The last time you attended a friend’s wedding, you brought your drone with you to take a few pictures after the ceremony. When you checked out the shots later, they were impressive! That has you wondering, can I take photos with my drone at weddings? Is this a way to make money?
You can turn your drone wedding photography into a lucrative side hustle or career by following these steps:
- Buy a drone suitable for the job
- Get your license (Part 107 Certification)
- Start and register your business
- Market yourself
- Price your services
- Find clients
In this handy guide, we’ll explore each of the above facets of wedding drone photography. Whether you want to shoot weddings occasionally or as a full-time gig, by the time you’re done reading, you’ll know how to bring in an income stream from your photography skills.
Buying a Drone Appropriate for Wedding Photography
You know a way around a drone, there’s no doubt about that, but what kinds of pictures is your drone capable of taking? If you don’t have a drone equipped with a high-quality camera, then you won’t get much in the way of business.
Quality is key- with images and videos. By capturing clips of beautiful, tear-jerker moments at the wedding, you can offer drone videography as another service. That means more money.
Your drone must also have the capability to stay in the air for a while. Some couples will appreciate overhead shots of their wedding venue and reception, so make sure your drone can capture this.
Finally, let’s talk about noise. Nothing ruins the mood of a wedding faster than the mechanical whirring of a drone zipping by. You want one that’s as whisper quiet as possible so that the bride, groom, and guests aren’t distracted and taken out of the moment.
We won’t leave you on your own to figure out which drones fit the bill. Here are three of our favorite DJI picks.
Inspire 2
Preferred by professional filmmakers, according to DJI, the Inspire 2 will most certainly suit your needs. It boasts the CineCore 2.0 image-processing system for the crispest, most lifelike and detailed photos you’ve ever taken. The added Zenmuse X4S, 1080 P live view feature, and the teeny-tiny sensor (seriously, it’s only an inch) augment your photo-taking abilities as well.
If it’s videos you’re after, the Inspire 2 can handle it. It can take high-quality video in 5.2 or 6K resolution with video support from Apple ProRes and CinemaDNG. You can keep your videos on a Micro-SD card and the DJI CINESSD at the same time, maximizing the amount of content that you can capture.
Its flight time of 23 to 27 minutes, which is nothing to sneeze at, nor is the max speed of the Inspire 2, which is 94 kilometers an hour!
Check out more for the Insipre 2 on DJI’s website here or Amazon here.
Phantom 4 Pro
Another DJI drone that comes highly recommended for budding photographers is the Phantom 4 Pro. Although it’s not the newest kid on the block, it’s a beloved favorite for a reason. You can snap those blink-and-you’ll-miss-em moments, taking still images in 20 megapixels. You’ll also get video in astoundingly good 4K quality.
Take a look at the Phantom 4 Pro via DJI here or Amazon here.
Mavic 2 Pro
The Mavic 2 Pro is made for photography. It’s equipped with a stunning Hasselblad camera that comes straight from Sweden. This L1D-20c camera allows you to achieve aerial photos in wondrous 20-megapixel quality. That’s all thanks to the Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution or HNCS technology included with the camera.
Improve your dynamic range with the Dlog-M color profile in 10 bits. This gives you the freedom to capture a breadth of colors, more than one billion. Most eight-bit color-coding limits you to 16 million colors only. The CMOS sensor will also impress, as it outshines the original Mavic Pro’s. The new sensors improve ISO range and even work well in limited or low lighting.
For more on the Mavic 2 Pro, view DJI’s page here or Amazon’s here.
Getting Your License
With your drone ordered and on the way, in the meantime, it’s time to get your license. Any drone operator who plans to make money with their drone must obtain their Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
We have a wonderful, in-depth resource on everything you need to do to get your license right here on our blog. As a short recap, let's break down the steps you need to follow:
- Pass the test
- Request your certificate through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system
- Receive your license
- Register your drone
- Enjoy your certification for the next two years
Any drone operator who plans to make money with their drone must obtain their Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Registering Your Business
If you are serious about pursuing wedding drone photography, then you’re going to need to register your business. This makes your work legal, giving you tax and legal benefits, as well as personal liability protection. Additionally, it improves your standing in the eyes of your customers.
There are some exceptions, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For instance, if your business name is your legal, given name, then you can skip registering your business. But if you’re planning on calling your business by any other name, you will have to register it (even if you do not have other employees).
You can register your business name several ways, says the SBA. These are:
- Domain name, which covers the website address for your business
- A “doing business as” name, often the same or close to the domain name
- Trademark, which offers federal protection
- An entity name, which provides state protection
Interested in trademarking the name of your company? You’ll have to go through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
When it’s just you running the company, your business type is a sole proprietorship. This guide from legal resource, Nolo, has information on how to register yourself as a sole proprietor in every state in the US. The registration process can vary from state to state, as will the registration fee. That's correct, it’s not free. On average, it costs $20 to register as a sole proprietor.
What if you decide to take on a second drone photographer, or maybe a video editor or photo retoucher? If anyone else works at your company, you have to upgrade your registration to a limited liability company (LLC).
You’ll have to add “LLC” to the name of your company. That means going through the name registration steps that we outlined above. And if you have a patent for your original business name, you will have to reapply for a new patent with the LLC name.
Once you get your name registered, you will have to find an LLC filing office in your state. There, you will fill out paperwork called Articles and Organization, which is the paperwork pertaining to your LLC. This paperwork may also be called “Certificate of Organization” or “Certificate of Formation,” depending on where you live.
Again, Nolo has a list of each state and information on where to file your articles and organization.
Do You Need Photo and Video Editing Equipment and Tools?
Congratulations on becoming an official business! You’re well on your way to making money with your drone, but there’s still a little more work to do first.
Next, you want to think about the quality of the product you’re going to put out. You may be a really great photographer, but sometimes a picture can be even better if you can cut out parts or blur a distraction. Photo editing software is essential for this.
As we’ve talked about on this blog before, programs like Adobe Photoshop are an industry standard, though it’s by no means cheap. You’ll have to decide if Photoshop or a similar program is worth the investment for you.
If you offer videos as one of your services, then more than likely, you’ll have to edit these videos from time to time. From brightening dark footage to making cuts, adding transitions, and even including royalty-free music, video editing software can make ordinary videos the most treasured memento of an elegant event.
For the individual looking for the best video editing software out there, Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro are the industry standards.
You can find free video editing software with a cursory Internet search. But beware: this software often creates cheap looking products, and savvy customers will notice that you went this route. Considering that this is a couples’ most memorable day, let’s have higher standards for our brides and grooms.
You have two options: edit your photos or videos yourself, or hire a professional. Remember, adding any other member to your team makes you an LLC rather than a sole proprietor, so be sure to register accordingly.
Marketing Yourself
The world, right now at least, doesn’t know you exist. So let's change that! The best way to do so is by marketing.
Marketing may seem like a boring or uncomfortable job for a drone photographer who just wants to fly and shoot all day, but it’s necessary, and if done well, you'll see worthwhile results. Here are the elements of marketing you must take care of to set up for your future success:
Build a Website
It’s unacceptable for any business, big or small, to not have a website. That means you. When you hear about a company for the first time, what do you? You Google it and look through the site. If you're doing this, assume that everyone else is too. If brides and grooms can't find a website representing your work, they’ll move onto the next drone photographer and forget your name. Don't let this be you.
Website Must-Haves:
- Homepage
- About page
- List of services offered
- Pricing
If you sell your services as a package, then have a link to your online store. Those with the time and the writing chops should consider starting a blog about wedding drone photography to draw in more business. Whether you do this or hire someone to it, is your choice.
These days, it’s simple to build a website. There are great free options out there or some with small fees for buying a domain name. By going the free route, you will be limited in the site design templates, which may degrade your site’s uniqueness.
If you want a really awesome-looking site but you’re uncertain of your ability to do it yourself, then you can always rely on a website designer/builder to put the site together.
Post Your Portfolio
Arguably, the most important part of any photographer’s website is their portfolio. Since photography is a visual art, you have to show people what you’ve done. It will give your clients a clear impression of what you’re capable of capturing for them.
Share your best photos and videos: the ones that invoke the most happiness and love. Don’t try to shoehorn your portfolio into another part of your website. It needs to be its own page, devoted to your work.
As you bring in new business, keep adding to the digital portfolio, showing off more and more of your photography.
Create a Social Media Presence
Every company is on social media these days. You have to be on them as well. Make sure that you hit the big ones: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Visual social media like Instagram suits photographers best because it's easy to share your portfolio.
Don’t regurgitate what’s on your website. Post new, exciting content. For instance, maybe a behind-the-scenes of how you photograph with your drone. You can share images or videos of your drone.
Keep your social media pages active. Don’t be afraid to repost other content you find interesting, giving credit to the owner, of course. If you find useful content from www.letusdrone.com, please share it with others. A “me, me, me” mentality can bore people and come across as too salesy. You want your social media pages to be a valuable resource for others so that people keep coming back even after they have become your client.
Attend Events and Expos
Wedding-focussed events happen all the time across the country. Brides-to-be are constantly browsing for dresses and vendors that they want to use for their big day. Make sure that you’re present at when these take place. Don’t walk around passing out business cards. Look for these events well in advance and pay for a booth.
You’ll still need business cards, of course. If you can make a backdrop of your favorite drone photography shots for your booth, that draws people in and promotes your work. You might even have your drone on hand (but check first if you're allowed to fly it indoors at the event).
Check out the post we wrote here about advertising a drone business.
Pricing Your Services
With clients starting to come in, you must know how you’re going to price your services. According to this post from Thumbtack, most people will pay $250 to $300 for a good aerial photographer. Considering you’re working in weddings, you could probably boost that price up a bit higher.
Whether you want to charge $300 or $400 outright or price your services in certain ways is a choice you’ll have to make. Here are some other pricing plans you might offer.
Using Your Own Drone and Gear
Buying a drone, gear, and equipment doesn’t come cheap by any means. If you paid for one of the best photography drones on the market, then you know you’ll get photos and videos in only the most stellar quality. Thus, you can charge more money than someone using a middle-of-the-road drone.
How Many Photos You Take
Some wedding drone photographers might charge by photo count. For instance, you may have a few packages, like 200 photos, 500 photos, or even 1,000 photos or more. You would have to keep track of how many pictures you take throughout the wedding and reception. This can sometimes slip your mind in all the fun and festivities.
How Long You Work
In order to not be tied to a photo count, many drone photographers charge by the hour. For instance, you might offer a flat rate as discussed above and then request additional payment for each extra hour. Thumbtack quotes some drone photographers as charging between $50 and $70 every hour after that initial 90 minutes is up.
Whether You Offer Video Services
Because you can take videos on your drone camera, you will want to reflect this extra service in your pricing. If you can capture video at a 4K resolution and shoot for 30 continuous minutes, Thumbtack suggests that you can charge $5,000 to $7,000 for your services. By the way, your editing work get factored into this price.
For shorter videos, one or two minutes long, you might ask for $400 to $450 per video. Once again, this price covers editing. Thumbtack mentions that rate is more common for real estate drone photography, but it could include wedding drone photographers as well.
Distance You Have to Travel
You can also charge by distance traveled. Maybe you work only 20 miles from your home or business. If you have to travel outside of that radius for a wedding or reception, you may consider increasing the price of your services based on the distance.
Finding Clients
You’re not the first drone photographer with the idea of getting into weddings, and you won’t be the last. Find a way to differentiate yourself. You don't need to be gimmicky, but do take a moment and think. What area of wedding drone photography do you excel at most? Can you get breathtaking overhead shots? Do you offer video as well as photography? Perhaps you do all your editing in-house. Maybe your personality is attractive to others and brides and grooms love having you around at the reception. Whatever it is that makes you and your artwork different from others, promote it. Keep this information in mind as you begin to build your client list. Here are some of our other tips for securing work:
You’re not the first drone photographer with the idea of getting into weddings, and you won’t be the last. Find a way to differentiate yourself.
Use Job Boards
Good, old-fashioned job boards probably won’t ever go out of style. From Indeed to Monster and even Craigslist, you can search around for weddings in your neighborhood or surrounding towns and then see if you can get the gig.
Get on Social Media
Social media is great for marketing, and it can also it can land you new clients. You can post on your page that you have availabilities and see who bites. Also, try joining a handful of wedding-related groups or boards on sites like Facebook.
Sometimes the moderator of these groups keeps them closed and requires you to send a request to access. Once you’re in, watch the activity in the group, commenting here and there. When someone mentions their need for a photographer, you can jump in. Since you’re not a complete stranger, the people in the group will be more willing to look into your services.
Groups like these are very niche, in that brides or grooms may start a wedding group in a specific city or state. You can even find a group dedicated to wedding drone photography. Post here, too.
Join Wedding Sites
When a couple gets engaged, they’re soon going to enter the wedding research phase. If you can get your business listed on a major wedding resource website like The Knot, you can earn a lot of clients.
How do you do this? The Knot has a professional page called The Knot for Local Businesses where you can make a login and advertise your business. If a bride-to-be and future groom searches photographers in your area, you’ll pop up.
Referral Systems
You might also consider starting a referral system on your website or through email marketing. With a referral system, you give your customers money off for each client they refer to you. You can also give them other useful incentives, such as freebies or exclusive offers.
While most of your clients will only get married once, their friends or other wedding guests will likely be getting married soon. Also, consider doing other forms of drone photography that newly married couples will be interested in to drive repeat business.
Prioritize in Word-of- Mouth
Don’t underestimate the importance of word of mouth. We may live in a tech-heavy society, but that makes word-of-mouth recommendations all the more reputable. If someone likes a business enough to talk about it with their friends, family, or colleagues, the person on the other end of the conversation will check out the business themselves.
Not ready to believe us? Check out this infographic from the online marketing geniuses at Invesp. According to their data, when you get a word-of-mouth suggestion, you have a much higher chance of making a purchase: 90 percent higher. These recommendations are up to 5X more valuable than paid media.
Even marketing executives know the value of word-of-mouth. Up to 64% of marketers call it “the most effective form of marketing.”
Conclusion
Drone wedding photography captures the sentimental moments as the bride and groom exchange “I dos” and then party the night away. From the bride walking down the aisle to the cake cutting and first dance, you can be there to photograph it all.
We hope that this resource is a great starting spot if you’re curious about shooting weddings with your drone camera. Good luck!
