Flying Higher: How Drone Photography is Changing My Work
Over the past few years, drone photography has shifted from being a novelty to a powerful storytelling tool. Many people still think of drones as just a way to capture sweeping landscapes, but in 2025 their creative potential goes far beyond that. From weddings to real estate and even sports coverage, drones are giving photographers like me a fresh perspective.
In this blog, I want to share some of the ways drones are being used creatively, what you need to know if you’re flying one in the UK, and a little insight into my own experience capturing a countryside wedding with the DJI Air 3S.
Beyond Landscapes: Creative Uses for Drones
Weddings
When you’re photographing a wedding, the challenge is always how to tell the story in a way that feels unique to the couple. A drone lets you capture those little details that guests never see — the flow of the countryside around the venue, the way the marquee sits in the garden, or the couple walking hand-in-hand across a field. It’s cinematic, natural, and adds an emotional layer to the final gallery.
2.Real Estate
Estate agents are increasingly asking for aerial imagery, and it’s easy to see why. A drone gives buyers a real sense of the property’s setting, the surrounding land, and even the scale of gardens or driveways. It’s no longer enough to show just the interior — the exterior shots are selling a lifestyle.
3.Sports and Events
From capturing cyclists winding through the South Downs to documenting outdoor festivals, drones offer dynamic, wide perspectives. They let you cover movement and atmosphere in a way that static shots sometimes struggle to achieve.
Legal & Practical Tips for UK Drone Photography in 2025
Flying drones in the UK comes with responsibility. A few essentials:
Registration: Any drone with a camera (including the DJI Air 3S) must be registered with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority). You’ll need both an operator ID and, if flying commercially, a flyer ID.
Categories: Most professional use falls under the Open Category or Specific Category, depending on drone weight and proximity to people. The Air 3S, at under 1kg, is versatile but still requires sensible flying practice.
Distances: Keep at least 50m away from uninvolved people and respect no-fly zones (like airports, military areas, or sensitive sites).
Insurance: For commercial work, insurance is essential — and many wedding venues will ask for proof before you fly.
Weather & Light: Drones don’t handle wind or rain well, so checking forecasts is just as important as charging your batteries.
My Experience: A Countryside Wedding with the DJI Air 3S
This summer I had the opportunity to photograph and film a wedding in the countryside around GU28. Alongside my usual cameras, I brought along my DJI Air 3S, and it genuinely transformed the way I approached the day.
What I loved most was how natural the footage felt. Instead of staging or interrupting the couple, I was able to quietly capture moments from above — guests mingling in the gardens, children running across the lawn, the couple walking beneath oak trees as the sun dipped in the evening sky.
The Air 3S, with its dual camera system (wide and 3x telephoto), gave me options I hadn’t expected. I could move from sweeping aerial shots of the entire venue to closer, more intimate perspectives without ever disturbing the flow of the day. Its stability in flight also meant I could relax and focus on composition, rather than worrying about wobbly footage.
When I delivered the final gallery and video highlights, the drone shots were some of the couple’s favourites. They said it gave them a sense of the day they hadn’t noticed themselves — the scale, the setting, the feeling of being surrounded by countryside and loved ones.
Final Thoughts
Drone photography is no longer a gimmick. For me, it’s become a valuable part of my toolkit, especially for weddings and events where storytelling is everything. The DJI Air 3S strikes a perfect balance: compact and reliable, but powerful enough to capture professional-quality footage that elevates the whole collection.
If you’re considering hiring a photographer for your wedding or project, or you’re a photographer curious about expanding your own services, drones are a creative step worth taking. Sometimes the best way to tell a story is to quite literally take it to another level.
