Ben Sheehy breaks down how to get yourself started in aerial photography. He outlines some of the equipment that you should purchase, how you should go about practicing your new hobby, and some general photography tips. Check back regularly for more information about how to get your aerial photography adventures "off the ground."

1. Aerial Photography: Getting Started

2. So you’re looking to get started in aerial
photography, but you’re unsure where
to start.

3. Well, you’ve come to the right
place.

4. This guide is going to help you go from
someone who is wondering what the
heck am I doing to becoming a pro
quicker than you think.

5. We’ll go through some tips on finding
the right copter for you, getting the
copter off the ground, how to practice
your trade and some general
photography notes that you should
keep in mind.

6. Let’s get started.

7. Finding the right equipment

8. Obviously, you need to find some
equipment to get yourself started.

9. I’ve always been a huge supporter
of DJI Phantoms.

10. These quadcopters are high
performance and are also very durable
(something that is extremely important
when you’re just starting out).

11. First, you need to figure out what
your purpose is for the quadcopter.

12. Are you simply doing still photography,
or do you want to capture video as
well? While all of the copters listed will
be capable of video, that does not
mean that it will be quality video.

13. If you’re looking to capture quality
video, I must note that you’re going to
have to spend around $900.

14. I would recommend the DJI Phantom 2
with Zenmuse H3-3D gimbal.

15. You’re also going to need a GoPro
camera to go with this.

16. If you’re looking to go a bit cheaper,
you can settle for the earlier model -
the H3-2D.

17. The difference: the newer model
stabilizes on three axes; the older
model only stabilizes on two.

18. The main difference between using a
copter for video versus still
photography is the stabilization.

19. Stabilizing the copter is what allows
seamless video that is high quality (if
you’ve practiced an adequate amount
of times).

20. Stabilizing helps prevent the copter
from bouncing all over the place - even
in moderate wind.

21. However, if you want to really kick still
photography’s butt, I would
recommend the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+.

22. This model also has 3-axis brushless
gimbal and allows you to shoot DNG
raw as well as integrating with your
iPhone, iPad or Android device.

23. This gives you a first-person view as
well as the ability to control the
camera.

24. If you’re looking for something a bit
cheaper, I’d recommend the DJI
Phantom FC40 Quadcopter.

25. At $499, this is a quadcopter that
will give you a quality flying
machine that will also be able to
endure your beginners crashes.

26. Practice

27. It’s smart to practice flying before
you take your quadcopter outside.

28. That’s why I would recommend
buying an indoor flying machine
such as the Blade Nano QX.

29. This copter is priced at under $100
and will allow you to get a handle
on just how these quadcopters
maneuver.

30. Although it’s some extra money to
spend right off the bat, realize that
flying indoors first will significantly
reduce the amount of crashes you
have.

31. And when you’re dropping over
$500 on a DJI Phantom, you want to
keep those crashes to a minimum
(no matter how durable they might
be).

32. Notes for Photography

33. When it comes to photography, there
are a bunch of things to consider.

34. This will give you a quick
breakdown of different aspects of
photography to get you started.

35. Light

36. First, you want to start with the
lighting.

37. Overcast days will provide you with
a much softer light.

38. Shooting when the sun is overhead on
a clear day will provide you with a
minimum amount of shadows.

39. If you’re looking to shoot one side
of an object in particular, go at a
time of the day when the sun is
casting light on that side of the
object.

40. Moisture

41. When photographing from the sky,
realize that the further you elevate
off the ground the further you’re
moving away from the object that
you’re capturing.

42. Mist can create a very dramatic
shot - or it can ruin a long-distance
shot.

43. Be mindful of how clear the air is
before you go out and shoot.

44. Plan Your Shots

45. Don’t just go out there without a
plan.

46. One thing that I would recommend
is doing a fly-over with your
quadcopter and scoping out the
area.

47. Investigate what images you want
to capture.

48. When the copter returns, look over
the film and plan out a route for
you to take.

49. Be specific.

50. Take note of how long you want to
hold shots, how close you want to
get to the subject, and where you’re
moving next.

51. This way, your videos will have a
distinct direction to them.

52. Make sure you check back regularly.

53. I’ll be posting more tips on how to get
your aerial photography skills off the
ground.