Droning On
Why I Added a Drone to My Camera Bag
I like taking pictures…a lot. But I’m also an avid consumer of photography. I'm constantly looking through Instagram, Facebook, Foto App, and any other place I can find good, compelling images. I'll study what catches my eye, try to reverse-engineer the appeal, and file it away for inspiration.
Over the past year, I’ve started seeing more and more drone photography. At first, I dismissed it. I didn’t have a drone, so why entertain them? But over time, I noticed myself becoming drawn to these shots. They offered a fresh perspective; one I couldn’t achieve with boots on the ground and a camera in hand.
So I did what any curious creative would do. I researched. I obsessed. And I bought one. Just like that, I was a new drone owner with access to compositions that had always been out of reach. But it wasn’t just about climbing higher. It was a way to see differently. After adding drone photography to my toolbox, I can say this: the view from above isn’t just different. It’s transformative.
Let me introduce you to my DJI Mini 4 Pro.
New Heights, New Perspectives
I’ve spent a lot of time training my eye to find strong compositions from the ground. Leading lines, foreground interest, balance, and framing have become second nature. But the sky is a whole new playground. Straight-down shots reveal symmetry and patterns I could never capture from below. The creek I used to step over becomes a ribbon through dense trees. Some shots almost lean into the abstract. Fields become textures. Shorelines turn sculptural. Topography, once hidden and unattainable, lends their shapes, shadows, and layers to become a part of the narrative.
Creve Coeur Lake from just above the tree line.
And you don’t always need to soar to the maximum legal altitude. Sometimes, gaining just ten or twenty feet of elevation can completely reframe a scene. A gentle rise over a hill can reveal a hidden valley. Hovering above a tree line can expose a winding trail you couldn’t see before. Even in urban settings, rising above street level can create fresh geometry from everyday intersections. The beauty of drone photography isn’t always in how high you can go, but in how even a modest shift in perspective can lead to striking visual discoveries.
Drone imagery gives you a way to diversify your collection without changing your artistic voice. It’s still your story…you’re just telling it from above.
Standing Out in a Crowd
In the age of smartphones and presets, standing out is harder than ever. You could be shooting the most dramatic, perfectly timed sunset and three other people might post a near-identical version before you even finish editing yours. At the end of the day, your image still has to compete with an endless stream of equally eye-catching content. Originality is what makes someone pause.
A straight down view of the Chain of Rocks Bridge, showing the twenty-two degree bend halfway across the Mississippi River.
Drone photography can stop people mid-scroll. There’s an inherent novelty to a well-executed aerial image. The perspective, the abstraction…it all can make viewers pause and take a closer look. And once they’re engaged, they often stay longer, examining the details and hopefully connecting emotionally with the view. It breaks the usual flow of scrolling and creates an opportunity for a second look in a way that feels fresh and impactful.
Enhancing Visual Storytelling
When I'm out shooting, I do my best to create a narrative. Drone work has so much potential to enhance this storytelling. It’s a tool that fundamentally shifts how you introduce and contextualize your subject matter.
Think of it like the establishing shot in a movie: it sets the stage, shows scale, and drops your viewer into the scene. Whether you're blogging, sequencing a gallery, or simply sharing a moment, an aerial shot provides that “you are here” moment that draws people in and builds anticipation for what comes next.
Meadowside at Sunset.
Ground level photography can be used to fill in the details and show the more intimate views of the landscape. These are the moments when close-up storytelling takes center stage. From the trickle of a creek flowing over rocks to the weathered bark of an old tree, ground shots offer the context and tactile connection that aerial views can't always provide.
Together, they tell a grander story; one that starts wide and cinematic, then brings you close revealing the nuance and character in the frame. It creates atmosphere and adds depth to your portfolio in a way that blends meaningfully with your existing work.
Gaining Access with Certification
Intent determines whether you need a Remote Pilot's License or not. If you are flying a drone strictly for recreation, you can take a commonsense safety quiz, receive a TRUST Certificate, and you’re good to go. Fly for any reason other than recreation, such as surveying, mapping, inspections, or photography, and you will need to become FAA Part 107 certified.
Getting certified takes some effort. For me, this involved two weeks of studying FAA regulations, sectional charts, weather codes, and memorizing airspace classifications. Not hard, but not casual either. Then it was another week of practice tests, before taking and passing the final exam, and receiving my certificate. (Thank you, Pilot Institute.)
I quickly realized that certification wasn’t just about legality, it was also about access. With certification, I could now apply for permission to fly in places that would not normally be open to me. Urban zones. Parks. Regulated airspace. Events that require official documentation. It may mean additional paperwork, and I'm not guaranteed permission, but that Part 107 certificate gets my foot in some doors that would otherwise stay shut.
The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Droning
Now, let’s talk turbulence.
In addition to FAA regulations, you'll have to navigate a complex and confusing web of local ordinances, temporary flight restrictions, Military Operations Areas, stadium-specific no-fly zones, and more. City Park rules can be different than County Park rules, and those may be different than State Park rules, which are definitely different than those of National Parks. You’ll become intimately familiar with the LAANC system for gaining authorization in controlled airspace. You’ll submit authorization requests, wait for approval, and sometimes still get denied with no clear explanation as to why.
And then there are people. The general public’s relationship with drones is somewhere between minor panic and mild fascination. Some will smile and ask questions, genuinely curious about what you’re doing and how the drone works. Others will assume you’re either spying or conducting some kind of covert surveillance for a shady organization. And then there are those who simply don't like drones on principle, whether it's about noise, privacy, or perceived danger. You may get side-eyed, questions wrapped in suspicion, or the occasional confrontation. Stay calm. Be courteous. Be visible and professional. Often, a brief explanation and a friendly tone go a long way toward putting people at ease. And sometimes it’s easier to just pack it up and try again another day.
Was It Worth It?
Adding a drone to my camera bag has changed the way I approach a scene. It’s made me a more patient photographer. I’ve slowed down to consider not just what’s in front of me, but what’s above, behind, and all around. I now can see how a bend in a trail might read differently from above, or how rooftops and treetops can contribute to a layered image. I look for shadows that stretch in unexpected directions and compositional shapes that only make sense from above. Even my ground photography has changed. I think the new perspective has improved my compositions on the ground and hopefully made me a better storyteller.
Water Intake Tower One sitting in the middle of the Mississippi River, just north of Saint Louis.
Yes, there are rules. And yes, it takes some extra work. You have to plan ahead, secure authorizations, and constantly stay aware of your environment. It means being accountable for your flight paths, your gear, and your timing. But what it gives you in return… it quite literally elevates your creativity. The unique perspectives and sense of visual freedom are more than worth it. There’s something uniquely empowering about lifting off and watching the world unfold in layers beneath you. It pushes your work into spaces it couldn't otherwise go.
Curious about adding a drone to your kit? Drop your questions below.