On-Location Workflow
You Have Limited Flight Time
Each battery gives you 25-35 minutes. If you carry 3 batteries, that’s roughly 90 minutes of total flight time for any location. Aimless flying burns through those minutes with nothing to show for it.
This workflow helps you make the most of every minute in the air.
Before You Fly (10 Minutes)
- Walk the location on foot: look for obstacles, power lines, people, takeoff spots
- Identify your key shots: what are the 3-5 must-have clips from this location?
- Check the sun position: is the light where you planned it? If not, adjust your shot list.
- Verify airspace: quickly check your app for any restrictions at this specific location
- Set your camera: 4K, correct frame rate, ND filter matched to light, manual white balance
Walking the location before flying serves two purposes: you spot hazards (power lines, towers, people) and you discover angles you didn’t plan. The best shot of your trip might come from something you noticed on foot, not from Google Earth.
The Flight Sequence
Battery 1: Establishing Shots and Big Picture
- Rising reveal: start low, rise to show the full landscape
- Wide orbit: slow circle showing the location from multiple angles
- Top-down: straight-down view of the most interesting terrain feature
These shots give you context footage that works as establishing shots in your edit.
Battery 2: Creative and Detail Shots
- Tracking shots: follow a road, river, or trail through the landscape
- Close-range details: fly lower and slower near interesting features
- Pull-backs and reveals: use obstacles to create dramatic reveals
- Experimental angles: try something creative that wasn’t in your plan
Battery 3 (if available): Golden Hour / Reshoots
- Re-shoot your best shots in the changing light
- Get the “hero shot”: the one clip that will open your video
- Fly higher for alternate perspectives you didn’t try earlier
Hit Record Early
Start recording before your shot begins and stop recording after it ends. The first and last 2 seconds of movement are usually the weakest. By recording extra, you can trim the imperfect parts in editing.
Review On-Site
After each battery, land and review your footage on your phone or tablet. Check for:
- Exposure issues
- Props in frame
- Drone shadows
- Shakiness or jerkiness
- Did you actually capture what you planned?
If something’s wrong, fix it now. You can’t come back at golden hour tomorrow.
4K video eats storage fast. Carry at least 128GB (256GB is better for multi-day trips). Review and delete clearly bad footage daily to free up space. Don’t get to day 5 of your trip and realize your card is full.
Dealing With People
At popular travel destinations, people will notice your drone:
- Curious onlookers: they’ll ask what you’re doing. Answer briefly and keep flying. Your battery is draining.
- Hostile reactions: some people hate drones. Be polite, don’t argue, and if necessary, land and relocate.
- Local authorities: if police or park rangers approach, land immediately, be cooperative, and show any required documentation.
Quick Check
Q: What should you do with Battery 1? A: Establishing shots: rising reveals, wide orbits, and top-down views that capture the big picture.
Q: Why should you review footage between batteries? A: To catch problems (exposure, shake, shadows) while you can still fix them, not when you’re home editing.
Q: How should you handle hostile reactions to your drone? A: Be polite, don’t argue. If necessary, land and relocate. It’s not worth a confrontation.
What’s Next?
You’ve captured stunning footage across your trip. Now let’s turn those clips into a travel video worth watching.
Pilot Institute: from capture to edit, learn the full workflow.