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Like many people, I am amazed by aerial photos taken with drones. The world looks so different from above. As much as I love drone photography and the new trends concerning drones, can drones be used in professional wedding photography? I recently used a drone in an engagement session as well as a wedding. Although they make great overhead videos that bring your wedding video from awesome to epic, how can that translate into still images?
The simple answer is that drone photography for weddings can work, but sparingly and on a case-by-case basis. The truth is, drones are loud and disruptive and distracting, making them a bad choice for ceremonies. However, depending on the type of wedding and outdoor venue, an overhead image of a wedding venue or ceremony location can be a beautiful addition to a couple’s wedding album. This is usually best taken before guests arrive.
Taking photos of people from above is a completely different matter. Drone photography definitely is not the best choice for portrait photography, but again, depending on the location and the weather, portraits where the couple lays on the ground can be used (again sparingly) to create a dynamic image, or a portrait of the couple walking in a landscape.
So what is my final verdict?
Drone use for still images in wedding photography can be unique and fun, but only for a couple specific photos. It should not be your go-to choice for every wedding you photograph, nor can you guarantee that it will be worth using at every wedding. Drones are great for outdoor weddings at visually appealing places and are only good for a few images at most.
