The first mass-market drones were manufactured more than a decade ago. As with anything, being over 10 years late to it can create some hurdles to entry. In this article, I will share some of my experiences as a relative latecomer to drone photography.

Being Late Means More Options

Being late to the drone party is a good thing. There are so many more options for drones available now. Since the first commercial drones were introduced, there have been huge improvements to these flying machines, from longer battery life and bigger camera sensors to more reliable flying and homing technology. But is it too late to get one for yourself? Not! There are drones available at many price points, each offering a certain level of value for your drone dollar.

Beginner drones may cost anywhere from as little as $30 for what is very much a toy. If you are willing to pay a little bit more, up to $250, you can get more features such as a rudimentary camera (which in this case, as a photographer, might be a bit important!)

The prosumer models, which will cost you under the $2,000 mark, are generally a bit more robust, offering better photo and video quality, as well as features that ease flying. These may include auto take-off and landing, as well as auto navigation to return to the user if it gets lost. I have the Mavic Air 2, which I bought less than a week ago and love.

Finally, there are professional level drones, which are very much that, and the price points reflect their higher quality. But let’s be real, if you’re considering one of these, you probably don’t need this article.

I’d err on the side of caution and aim for a price point that is a bit middle of the pack for each category, especially for the beginner and prosumer models.

Get Your Flying Ducks in a Row

At this point, I’d like to take a mini mid-article break and talk a bit about drone safety. To do this, I’d like to share links to the FAA, Transport Canada, CASA, and the EASA. A drone, even when it’s a toy, isn’t a toy. You shouldn’t fly it in restricted airspace and should follow local laws. If you live outside the United States, Canada, Australia, or Europe, then you may need to look up your local aviation authority for your country or region.

The amount of information to cover each little difference for the various regions and local laws sits a bit outside the scope of this article, but some of these government links should at least help you get started.

A New Perspective

We’ll close off with the fundamental question: why get a drone? Well, why not?! It’s in the name of the question: it’s fun! But to offer a bit more serious insight: some of the images I’ve been able to author on my drone haven’t been anything to invite the local critics over to view. But I had so much fun making them.

Photography, as an art, is unique. As an artist working in the medium of photography, the challenge is to capture a photograph that engages with an idea that’s beyond just what is in the image. Now, a drone may not innately help you do all that. But what it will do is offer you a chance at a different perspective or point of view. If you’re in a position where you need a new challenge to your photography, then trying something new and different can be quite freeing. That rush of the first flight may be akin to the rush of that first photo you ever took.

If this article does encourage you to purchase or fly a drone, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Or if you already have a drone, how does it make you feel?