Aerial photography, or drone photography as it’s more popularly known, has slowly been rising in popularity among the photography community. It caused quite a stir in the community because of its ability to provide photographers the ability to capture moments from perspectives that were accessible only through costly means and resources.

Nowadays, with drone technology, everybody has the ability to buy a drone, no matter what their price range is. If you’re just starting out, you might be wondering where you should start in order to get the most out of your aerial photography. Whether you’re an amateur looking to try a drone, or a professional photographer looking to break into the drone industry, here is a rundown on some of the basic equipment that you’ll need to get started.

As you go down the road of drones, you’ll find your own personal preferences and which gear best suits your needs. But these are the basics of what you’ll need when you’re starting out.

A Drone

Well of course, to start out in aerial photography, you’re going to need a drone. When choosing a drone, there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration. These range from your own personal budget, the kind of battery life you’re looking for, and other types of features that you may be interested in. It’s very important that you do enough research and pick a drone that you’re comfortable with.

A Beginner’s Drone for Practicing

Before you take off with your shiny, new drone, if you have the budget for it, purchase a small, inexpensive drone that you can use for practicing. It would be a waste to crash your expensive drone on its maiden voyage, don’t you think so? Practice with a beginner’s drone, and when you’re comfortable with the controls, you can graduate to your professional drone.

FPV Tech

An FPV, or First Person View helps you see what your drone is looking at. This is very helpful in getting the perfect aerial photography shot mid-air. While it is possible to take shots even without the FPV, seeing exactly what you’re drone is looking at gives you more control over the shots that you’ll be taking.

Drone Accessories

While your drone is sure to come with the basics — a battery pack, charger, propellers, etc. you’ll quickly find that you’ll need more than just the kit accessories. Chances are, you’ll need spares of everything, especially batteries. Most drones run on an average of only twenty minutes, and it’ll take more than that for you to get the perfect aerial photography shot.