is filled with a wide range of models with different specs, designs and features.

What are the best drones for getting started with drone photography and video?

DJI Phantom 4

Starting off with more of an advanced level drone, the Phantom 4 brings with it a more sturdy construction, updated object-avoidance technology and – like so many of DJI’s offerings – an excellent dedicated remote control which connects to an equally feature-rich smartphone app. 4K video recording is supported, and the gimbal design means you get the steadiest footage even when the drone is moving at full speed and changing direction. The biggest downside is battery life, which is only around 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how hard you’re pushing the drone. You can capture professional level footage with this drone.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

DJI’s Mavic Pro revolutionized the way we see camera drones. Did you think it was possible to carry and fold a good-quality lens without putting a dent in either the weight or volume of your carry-on? The drone camera became so popular that many other brands copied the functionality and features of this amazing product. The drone camera is also available in a Pro version.

Some of the most exciting features of this model include the hyperlapse mode and a quick shot dolly zoom emulator, which give this camera an edge over its rivals. The Zoom features a zoom lens (24-48mm efl) which is great for cinematic effects. The drone camera offers a flight time of around 31 minutes and an impressive 8 GB internal storage. With a max speed of 44 mph, the camera guarantees superior performance.

DJI Spark

Spark offers great value for money. Although it doesn’t fold, the propellers do! Thanks to its rugged body and high definition 1080p resolution, the drone camera offers superior performance and tracks subjects well. DJI is known for making spectacular products and this drone camera is worth every penny. This is the perfect drone to learn on.

With its intelligent flight mode, you get flawless footage and intuitive Quick Shot Videos with just a tap. The camera is built to detect clearly patterned surfaces and guarantees precision control. Spark recognizes your face to lift off from your hands and you can capture incredible aerial shots without having to use a mobile phone or remote control.

DJI Mavic Air

The Mavic Air is a ground-breaking technical achievement, a powerful drone that features rear, downward and front-facing distance sensors. This product is capable of identifying obstacles and efficiently plots a course to avoid a tree or wall.

Another great feature of the product is the controller which folds away beautifully. DJI’s app also offers some really cool effects. With 3-dimensional environment sensing capabilities, the drone camera offers a maximum flight time of 21 minutes. Foldable and portable, the model’s gimbal dampeners ensure steadier shots for superior aerial videography.

Parrot Anafi

Europe’s biggest drone manufacturer, the French company Parrot, launched Anafi in mid 2018. While some users don’t like the carbon-fiber elements of the drone’s body, the model is one of the best built products on the market. Thanks to its automatic take-off and landing along with GPS-based features, the drone camera is easy to operate.

The only drawback might be the gimbal which is only powered on two axes and depends on the software to manage sharp turns. For that reason, the manufacturers charge extra for in-app features including follow-me modes.

On the plus side, the gimbal can be turned for an unobstructed angle which is something most drones fail to manage. There is also a zoom feature which is great.

ZeroTech Dobby

Dobby is an easy-to-fly drone camera which is capable of flying up to 100 meters away from any Android or iOS device. Simply unfold the prop arms and sync your device and have a blast with the DoFun app. Featuring intelligent flight modes, Dobby is great at target/face tracking, somersault and video selfie.

Did you know you could even control this model with your voice? The drone camera can shoot in 4K when you switch off EIS or the digital stabilization. You get fairly decent 13 megapixel stills, but performance can vary while shooting videos. Dobby works best in environments with no wind. However, it’s a brilliant device for taking short video bites and taking selfies.

Bottom Line

Always make sure to check your local laws and regulations to avoid fines. In some cases you may be required to apply for a filming permit. Drone cameras are great for capturing aerial shots and covering events. When buying the best drone camera make sure you choose a model from our top list to get the best one for your aerial videography needs.

After making your big purchase you may want to start thinking about getting your drone insured. Make sure and consider if this is something you’ll need when starting your drone career as a professional or just a hobbyist. If you plan to fly commercially you’ll need to get your Part 107 Drone Certification with the FAA.
Learning to fly a drone
Learning how to fly a drone
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