7 tips for better drone photography

Find out how to get the best out of your drones camera with settings, techniques, and real-world examples.

1. Camera settings

• Shoot RAW (DNG) Always shoot in RAW rather than JPEG. RAW files capture more pixel information since they are not compressed, which means:

  • You can recover details in shadows.
  • Bring back blown-out highlights.
  • Adjust colors more easily in post-production. If your drone supports RAW, use it.

• ISO 100 Stick to ISO 100 for the best image quality. Only raise it if you’re shooting video in low light. Thanks to gimbals, drones are stable—like having a tripod in the sky—so you can use slower shutter speeds without blur.

• Fixed white balance While RAW lets you adjust white balance later, fixing it in the DJI Fly app ensures consistency. If left on auto, the drone may switch between different Kelvin values (e.g., 5600 → 2700) across shots, making editing frustrating.

• Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) AEB captures 3-5 images at different exposures:

  • Guarantees at least one perfectly exposed frame.
  • Lets you create HDR or exposure-blended images in post.

2. Flight techniques

• Circle a point of interest Use QuickShots to circle a landmark or subject. This frees you up to focus on composition while the drone handles the maneuver, often revealing angles you’d otherwise miss.

• Plan like a pro Abraham Lincoln said: “If I had an hour to chop down a tree, I’d spend 45 minutes sharpening the axe.” Don’t spend 45 minutes in the air (you’ll run out of battery!), but do prepare. Planning shots avoids those “almost perfect” angles that are just a few degrees off.

3. Time of day

• Golden hour The best light is within an hour after sunrise or before sunset. The low sun creates dramatic shadows, depth, and 3D-like shapes.

  • Midday light = flat and harsh.
  • Golden hour = warm, dramatic, and textured.

• Examples The same subject shot at noon looks flat, but captured 30 minutes before sunset? Stunning.

4. Composition

• Top-down shots Drones excel at abstract, top-down imagery. Rotate your framing—you may find unexpected winners.

• Rule of thirds Split the frame into 9 segments using grids (available in DJI Fly). Placing subjects along these lines makes images more visually pleasing. It also helps maximize the sensor’s resolution so you crop less later.

• Aspect ratio (3:2 vs 16:9) Always shoot in 3:2:

  • Uses the full sensor.
  • Gives more flexibility in cropping.
  • Essential for large prints. Shooting in 16:9 only crops your image in-camera—you’ll lose pixels forever.

5. Planning ahead

• Google Earth Use 3D mode in Google Earth to scout landscapes and landmarks ahead of time. You can test angles virtually, then fly straight to them in the field.

• Know the rules Always check airspace regulations. The Drone Assist app (or your local equivalent) shows:

  • No-fly zones.
  • Airports.
  • Hazards.
  • Planned flights from others.

6. Focus

• Tap to focus In the DJI Fly app, tap the subject on-screen to lock focus. Drone lenses have wide depth of field, but switching from close subjects to distant ones can still cause blur if you don’t refocus. A simple tap can save a masterpiece.