Drone technology has impacted numerous industries in recent years, including advertising and filmmaking. Filmmakers can use drones to capture unique, cinematic shots that provide viewers with scope and scale.

For example, drones can be used to achieve sweeping reveal shots, also known as pull-back shots. To achieve this shot, the drone should begin at a low altitude and focus on a single subject before slowly pulling up at a fixed speed. This process gradually views the setting surrounding the main subject of the shot, which should remain centered in the shot as the drone pulls out.

Reveal shots can be captured from many angles, while bird’s eye shots, or rocket shots, are taken from directly above the subject. Filmmakers focusing on buildings, community layouts, or landscapes can greatly benefit from this simple shot, which can be achieved by directing the camera lens down, perpendicular to the ground, while steadily elevating the drone. Operators must remember to monitor for wind at higher altitudes.

Finally, the fly-through is a unique camera shot that only a drone can pull off. This shot is designed to provide viewers with a first-person experience of moving through an opening or tight space. These are complex shots, as filmmakers must carefully plan the full route of the drone to avoid problems. If possible, drone operators preparing for a fly-through shot should invest in obstacle avoidance software - otherwise, the drone might crash into something or automatically shut down.