The Decline of Drone Footage (and what's next)

As the tools keep changing, our viewers change, too. Our approach needs to be changing right along with all of that. Leaning too hard on tools (even amazing ones) can end up boring our viewers.
Every shot in this video is my own. All the drone footage I'm criticizing is my own.
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I have no social media presence other than KZbin.
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[@karpinski65]

FPV style drone footage bores me. I love cinematic drone footage when used to capture different perspectives and sparingly.

[@ShaunHautly]

Totally! I think there’s an obvious point where FPV footage becomes more about the tricks than it does the subject, but anything to give that different perspective can be neat or at least teach us something.

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

@@ShaunHautly 99% of it really is boring, its just too repetitive, and i even fly FPV so I like it but I dont watch many FPV videos on KZbin anymore for the reason you explained basically.. But you do get those rare good videos here and there still, and yeah it is usually always something original that they came up with or did in the video that made it stand out and worth watching to the end, or even at all. So it is a very good point you make!

[@SkyDomeVIZE]

The most common trends for amateurs videography hardware and software are. Before-2010 - HD Videos 2010- 2013- effects 2014- 2020- drones & transitions 2021-Current - 360 video & speed ramping Wish maybe 3D videos and parallex effects.

[@ShaunHautly]

Also, selfie video is in that mix somewhere, too. :-) The challenge for me is to take the best parts of each of those abilities and thoughtfully combine them into something relevant and watchable. Something timeless and compelling.

[@SkyDomeVIZE]

Yes, Selfie and gimbals. Possibly something else 🤔.

[@egmontmartinez2861]

Drones are cameras.

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah. Flying ones!

[@egmontmartinez2861]

@@ShaunHautly We have to treat them like another camera.

[@SantaClemens]

I started with FPV, then got a DJI mini 3 pro and now got my Sony full frame camera. I really dislike these days the always the same kind of FPV footage, its always the same shot around the object. If its a good shot i really enjoy it but in the most moments its not necessary and lame. Normal drone shots i really like only to highlight a landscape or to get a big overview of the location.

[@ShaunHautly]

Totally! I did the opposite: I started with Sony full frame, then got DJI, then started FPV. But FPV is SO hard to get just right, I end up hiring pilots when I need it done well.

[@daijoactual]

@@ShaunHautly FPV is such a specialist skill that takes a lot of practice. If you're a generalist video producer you probably don't have time for it. Likewise if you shoot FPV video that's probably what you do most of the time.

[@ShaunHautly]

Totally, it's such a specialty and requires some innate talent and some serious practice. My hat is always off for a good FPV pilot. Especially having tried it myself!

[@attainableaudio4533]

​​​​@@ShaunHautly been flying Fpv for 7 years and still love it, not so much just doing the freestyle and tricks(though still fun) but more into the "cinematic" shots nowadays... To compliment a story. Also just getting into wildlife videography, so getting into "real" cameras, just got a blackmagic micro so I can also fly it on my drone, hehe, but mainly for on ground shots.

[@Government_Username]

That's why I do photo and video for fun. I dont chase trends. If I did it for money it would kill the enjoyment for me. I shoot for me first not other people

[@ShaunHautly]

There are definitely days where I wish I didn't HAVE to do some of these projects. I just want to focus on my passion projects, but SOMETHING has to pay for all these toys!

[@Government_Username]

@ShaunHautly True! If you can do both I applaud you. 👏

[@theotherHOLLYWOOD]

I once had a client reject a job because it was "too slick." (his words) I decided to find a new client. That's my style, and I can't (won't) be all things to all people.

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah, I hear that. I do a lot of work for clients who want to show off their campuses, so these exact type of shots ARE a good fit, but when I'm realizing that so many of my videos look so similar from over the years, I'm trying to push myself to make something that makes ME excited again. And your channel does look pretty slick! Thanks for the comment!

[@theotherHOLLYWOOD]

@@ShaunHautly Thanks for your reply, Shaun. I'm not exactly sure what the client meant by "slick." He wasn't what you'd call a great communicator. I certainly try to add new looks and techniques to my new work, but "un-slick" is not one of them. The idea that jumpy un-stable video, which seems to be "au curant," best conveys a subject to its best advantage is not reality. I shoot a lot of aerials of cruise ships, mostly from helicopters. One of my clients has interns shooting some ships (from shore). They are shooting them vertically, for I-gram and Tik-Tok, etc., because that's in "vogue." They end up with images that are a "slice" of a cruise ship. You can't even tell they're cruise ships! I'm trying to convince them to at least shoot them horizontally and crop them to a square. But they just don't get it. My point is, just because a trend is current doesn't make it appropriate for everything.

[@ShaunHautly]

I agree, 100% I'm just wrestling with these things that are trendy and wondering if/when they'll ever go away. I also roll my eyes at vertical video, and how the world just isn't framed vertically! However, the odds of these networks and their value disappearing anytime soon is unlikely. So my question becomes how do we mix "slick" with something that's not tired. And that's what I'm struggling with.

[@thevloggingmachinist9344]

I have been told I made a music video to cinematic one time.

[@srbrocoli]

That was a hard review. Last month i was asked to charge less, use cheaper equipment, use interns, they also told me they were thinking to stop working with me. I wish i had another options that pay me what they do. I thought keep investing was the right way to keep a customer.

[@edward_rivas]

If you live in the Caribbean the good shots are endless.

[@ShaunHautly]

Kind of, but that kind of gets at the point I'm trying to make: Just because something is pretty doesn't make it compelling to watch. If you shoot the beautiful Caribbean over and over the same way, it's going to be less fun to watch over time. How do we challenge ourselves to innovate with our shots to show something that people have seen before, but keep them interested with HOW we shoot it.

[@Sierralara]

It's not that the shots are boring, it's the fact that most of the beautiful landscapes of the United States are off limits to drones. So many remote and beautiful places drones are illegal to operate for some reason. Anywhere labeled a WILDERNESS is completely off limits, no matter how barren and unpopulated the area is. Not a big fan of BLANKET laws........

[@ShaunHautly]

Good point! I stopped bringing drones on vacation with me just because it's so often a pain to find a place to film. For most of what I do, though, I'm not filming "beautiful places" as much as I'm filming a campus or client's farm or something. So it's two fold: It's not the Grand Canyon, AND it's another wide reveal shot of some farm. Double boring.

[@Sierralara]

@@ShaunHautly So true! And excellent video. Incorporating more creativity in shots and having it relevant to the story of particular videos is the key as you've stated. Thank you so much and have a great day! Subscribed!

[@daijoactual]

It's funny how arbitrary this drone laws has become. In EU it's the exact opposite. Any trace of civilization and it's off limits for anything above 250g unless you have a full on UAV license which is way beyond what a part 107 is in the US.

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

@@daijoactual In what ways is it more than the PT107? Thats a pretty tough test unless you study, considering its similiar/same questions used on the students pilots license based on the FAA testing. You just fill the form out differently but from what i can tell it is actually the student pilots license test, which is the same test you would take that would allow you to fly a plane, with an instructor on-board, but still lol. Ive done some of the practice tests and if you dont know how to read aviation maps, radio emergency channels, different airspace maps(some are very confusing), and even plane specific questions like icing, which arent really even relevant to a drone. For example one question was a runway map, and it asked where the stop line was for this runway entrance, those kind of questions, but still its part of the PT107 Drone test. They look at it as strict as flying a plane at this point and I guess thats why the test is like that. I dont know know where youre from in the EU or what the EU laws are. I never even heard of an EU UAV License until you mentioned it. Ive only heard it called a commercial drone pilot license, by people that live in the UK. I was just curious how it works in the EU and what part of the EU. Also could a tourist lets say, fly a sub-250g drone at most spots without people there or other obvious reasons why you shouldn't fly there, or is it strict there with where you can fly even if there isnt people there?

[@daijoactual]

@@mxracingunlimitedltd7784 In the EU there's also the concept of the drone operator. There person/company responsible for the operations. If you fly by yourself in the open category the operator and the pilot will be the same person.That is you :) Also registering as an operator and getting the license (A1-A3) is super easy. But if you go into the specific and certified category (if you need todo something not in the open category) the requirements go through the roof. And operator registration can cost thousands of dollars a year and you pay for the handling of your application. Regarding the pilot training I'm not even sure but you need to go to a certified school. They have month long programs... So anything other than the open category is off limits from anything else than a full on business basically.

[@flightographist]

My drones are, first and foremost, cameras! I use them as such. A high aspect shot is my least used shot, I use them as cranes and dolly's. I leave wabi sabi treats in everything.

[@ShaunHautly]

Love this! I need to get myself to have my drone more ready to fly. When I'm capturing a day of b-roll, there's often a certain time set aside for 30 minutes of flight, but that relies on something happening in those 30 minutes. I should force myself to fly throughout the day for 5 minutes at a time, just as I swap lenses. That would give me so much more fodder for the dolly shots and follow shots.

[@RickPMandel]

This was a very nice piece, thank you for articulating something very important: despite all of the newest, coolest toys we get, no matter what techniques we invent, it all comes down to one thing: the story. The story should drive the entire production. In the end, all of our tricks should be used to enhance the story, not overwhelm the story, and become the story itself, and in the process lose the original reason for the production. I like to use this analogy: look at a a production as a box of soap. It doesn't matter what the packaging looks like, how cool the graphics and words on the box are, if the box is only half full, and the soap doesn't clean well, no one is going to want to use that soap again. Yes, in this analogy, the story is the soap. Sometimes, we need to take a step back from our own egos and abilities, and ask "what is the story, and how it I tell it in way that everyone can relate to". In this day of incredible tools and tricks, we shouldn't lose sight of the power of the story itself. Not every production has to be "gone with the wind". Or, I could be completely full of beans. Either way, thank you for this well-made video.

[@ShaunHautly]

I love that analogy! Anyone will buy a bar of soap with a nice wrapper one time, but they'll never come back for more. We have to keep innovating and bringing ourselves back to the core. Love it!

[@S-r9y]

Agreed. I made this point not long ago, and it was met with little enthusiasm, so I’m glad I’m not the only one. Drones are fantastic, but a new direction is needed.

[@ShaunHautly]

And it’s not the drones’ faults! Those new directions have to come from us experimenting.

[@OurResistance]

It doesn't matter whether drone shots are "in" or "out". What matters is whether the drone shot adds something important to your piece. Most of the time, no one is going to watch any videos you film anyway. People usually only watch things they are told to watch!

[@ShaunHautly]

So true! I guess I should have clarified that much of my work is client work for other people. So I know my videos get shown at Galas and fundraisers, trade shows, etc. The goal is to have those people in the room get sucked into watching the video that they're forced to watch, haha. Then they donate more. :-) But yeah, when they're not adding something, they're just in the way now.

[@888ViralVideo]

I've been contacted by a college recruiter to come in and talk to film students about flying drones...I think it's a school somewhere near Hollywood here in SoCal. I'm going to use a lot of what you shared here, and I'll suggest the students watch this clip....thx for sharing. I suggested sharing some of my "flying under radar" real-world flying experiences, and mentioned how the FAA called me a few weeks after I uploaded the Tustin Hangar Fire footage I snagged flying POV with a Phantom P4P+...initially with a spotter present for takeoff. To my surprise, my one-day edit got 4,200+ views almost overnight. I checked other local TV News stations' view counts, and most were an order of magnitude lower. Hmmm...I flew cinematically slow and parked it several times to let the viewer scan the horizon to study these historic grounds. Thinking on the fly (literally) I tossed in a reveal shot flying backward over the flames before I headed back with a low-battery warning. It was a fun mission, and I have to admit that flying backwards over flames not knowing how high I was above the flame tops...man, that was nerve wracking. I know the P4P's focal length is 24mm (eq), so I knew I was twice as close as what a Normal, 50mm lens sees...like the human eyes. And, I didn't dare take my eyes off the screen to try to find it in the sky 1/4-mi away in the smoke. It's a military base, so if it went down, there's no way to retrieve it....everything is fenced off w/guards at entry points. It was Do or Die. But, catching the tail end of the demolition of an historic World War II structure was NOT something I was going to miss...esp since I've shot the Hangars on the ground with my Canons several times over the years, so I had good history recorded on the structures. Here's the clip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHzbqI2daJeNo7Msi=73piBHU_CmKSU8iH

[@ShaunHautly]

That’s a crazy video. Well done. The slow slow movement lends it self to being able to see the fire unfold. It’s not needlessly jumpy or aggressive. Nicely done!

[@888ViralVideo]

@@ShaunHautly, thx...appreciate it. As you probably know, ultra-slow stick movements are the hardest thing to do when every bone in your body is telling you to rush over and "firehose" the scene with needless back-and-forth pans/tilts. Since I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime shot with zero chance to relaunch after the bird was in the air, I gotta tell you, I"ve never felt so much pressure flying. After my approach was cinematically perfect, the pressure was on. I knew any botched stick movements would ruin the production. So, I focused 1000% of my attention on BAAARELY touching the pan/tilt controls while still rushing out to capture the flames in its last few moments...I wanted to makes sure I got some burning embers falling. When I got back and saw how nice the footage was, then the editing pressure was on...especially being a newsworthy story for locals. When I saw the view-count the next day and compared it to local TV News footage, I knew I had to do a deep dive and find out why. Turns out, that disciplined uber-slow movements and parking it -- to let viewers can the scene -- was the only reason I could find. It'll be interesting to see how the film-school students react to my "inside information" on how that clip was produced. Thx again for your kind words.

[@hawaiifreespeechnews]

I once they started selling drones at Costco, the magic was officially gone 😢

[@ShaunHautly]

Hahaha. Kind of like when the Today Show does a meme. Then it’s over. Haha

[@samuel_d]

You’re ridiculously good at this stuff.

[@ShaunHautly]

Wow. Thank you for the day maker!

[@marklholloway]

I will never get tired of Benjamin Hardman’s natural history drone footage of Iceland ❤

[@ShaunHautly]

Ok, this comment made me search for that footage and WOW. Thanks for introducing me to that channel. Gorgeous.

[@arwqs]

Thank you so much for this video. It cleared so much for me

[@ShaunHautly]

I'm glad it was helpful! Hopefully it'll help us remind ourselves to push for a creative challenge now and then.

[@fifthfloorgarden]

I completely agree with you. This is true for me as a professional in the video industry, and it's the approach I take for my channel today as well. My principle is, "use the tool that best tells your story." Many get caught up in trends or feel obligated to use something just because they invested in it: "I bought a drone, so I want to use it all the time." In my past work on commercial spots or music videos, I used the tools I had on hand (rented) and tried to make the most creative use of them. For example, in my entire career, I only used a Steadicam once, even though one of the earliest and most skilled operators of the Steadicam is a friend of mine. When I used it, the project was built around that tool. To wrap it up, I’ll mention that I’ve just bought a drone because it might add something in specific situations. But, like with any tool, I’ll only use it when it makes sense. All this is to say that I truly share your perspective.

[@ShaunHautly]

I’ve bought all the tools over the years and overused most of them, haha. I’ve been surprised lately by how little I use my gimbals anymore. I feel like they get in the way more than they truly help. Thanks for the happy comment!

[@FGitty]

Like you said flying low looks so much better. I use my drone to get unique camera angle barely for establishing aerial shots as I once did

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah, sure we may crash more, but at least they'll be watching!

[@S-r9y]

Right on the money discussing low angled shots. 👏

[@lcdronesolutions9076]

I appreciate this video. Hopefully with the evolution of drone tech & advancements in entertainment it’ll transform how pilots like you & I approach shots and maneuvers.

[@ShaunHautly]

And if we do it right, after that we’ll transform again! And again…. And again…… :-)

[@lcdronesolutions9076]

@@ShaunHautly Agreed 😂

[@mauriciolee7349]

Thank Shaun for this PRACTICAL video. It encourages me to using drone in different ways and to pay more attention to storytelling. I totally agree with you that I need to create videos that the AUDIENCE WANT to watch.

[@ShaunHautly]

Totally! Even this video was a challenge for me and forced me to step outside of my usual KZbin routine. Different approach: longer writing, revisions, long recording, and then a ton of editing and finding footage to use. And look! It worked! Most of my videos get seen by 30 people, this one is going comparatively bananas! Is this how I'll make EVERY video from now on? No. But the lessons learned from trying something new and pushing myself are invaluable! Thanks for the happy comment!

[@Attya-y2y]

Completely agree. As a consumer of videos, I also find that drone shots are over-used these days, and often in videos that don't require it. They are still useful in many types of videos, like travel videos or nature videos, to give a better sense of the landscape of the places being visited or explored. But those shots are indeed not a "wow" moment anymore, we are so used to them. Even FPV drone shots aren't a "wow" moment anymore after you've seen enough FPV drone shots to be used to them. So, a video shouldn't rely on those shots alone to try to catch the viewer's interest, and sadly it seems a lot of videos still do. They are a nice addition at the right moment, but shouldn't be the main dish. As a viewer now I value drone shots like any other shot, nothing special, they just give a different perspective of a place and that's it. I am more impressed by hand held shots with a great composition and lighting and mood and story-telling, than a drone shot that sometimes feel too artificial and banal.

[@ShaunHautly]

100% I am always a little ashamed when I catch myself trying to figure out how to work a tool into a project without stopping to think of how it impacts the story. It's been another wake up call this month realizing that. Whether or not it's handheld, getting the camera in "less-candid" places for b-roll has been big for me. Instead of filming basketball from the sidelines, I went out onto the field and was sprinting alongside the players. The footage looks NOTHING like I would have included a year ago, but it's compelling! Finding little ways like that to show something in a few way has been a fun challenge to my old, stuck-in-the-mud ways.

[@MagicBiscuitShow]

Good analysis. Cheers from Jacksonville, Florida

[@ShaunHautly]

Thank you!!!

[@srbrocoli]

Drone user since 2013 here, i was tired of the excess of drone shots since 2015. I wanted to do more close ups back then, with shallow DOF. Show emotions. With the latest improvements of smartphones, i thought lighting should be what adds value to my videos, but what is really helping is the use of AI to make scripts, understand goals better and make the right questions that will help to get a better video. Adding AI Cheap CGI, i think is what's next.

[@ShaunHautly]

Brainstorming with AI is the most useful case right now. I’ve been blown away by what can be done. I’m still left wanting by AI editing tools, but who knows what’s next!

[@UmbertoUderzo]

Great analysis. Honestly, its really difficult to balance a "good shaky footage" between crap and too polished. Still trying to figure it out.

[@ShaunHautly]

And once we figure it out, everything will change again. Haha!

[@UmbertoUderzo]

@@ShaunHautly remembers Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy. When you understand the meaning of life and reality, everything will disappear and be replaced by something more stranger and complex. 😄

[@damaylaphoenix1155]

DJI FPV never get old put a smile on my face every time i fly. just stick to normal and sport mode and you won't have any problems. if your a pro go for it ( Manuel) !

[@ShaunHautly]

I think I may give the Avata 2 a whirl next.

[@ptaylor5014]

I started flying drones about 2 and a half years ago, my first drone was the DJI Mini 2 and loved flying it, i sold it and bought the "standard" DJI Mini 3 and this is even better than the mini 2, in the time of owning these drones i have flown nearly 400 flights and over 320 hours, got some amazing shots of places up and down my country in England, but lately i have become bored of flying the drone, especially now winter is nearly here with lots of wind and rain, guess it's like with anything in life if you do too much of it, it can become boring.

[@craig_Dronepilotsqld]

I have had a similar experience. Just got an DJI Avata 2. Did 50 hours in a simulator to learn to fly manual and love it. It's to the point where most of the time I just go out and fly, don't even bother with worrying about photography. The Mavic 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro and Mini 2 are gathering dust.

[@ShaunHautly]

I am VERY tempted to get the Avata. The simple addition of a ROLL AXIS makes SO much difference in the feel of a drone shot. It's so much more fluid and natural. LensRentals.com rents one for US$230. I may give it a whirl.

[@ShaunHautly]

(And I still play the simulator from time to time, just for fun. That's the only reason I get out my old FPV controller these days, ha)

[@craig_Dronepilotsqld]

@@ShaunHautly The camera on the Avata 2 I believe is the same as the Action 5, its great too. Just buy one, you wont regret it I promise.

[@ShaunHautly]

@@craig_Dronepilotsqld My internet activity for the past 24 hours has just been responding to comments here and re-reading the Avata 2 product page. it's going to happen...

[@BlairAir]

As soon as you made your well considered points about the wide "establishing shots" as you refer to them, I thought of FPV Scripted fly-through cinimatic scenes, with mm tight accuracy, PROPERLY done course-lock/unlock/lock shots (my personal twist that has a drone enter a scene locked on a subject, leaves the scene backwards or sideways to the still locked subject the top down pattern that becomes a scene only after the drone moves up, AND zooms out simultaneously, the slow motion shot that gradualy speeds up to real time. The real-time shot that slows to a full stop, the reveal shots that make you gasp. The under-water to high speed action shot. I am referring to ultra creative, show something new & different approach. Sure, you were specific about the shots that have become SO over done. I know about them well. I consider them played out as well. Thus my need to dig deep, and ask: is it possible to show X? Sometimes. Sometimes with great imagination, comes great chalenges. That is what drives me at times and frustrates me when I cant find a way.

[@ShaunHautly]

I love this. So often all it takes is a little reminder when we're in the moment to push ourselves and go for a shot we haven't tried before. I've got a short pile of shots that have been serendipitous, but they've been gold. It takes creativity, guts, and a ton of good luck. :-) In your "Long Summer Days" video, even those bank shots with your Avata 2 are already so much more compelling than those traditional wide establishing shots. Thanks for the happy comment!

[@LONE-WOLF-FILMS]

Drones are simply a tool and not the be all and end all of video production. They're so ubiquitous now that they've lost their novelty. They're just useful to get certain shots but we shouldn't rely on them to tell a story. That's not storytelling. They ll get better over time, but while I'm guilty of doing lots of drone cinematography, I learned to step away from them a little, but incorpate them if they're needed for a film. I mainly use my drone footage as stock footage now, but I'll never stop using drones as they're always useful to have as a means of capturing those shots that you just can't get with rigs or handheld. I still love flying my drone for filmmaking and the use of FPV drones are becoming more of a thing in cinema like Ambulance chase scenes. They have a purpose and they do it well if it's needed to push the story further. I've seen so many guys on KZbin flying and capturing footage from places and they're not understanding of how drones should be used for film or content creation etc. I always say, 'Learn filmmaking and you'll understand the use of drone shots, and not be so heavily dependent on them.

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah. I think it gets tough to isolate KZbin from the filmmaking that I do professionally. Like you’re saying, Drone shots in my work get old soooo quickly. And I leaned on that for way too long.

[@peterschuiling1911]

Wow great lesson. Thank you

[@ShaunHautly]

You are welcome! Thanks for the happy comment!

[@73FPV]

Great prospective never thought about it that way. Good show sir

[@ShaunHautly]

Thank you! Maybe the title of this video should have just been “you should probably hire an FPV pilot.” Haha

[@InteractiveDNA]

The most beautiful and amazing drone shots are the super-close up of things. That is what people remembers and not stabilishing shots.

[@ShaunHautly]

I want to try that Mavic 3 Pro, just for the tele lens on it. That alone is innovative for a drone. Everything's so wide!

[@EyeCanShootFL]

Helicopters have been flying for aerials for how long? They aren't going anywhere. TBH this video is boring looking dead on, no rule of thirds, nothing going on, it's flat...boring etc... We all have our desires.

[@ShaunHautly]

Good point. I do always struggle with HOW much work to put into a KZbin video. Do I spend an hour setting up lights and monitors to track stuff? Or do I just go for it and hope the content is enough to make it interesting. Almost every other video I make gets 40 views. I'm not prepared for this kind of exposure! haha

[@jordanwoerndle2986]

this is really well done

[@ShaunHautly]

Thank you. Thank you so much for this comment. I took a swing here and put more work into this video than almost any I've done before. I wrote the script, rehearsed it, recorded 5 takes of it, and took two days to find the footage I wanted to illustrate some things. I wasn't sure if anyone would like it, so I sincerely thank you for the comment. Cheers!

[@SirBeauJangles]

My drone use is scanty and very inexpert I'm afraid, but I already discovered that sliding past textured surfaces obliquely beats viewing stuff from on high @ 400ft just because we're allowed to do that. I think that your points here put were exceptionally well put and I thank you for them... Indeed I wonder if you're missing your forte. How about opening a video school? Online might work, probably would work with the quality of links available via established systems. Just thought - maybe you already do this, since this well structured presentation shows you're used to making explanations. Explanations beat "being told stuff" any day at all - and twice so on Sundays! Again, thank you. Sub'd and liked.

[@ShaunHautly]

Thank you for the lovely comment! I DID make an online course over a year ago. All about building a creative business. Not limited to video production, but any creative endeavor. All the nitty gritty about financing, budgeting, marketing, taxes and registrations (US based), and more. I made a couple videos promoting it, but no one ever signed up. I just dropped the cost by $100, though. So maybe that will help? If interested, you can find it here: boom-reactive1.teachable.com/p/creative-business-fundamentals

[@samaipata4756]

You are right, but you are terribly wrong! Drones have always an edge over any other camera, but creators have to learn how to use it differently. Quit looking at it as an aircraft, look at it as very versatile tripod a tripod capable of doing things nothing else can do!

[@ShaunHautly]

Exactly! I think when we feel obligated to fly the same routes as always is when it gets stale. Using it to put the camera in places we couldn’t otherwise, that’s where we can find new magic.

[@itakephotos1141]

I think you are spot on.

[@ShaunHautly]

Well, thanks for a happy comment!

[@ShawnBustamante]

Great video. I do fly drone legally😂 but I totally agree with you that anything can be overused. It’s great when you can plan your shots ahead of time and think of new creative ways to tell a story. Because ultimately people are paying you for your creativity not necessarily for a certain look. They want their content to stand out and you want your content to stand out. You got a subscribe from me for this video thanks.

[@ShaunHautly]

Thanks for the happy comment! In my most recent video, I found myself leaning heavily on some phone footage I took because it was so much closer to the people and so spontaneous compared to my gimbal mounted mirrorless footage. It was about the story and the phone got a better story (even though is doesn’t have as good of bokeh).

[@fpvkevlar8101]

Great video bro. I just subbed to the channel.

[@ShaunHautly]

Thank you so much! That Quarry RIP video is pretty sick. That's the kind of dynamic footage that keeps things interesting!

[@madmad932]

i use dji neo... for fun fly and recording?

[@ShaunHautly]

I fly a Mavic 3 Pro, but I want that Neo! I saw it a few weeks ago and that's what I'm talking about! It's not the BEST camera, but with its size, lens guards, and commands, it can quickly get some unique shots that a larger, "more dangerous" drone can't get.

[@Dronesteve-72]

@@ShaunHautlyit’s also not the worst camera Worth the money

[@paragontim]

Great points - thank you for your insight!

[@ShaunHautly]

Thanks for the happy comment!

[@dsds3968]

Like all things, you need to think if a shot is contributing towards your presentation or you're just doing it because you can.

[@ShaunHautly]

Exactly. And I always slip into that dangerous mindset of "well, I COULD fit a shot like this in the story...." When I should really just leave it out.

[@Δυσνομία]

When the goddess of air war and pioneer of choppergirl style / aerobatic dance and world's best freestyle pilot ditches out of FPV, and starts making 80's MTV rock videos instead, you know the hobby is yesterday's has been fad like the hoola hoop... a.i. is the new hawtness

[@Δυσνομία]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLVkpqGdspqatE

[@bengordon7635]

I still fly analog freestyle most the time more of a challenge . digital I use for filming thats it ..

[@ShaunHautly]

I miss flying freestyle. Two kids makes finding flying time a little harder… haha. But even my fpv drones use the DJI brain.

[@HarlowKiteFlying]

Chance would be a fine thing with the DJI download not working on my phone, so basically I can't get to Fly the mini 2

[@ShaunHautly]

Haha. Drone shots are especially boring when they don't fly, haha.

[@miboxed]

this is very true..too many drones with very small upgrades..

[@ShaunHautly]

I think it's less about the amount of drones, and more about the way in which we're using them. The cameras are great, flight times are great, size keeps getting more portable, but we keep doing the same things with them. That's what I'm challenging myself to do.

[@denaco]

all very true. i even do drone work and find it's getting gimmicky now when i see an fpv fly through or standard drone shots over a city. very boring stuff now but done to death.

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah, all the cliche drone shots in this video are my own. :-) I have done two project this fall which have been all about a campus (one is a camp, one is a school) so drone shots were necessary for showing everything, but I have another where I went through my routine and then got to the edit and just felt like the whole thing was BORING. Those drone shots have their utility, but they have lost their edge for being able to captivate by their novelty alone. Thanks for the happy comment!

[@jimgiraffe5253]

dude, you look like timmy mallet - a 90's tv presenter from the UK. a brotha from anotha motha

[@ShaunHautly]

Just looked it up. I see it! haha

[@jimgiraffe5253]

@@ShaunHautly i have a video with a camera technique i cant figure out how it was done. can you? madonna nothing really matters. 57 secs in 1:18 1:54 2:16

[@ShaunHautly]

That's trippy! I think it's just a swivel arm. Where the camera could revolve around the tripod head. So it's mostly just locked off, but for those beats they just swing it out to the side for a moment. The one that has me captivated it the opening shot from the Severence Season 2 trailer. That camera is IN the elevator, does a dolly zoom, rotates 360º, then follows him into the lobby, is in front of him, above him, around him, and then follows him down the hall. That's either a crazy choreographed robot shot, or the environment is CG, or BOTH. But either way, it keeps me watching!

[@AD-yc5cb]

Not becoming America have problems with DJI does it means that, drones are now boring. !

[@ShaunHautly]

I hear people complain about DJI and the US Part 107, but I’ve never felt limited for client work due to restrictions I’ve run into here. I had one client whose campus shared a border with an airport and so we couldn’t fly, but aside from that, it’s been a non-issue for me.

[@Surfdronesd]

You have to have action, not just good scenery to make a good clip. For instance, a shot of a shark needs a person swimming close by to make it interesting.

[@ShaunHautly]

I agree with your point about action. 100% But I can watch shark footage all day long!

[@hairyhider7478]

It's because they're illegal without a 107

[@ShaunHautly]

I have my 107, it's not about WHAT I'm shooting, it's more about HOW I'm shooting it that gets old. The drone moves. The cliche reveals. That's what's causing me to rethink my approach.

[@406fpv9]

Fpv is the way to go. Nowadays anybody can buy a dji "fpv drone" and claim to be an fpv pilot. Some actually learn fpv after that but not many and it's definitely not like it use to be.

[@WanderPonder]

I found the constant jump zoom in/out very distracting.

[@ShaunHautly]

Same, especially when it's a long zoom throw. A short punch in I don't mind on occasion if it can show me context and then give me focus, but zooming for zooming isn't helpful. Fully agree.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

4:00 Your criticism of drone shots is (among other things) everyone does the same thing so it loses magic. However, I propose that everyone NOW is seeking "emotion" and "connection" and everyone is doing the same thing. This too shall pass.

[@ShaunHautly]

I think it's always been about emotion and connection, the tools to reach those are what's changing. Drone shots USED to create more of a connection by drawing us in because the film seemed like a "bigger film." Now that trick is growing tired, so we need to find something else to create the connection. If shaky footage creates connection for a while, neat. It'll also evolve. However, if CONNECTION itself goes out of style, then we've got some big problems! Thanks for the comments!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@ShaunHautly "I think it's always been about emotion and connection," For right-brain dominant people, yes. For left-brain dominant people, no. I view a drone film because I am interested in the geography so it is very important to establish the "where it is" shot, then show me what you want to show me. I don't care about your feelings and you do not care about mine.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@ShaunHautly "However, if CONNECTION itself goes out of style, then we've got some big problems! " At some risk of beating a tired horse; it depends on the purpose of the production. Connection AND documentary is a powerful combination; example of a youtube channel that manages both (IMO) is "Itchy Boots". Noraly Shonemaker is a geologist by training; but has and continues to travel the world often flying drone. She also engages with citizens around the world often in ways that go against stereotypes; wonderfully helpful people out on a mountain farm in Iran in 2019 (season 1). It is geographically fascinating and inspires me to study more of history, geography, geology, politics and economy of each nation she visits. I suppose what makes that channel unique among motorcycle vlogs is her relentless optimism and that of the people she meets and we meet vicariously. The flip side of that is the narcissistic "I love me" vlogger that is in Norway with spectacularly beautiful mountains and waterfalls behind this unshaved face that occupies most of every on-screen moment. Movies that are JUST emotional I tend to avoid. Commentary on "The Wild Robot" is people counting how many times they *cried* during the movie. That's not my cup of Earl Grey.

[@ShaunHautly]

That's an excellent point. I should have articulated it in the video, but my context for creation and the videos I'm talking about are usually paid client videos. You're 100% right about KZbin channels and browsing content. What I get stuck on is doing client work where I have to make a video for someone's organization or institution and I have to get the audience to connect with that brand. I'm finding drone shots to be less effective at making a brand video stand out. I'm looking for something that a viewer can't turn away from. Many of my videos get shown at live events for my clients to help raise money for their non-profits, so that connection to a cause is paramount. I'm always searching for ways to tell a success story in a way that someone won't be able to ignore. And I cry during commercials and Casey Neistat vlogs, so maybe I'm TOO connected. hahah Thanks for taking the time to have such a thoughtful conversation with a stranger in KZbin comments! Cheers! (and I'm going to check out Itchy Boots!)

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@ShaunHautly "What I get stuck on is doing client work where I have to make a video for someone's organization or institution and I have to get the audience to connect with that brand. " I can see where the wide view of drone shots makes it unlikely to connect to a brand, or even human experience most of the time. I make video for Scouting; the first thing it has to be is *fun* and captivating. If the video is not interesting, nobody will notice or care about branding. So the project is mostly many people having a good time; and drone shots particularly with the X3 camera on a Mavic giving tight cropping excels at this. But it can be overdone. A good example is the Geico gecko. I'm not sure they anticipated how popular and watchable would become the gecko. People connected with gecko so strongly it dominated over the brand. Who cares about Geico? Does anyone remember what it stands for (government employees insurance company).

[@TryAgainFPV]

What if my channel is all about drone footage? :P haha nah but for real this was a good video.

[@ShaunHautly]

Haha, I just clicked over to your channel. You are NOT doing the kind of shots this video is all about, ahaha. Thanks for the happy comment! This was fun to make, but hard to realize. I used to be so proud of my epic shots, but started seeing them get more and more common all around me. I need to dust off my FPV drones....

[@TryAgainFPV]

@@ShaunHautly YES COME BACK TO THE DARKSIDE WE HAVE BROKEN PROPS AND COOKIES

[@ShaunHautly]

hahahahahaha. I haven't charged a batter in two years... maybe they'll all still be GREAT!

[@Brodzzzzz]

Drones are defs not boring? lol

[@ShaunHautly]

As long as you keep the shots fresh! In your most recent video, those straight down shots of the waves, and then that sequence of three increasingly higher shots of that truck are so good. Unique, compelling, fresh. That's what I'm talking about!

[@pmshop100]

LMAO! Decline?

[@ShaunHautly]

Yeah! If the shots are the same high, wide shots, they get boring! In your most recent video, you stay so low that everything ahead is its own reveal. It stays very interesting! Though I was REALLY hoping you'd fly through those crane wires at 1:08, and then again a few moments later when that one is swinging something right in front of the drone. Though I imagine that would have upset a few people, hahah

[@Gearedfilm57]

In other words get creative with the tools you have

[@ShaunHautly]

Exactly!

[@Gearedfilm57]

@ShaunHautly i do like some of the example shots you showed. I will be holding on to them for some videos I have lined up

[@mtcoiner7994]

Ive been seriously looking into a drone purchase lately. They are very versatile. Thanks for the insight. Dont forget those Part 107 licenses boys.

[@ShaunHautly]

I've got my license! And it's been HARD to make sure I'm following all the rules. It's one of those things where after going through all the steps (after finding out what the steps were and how they've changed), I can't imagine that everyone else is taking the time to do things right. Hopefully it gets easier in the future.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

9:35 Bourne Identity was a most excellent movie; followed by something a lot less excellent. The sequel believed that camera shake was GOOD, but on a large screen (or even a home television screen) trying to watch this "verite" style or whatever it is called was incredibly annoying and caused eye strain. The next sequel went back to steady cameras. It was a brief and unnecessary "fad" thing. "Add Real Camera Shake to Footage and Graphics" "Creating Realistic Handheld Camera Shake" I spent a thousand dollars to eliminate camera shake! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaky_camera

[@ShaunHautly]

I watched a few interviews about WHY they made the original so shaky, and it's a pretty interesting story of time constraints and problem solving, but then it went a little too far. Haha

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@ShaunHautly My most recent drone flying takes advantage of the Mavic 3 Pro's incredibly steady panning and flying. *Overall* I agree wholeheartedly that doing the "same old thing" gets tedious pretty quick.