10 Tips for Cinematic Aerial Footage

With drones and quadcopters becoming a common tool in indy filmmaker arsenals, I wanted to share 10 of my tips for capturing the most cinematic aerial footage.

[@omaralharran]

Bart, I am amazed that even though your video is one year old; its still more relevant and useful then the new material that's out there. Thank you explaining things in detail and for sharing your awesome tips :)

[@BartJohnsonProd]

+Omar Harran You're welcome!

[@Iliasschneider]

Great essential Tips, up to the point without the looong blabla. Thank you very much Bart!

[@morporkTV]

Brilliant! I'm a total beginner, but these tips actually made my footage look instantly better. Thanks so much!

[@Soliamedia]

We are DEEPLY thankful for the time that you took to provide us with these extraordinary insights.

[@mikeslominski2605]

Great suggestions - especially the ND filter.

[@LifeWithPaulLorena]

Thanks Bart! I'm an absolute rookie when it comes to all things video, but through tips like yours I'm going to soak up as much as possible and try to get better every time I shoot.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

+The Motorhome Experiment No problem! I'll try to keep posting more helpful tips and tutorials!

[@worker_k]

Your tips are incredibly helpful. This is really what I want to find. Thank you.

[@YipYip1985]

Great tips. Especially the one about shooting flat. I think many people dont use it because it looks kind of terrible if you dont edit it but man it gives so much more possibilities to tweak it in post editing.

[@davidsamuels4246]

Chad, Thanks, this also is the first time I've actually commented on youtube. My true complements, as a very comfortable well paced informative piece. I'd personally try to keep my shot movements to two or 3 moves max vs adding as many as possible. But, I like the challenge and always open to trying new things. Thanks again, nice work!

[@timmerrick3595]

Bart, thank you so much for a fantastic video. These tips have helped me no end. Thank you for doing this.

[@Phiseldek]

Thank you, Bart, very concise and quite obviously based on experience. Really helpful, timelessly valid!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@blackmennewstyle]

Movement is the key for sure :) Shooting manual and setting a custom white balance with flat profile

[@MadDogExplorers]

Hi Bart! Thanks for taking the time to create these videos for the rest of the world!

[@waikikinz]

Clear and so useful ! I like it ! Thanks Bart, this was really good stuff.

[@bflyshortvideos952]

Great job Bart,,, cannot wait to take my drone out and try some of those well explained techniques ,,, job well done! Can't wait for more!

[@denisperez775]

you are an incredible teacher and professional. Very knowledgeable. Keep the videos coming!.

[@jkspinalchoice]

Great job. Very informative, and packed with solutions!

[@TaylorStonelyVO]

Thanks for taking the time to share some professional tips!

[@MaryKayUlsamer]

Outstanding tips, can't wait to try more flying low. Thank you so much!

[@ronaldcox8433]

Awesome tips Bart! I was taking notes as reminders on my next shoots. Always trying to get better and hone my craft.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rickinwast]

Very good points! Just received my first drone (M2Pro). Having a strong still camera background (Sony a7rii), shooting RAW, and always manual mode, you touched on a number of critical items. Oh, I've never shot video before!

[@267779]

Awesome tips!!! Thanks for the information.

[@furari_fukei]

I began aerial photography in a drone. It was a very useful animation. Thank you very much for your advice.

[@1differentangle]

Thanks you solved a huge issue for me - I didnt know that shutter speed was causing the propeller flicker I had no clue!

[@WatchJoelTV]

Nice Job. Finally a guy that knows how to get to the point. Stick with it. - JJ

[@wilsonshooting]

This video has helped me make better drone videos. I've watched it many times. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@petediaz1492]

Thanks for the great tips, specially the shutter speed info

[@silbay]

Very good information. Not often you see someone that talks from a photographer/videographer point of view instead of the typical mediocre is good enough KZbin film maker mindset

[@ironicallyorange3277]

great, informative, and cut to the point video thank you so much!

[@ChristopherChanCanada]

Thank you for those useful tips, they are really helpful.

[@nh18233]

Thanks Bart , great advice and well presented

[@KenHada]

Thank you Bart! Thoughtful advice!

[@kenjuen]

Great video and advice, thanks!

[@thanosbikos]

Excellent tips! Thank you very much.

[@lastinglove5415]

Thanks for the tips! Solid video.

[@TheProCut17]

thanks for the tips Bart, I appreciate it.

[@wakatmultimedia6556]

Thanks man. Some of them were very helpful! Cheers!

[@EZTechTraining]

Thank you, very nice video. One of the best I have seen!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thank you!

[@IUSECAMERAS]

GREAT info! i'm planning to cop one for Christmas to add to my two T3i's and my T3

[@filmquar2605]

Awesome and very informative video - cleared a lot of stuff up :) Thanks!

[@AsgardStudios]

Great tips, Bart. Thanks for sharing!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks for watching!

[@smahood]

Great tips! Right to the point. Thanks

[@Dgantea]

Hey Bart, I dont give out compliments freely, But I've been looking for a helpful drone video like this pretty much all day. Your video is the most comprehensive so far. Thank you.

[@Dgantea]

I said it once I had to say it again. Awesome video.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

+Gantra Thank you very much! I am glad the video helped you! That's why I make them.

[@ActionMediaProductions]

The Pursuit with Dillon well said. I agree

[@heerhugowaardvanbovenaf2893]

Awsome tips....i will come back to this video regularly! thank you! You have a new fan!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks!

[@AshleyMarie1]

This is most helpful advice I've seen! Great video

[@kenhovland2234]

Great stuff - thank you. Subscribed!

[@thusohendricks4161]

Thanks Bart , it was an amazing footage, good lecture too. :)

[@jeffoffej]

Good stuff. Thanks man!

[@georgenixon4608]

Hi Bart just watched your cinematic aerial tips, very clear tips I will try out on my new drone. Thanks, look forward the the next.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks for checking it out! I hope you get some great footage with your drone.

[@CopperStateAerialPhotography]

Thanks Bart! I"m still new to this Aerial Photography thing and this was quite helpful.

[@sosteve9113]

Same here,newbie in drone flying

[@OahuNatureTours]

Excellent tutorial, Thank you!

[@tomdownes6961]

Absolutely well done, excellent points and great illustrations of the points! Subscribed.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks!

[@lordhaughton]

Fantastic video, best info i have seen so far .

[@nicholasdass1]

well done...love it

[@needlessgamer9644]

I have the Syma X8g some of the tips will come in helpful thanks!

[@BWWGL9]

As usual, a Professional Presentation.... without the his favorite music blaring in the background... as so many videos are now days. Thank for the 10 tips..... I've ben into photography for more than 40 years, and I'm going into using a Drone .... playing and getting the most out of it! I have to leave my photo studio behind and go into the field. No more Models or Table tops for awhile. Viewers note, he knows what he doing, I could tell within a few minutes. Bill Blast Photography (Ret.)

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thank you for the kind words! I hope these tips help you as you get into the drone photography business. Not only is it something clients are looking for more of these days, its also a ton of fun! I wish you the best of luck!

[@juliofernandez72]

Exellent photo advice from a real expert

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thank you!

[@robertneufeld5965]

Thanks, great advice

[@73defcon]

very cool ....appreciate the honest professional advise ...thank you brother!

[@mitchellbanks197]

Super helpful video! Thanks

[@clementdelafontaine9145]

Really excellent, there were 2 tips that I never heard about before, despite the large number of "10 tips ..."-type videos I've seen in the past ! Thank you!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

+Clément de la Fontaine Glad I could help!

[@franciscojaime2092]

Thank you for the tips.i am a beginer in film with drone and this tips are so great. Congratulations!!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

+Francisco Jaime Glad I could help!

[@TheAnvil1971]

Nice vid, it helped a lot! Thanks and greetings from Germany.

[@HaraldBaldr]

Very good. Thanks!

[@oceanzebra9432]

Well presented mate, very succinct. 10/10

[@curtismattingly7505]

Thanks for the tips. Great thinking on the use of ND filters. I'll bring those into my filming quickly. Thanks again, excellent!

[@DadRandom]

Some great simple tools to think about.

[@EnzoGiannotti]

Very useful! Thanks!

[@melvincarter2698]

I flew my drone in a lot of different places when I first got it. I flew it around our towns water tower, the dam out by the lake, Tater Hill west of town, ponds, etc. My plan was to collect enough footage to import it into After Effects to lay down some really cool FX . Well, the first thing I noticed with most of my footage was I hardly had any where I flew long enough, straight enough. I flew the heck out of it, working the joysticks not going in one direction for very long at all. My plan was to fly through a 3D composited text title of my hometown. Well, I didn't fly in one direction long enough for the scene to work..lol...It's just some lessons I'm learning and having a more cinematic experience with it.

[@enfoquecomunicacion1421]

Thank you for sharing. Great tips

[@filmquar2605]

Epic video Bart...i really got lot from it. Thanks so much for posting!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

So glad you enjoyed it and got something from it! That's why I do this!

[@chulhyunkim8279]

Very helpful! Thank you

[@edenb3271]

Great job!

[@peteskyrunner4845]

Really great tips. And well explained.

[@gregsmolin]

Great video...thanks!

[@pumah96]

Thank you for the guidance!

[@nunocorreia9360]

Great video, thanks for sharing your experience.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

No problem!

[@macochprojects]

Great video, thank you so much.

[@rogerpearson9081]

A lot of good tips here thanks. The ND filters are a big one from what I've seen on a few demos. and a polarising filter can be magic too. When I get mine, some filters will be included. I have seen one video where they use a 10K ND filter to get that fluffy motion effect from long photo exposures. The NDs come into their own though for slowing the shutter speed down to a desirable rate. "Must have #1" in bright conditions.

[@chriscuellar3260]

This is such an awesome video, thank you so much I got a drone my self and I can't wait to try it out, I will definitely subscribe to you and you definitely deserve more likes. Keep up the good work bud!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks! Glad I could help!

[@rpullin4452]

Good information. Thanks for good tips. I am a just getting started using the my drone.

[@hamiltonfortunabautista2869]

Amazing tips. I still don't understand completely all of them but most I got them. I am thinking about getting a drone and want to start creating a lot of beautiful visuals for my videos.

[@whippet71]

Great advise for we home gamers, thanks.

[@maxencebouygues1144]

Awesome summary

[@SenakaUdapitiya1]

Great video ,thank you for the video

[@SatonProduction]

Thank you very much for very informative video.I just bought my first Drone and I am automotive photographer and videographer and excited to start doing some videos with drone.thank you again

[@BartJohnsonProd]

No problem! Enjoy flying!

[@vidge123]

great advice...thanks!

[@brentmurdock4629]

Great tips thank you

[@CiderTalbotToo]

Great vid dude and so very helpful

[@newheightsmediaproductions167]

Great advice.

[@davmij]

Great educating and inspiring video, keep the good work!

[@rj540]

great tips. Thanks.

[@ihabhassan2476]

Thanks a lot! It is such a great lesson!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thanks for watching!

[@gavincharles8501]

great tips, thanks Bart

[@BartJohnsonProd]

You’re welcome!

[@gaetanproductions]

Great tips ! Thanks

[@juliustiangson2668]

Awesome tips bro, very good advice. I am a beginner so I wanted to find something that would help me in the future when it comes to "making movie shots/cinematography" so your tips are a plus and very helpful and educational for someone like me who's looking to someday do the same thing your doing..... Thank you and God Bless.

[@BartJohnsonProd]

No problem! Have fun practicing and I'm sure your shots will be amazing and cinematic in no time!

[@cheryldecgmail]

Fantastic video. I learned a lot and appreciate the info. Subscribed!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Thank you!

[@StantonGiles]

Going on a huge road trip soon with my new drone. Thanks for the tips man!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

No problem! Enjoy your trip. I hope you get some great footage.

[@monikgagnon]

Hi,, watched a few times and still learning,, easy to understand, good job Bart !!

[@BartJohnsonProd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@topilot]

Great job, Bart! I subscribed to your channel today.