You’re a drone pilot and have you have taken aerial pictures. Some of your pictures are pretty good, but you’ve seen better images from others. It’s time that you enroll in a drone photography class. Drones aren’t just toys for your kids, they are genuinely revolutionary pieces of technology that gives you the power to capture photos from new heights, when you have the skills to do so.
If you’re an experienced photographer or an experienced UAV pilot but are unsure where to start in learning the skills needed to capture stunning aerial photos and videos, we recommend investing in a drone photography course.
If you’ve never taken to the skies with your camera, don’t just turn to Google to search for a course. We have done the research for you and have compiled a list of the 15 best drone photography courses that can turn you into a professional birds’ eye photographer! (Plus a few other helpful resources, too!)
How To Navigate This Article
We have placed our recommended courses into two sections:
- Online courses: providing the freedom to learn aerial photography skills at home and at your own pace.
- In-person courses: providing hands-on learning to improve your aerial flying and photography skills with experienced instructors.
Each listing will include pertinent information so that you can decide which course meets your needs. We'll include:
- Course summary
- Skills taught
- Price
“I think one of the privileges of being a filmmaker is the opportunity to remain a kind of perpetual student.” — Edward Zwick
Online Drone Photography Courses
If you’re looking to gain aerial photography knowledge on your schedule and from the comfort of your couch, check out these online drone photography courses.
Mastering Your Drone for Photographers by SleekLens
Summary
Throughout the 4.5 hours of video training by SleekLens, you will learn all the aspects that any beginner drone pilot needs to know to get the most from their aerial photos and videos. This course is very efficient for on-the-go learners, since students are able to stream training videos wherever and whenever they'd like.
You will learn:
- Drone safety
- Useful apps and accessories
- Basic and advanced cinematic movements
- Aerial photo editing
- Photo and video settings
- Jobs for drone pilots, as well as real-world shadowing
- Creating video projects
For more information, you can learn more on their FAQ page.
Price: $49.00
Online Aerial Photography Course
Summary
This online course by DartDrones teaches their students how to angle drones in such a way that captures eye-catching shots at the perfect height. You will learn important basics such as how to set up your camera properly, how to utilize the weather to your advantage and how to guarantee that your photography clients are happy with your work.
Included with the course:
- 40-minute online seminar
- Aerial photography checklist to ensure happy clients
- A printable quick shot guide
- Full access for 6 months
Price: $100
Aerial Photo Pro by Drone Launch Academy
Summary
If you are a mildly experienced drone pilot but looking to enhance your aerial photography skills, this is a great online course.
You will learn:
- The process that Alex, the course instructor, uses to capture amazing shots
- Step-by-step instructions on takeoff techniques to capturing photos to landing
- How to share your work so that it’s promoted to your ideal clients
- A walkthrough of the photo editing software many aerial photographers use
- When you do and don’t need to use drone camera filters
- How to scope locations before driving to them to save time
- How professionals frame shots
- Taking photos in low-light situations
- Best practices for real estate photography
- How to capture panoramic shots with a drone
Price: $249
Drone Pro Academy for Professionals
If you are a total newbie to the world of drones and have a bit of money to invest in expanding your photography business, then this course offers an advanced curriculum by Cine Chopper University.
You will learn:
- Total basics for newbies
- What drone to buy for photography
- Best camera settings
- Traveling with a drone
- Basic cinematic tutorials
- Composition and framing
- Flying in the wind
- Panoramic photography
- How to capture a variety of cinematic drone shots
- Post-production basics
- The basics of a drone photography and/or videography business
- Basics of working with the FAA
- Introduction to drone insurance
- Building a drone photography brand
- Finding clients and working with them on projects
- In-depth drone job shadowing videos
- Plus A LOT more – read about it here
Pricing:
- One-time payment of $1,500
- $167/month for 6 months payment plan
- $47.00/month subscription
You can learn more about Cine Chopper University and their courses by watching their free training here.
Drone U Courses
Summary
If you are an experienced photographer on a budget who is hungry for aerial photography knowledge, then check out the wide array of video courses and tutorials on the Drone U online platform. You will find a variety of tabs on the top of their course landing page that is loaded with free information.
From the basics of the best drone photography filters to learning how to capture night aerial photos and videography basics, there is a little something for everyone who wants to enhance their photography and videography skills.
Some of the courses within Drone U:
- How to Launch and Grow a Drone Business
- Filters for photography and videography
- Night Photography Using a Drone
- Shooting and Mapping Construction Sites
- Flying Over Water
- Don’t Crash Course
- Advanced Aerial Videography
- Still Photography
- And many more!
Price: FREE
Dronegenuity
Summary
If you desire step-by-step instruction and appreciates tutorial videos, Dronegenuity is a great website to check out. The company’s mission is to help beginning drone pilots and photographers elevate their aerial imagery. There is a good array of drone video tutorials that you can watch anytime, absolutely free.
Some of the video tutorials on the Dronegenuity website:
- How to Take Great Drone Photos
- How to Take RAW DNG Photos
- Long Exposure Photography
- Getting Started With Cinemagraphs
- Drone Height Overview
- Take Amazing HDR Drone Photos and Save Time Editing
- Using White Balance to Your Advantage
You can check out other valuable tutorials on their YouTube channel here.
Price: FREE
Udemy Drone Photography Courses
If you’ve never heard of Udemy, you are really missing out on an enormous array of online courses covering just about every subject imaginable, like drone basics, piloting, and aerial photography.
While you can search for drone courses on the platform with ease, we have researched and came up with the most popular drone photography courses on Udemy as of August 2019:
Stunning Aerial Videography and Photography Using Drones
Summary
As one of the leading drone photography/videography pieces of training on Udemy, this course focuses on learning the basics of capturing and creating stunning drone photos and video footage, during the flying process and post-production editing.
You will learn:
- Basic design principles to follow
- Choosing the proper aerial hardware
- How to plan your flying trips to maximize shots
- Create ground-based footage to enhance production
- Basic understanding of legal and safety considerations
- Identify the key flying skills, flight patterns and shot options required to create stunning aerial productions
- The 8 important editing steps you need to create these productions
- 6 tools that will help with planning, piloting, filming and editing
Price: $94.99
Learn Aerial Photography and Videography Basics
Summary
Own a DJI Phantom drone? This is a great course to learn the basics of safe setup and flying techniques, as well as how to configure your drone for first-person-view (FPV). This 4.4-star rated course has taught over 2,500 students to process their aerial photos and video footage.
You will learn:
- How to fly your DJI Phantom safely with confidence
- How to choose the proper multirotor, drone, and aerial platforms
- How to add a video downlink system to your drone
- Capture stunning aerial photos that are able to tell a story
Price: $200
CreativeLive Drone Photography Courses
Another popular platform rising in the ranks against Udemy is CreativeLive, a platform where the world’s best and experienced instructors help everyday people master their passions and hone their craft. Below are our favorite aerial photography courses on this online platform.
Beginner Drone Photography Course
Summary
If you are 100% brand new to the realm of aerial photography, instructor Dirk Dallas has a treat for you. Learn how to take off and capture stunning aerial images as a complete newbie with this step-by-step course.
You will learn:
- How to become confident in flying a drone
- Grasp basic drone piloting legalities
- How to do simple to intermediate drone maneuvers
- How to properly adjust camera settings, as well as adjust drone and camera settings simultaneously
- How to capture a variety of perspectives
- How to edit aerial images and video content
Price:
- $36.00 for the class
- $25.00/mo for a CreativeLive membership
Dirk Dallas also has an Intermediate Drone Videography and Photography Course on the CreativeLive platform. You can check it out here.
Create Stunning Drone Images with Adobe Creative Cloud
Summary
Take your photography skills to new heights through the instruction of digital artist, Colin Smith. From learning the basics of aerial photography composition to processing your drone images on various Adobe software, you will learn how to correct common issues that will help bring out the best qualities of your drone shots.
You will learn:
- Basics of drone flight
- Composing drone shots
- Unique aerial photography angles
- Processing drone panoramas
- How to create Facebook 360-degree drone images
- Basics of video shooting with your drone
- And more!
Price:
- $21.00 for class
- $25.00/month for CreativeLive membership
The Outdoor Enthusiast's Guide to Photography & Motion
Summary
If you have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy exploring the untapped wilderness, then this course created by award-winning photographer Ian Shive is a must to check out. Within this particular course, you will learn the ins and outs that go into creating an eye-catching story in nature through masterful still and motion shots in any environment.
You will learn:
- Essentials for scouting locations
- Required permits to shoot in various locations
- A basic introduction to drones
- How to move from still photos to video seamlessly
- How to capture landscapes
- Lighting and composition techniques
- Handling low-light situations
- Capturing stock images and video content
- How to get your work seen and placed in printed publications
- And more!
Price:
- $111.00 for the class
- $25.00/month for CreativeLive membership
In-Person Drone Photography Courses
For experienced photographers and drone pilots alike, in-person aerial photography courses are the best way to get a hands-on education that will significantly enhance your aerial photography skills.
If you’re serious about your business or hobby and have a bit of capital to invest in new skills, we highly recommend an in-person drone photography course.
DJI Aerial Photo Academy
Summary
The Aerial Photography Academy by DJI is a one-day class created for students who want to create top-quality drone photos. This intensive course offers a valuable insight into not only how to operate a drone, but why drone photographers fly, which helps attendees gain an entirely new perspective of the world around them.
The training is recommended for advanced-beginners to intermediate photographers, and is for those that are brand new to drones or for those pursuing a career in aerial photography. In one day, attendees will learn what countless drone photographers have learned over years of trial and error mishaps. Students new to drone photography will gain immediate skills that will be utilized the next day to create stunning photos.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Stacy Garlington and Randy Jay Braun, two of the planet’s most seasoned drone photography pilots, are the instructors.
You will learn:
- About flight techniques
- How DJI drone systems work
- Proven photography techniques that lean towards helping you earn money with your drone
Price: $175
There are still classes you can register for in 2019 – check out the homepage to see if there is a DJI Photo Academy training course in your area!
Advanced Drone Aerial Photography/Videography
Summary
If you are looking to learn how to use your drone to take professional aerial photos, then this one day, intensive 8-hour course is one that we highly recommend. This course teaches all the core skills required to capture high-quality imagery and video media.
If you plan to take your aerial photography and/or videography to the next level, this course is a must-have that is backed by years of hands-on expertise. Students who combine the Introduction to Drones course with this advanced course will receive an Advanced Aerial Photography/Videography Drone Operator Certificate.
You will learn:
- How to frame and take images correctly
- What you need for general and real estate photography
- Learn what types of videos that renowned customers like National Geographic look for in aerial videography
- The best techniques used on set of a shoot
- Receive real-time feedback from experienced teachers
Price:
- $1,000
- Requires a $250 course deposit to register
Aerial Photography & Videography Drone Training
Summary
Imagine being able to maximize your photography skills in just one day while adding significant value to your business by learning how to create high-quality aerial images and video content. It is possible with the intensive one-day in-person training course by DartDrones. In just a day’s time, you can master what it really takes to make aerial shots stand out!
You will learn:
- Common uses of aerial videography and piloting skills
- Choosing your platform, camera, drone, and equipment
- What settings are best in capturing both photo and video
- Flight paths that provide high-quality stunning shots
- Preparation and post-production processes
Price: $375
Shoot Like a Pro
Summary
Accelerate your drone expertise and become an expert in aerial photography and videography within this one-day course put on by the Carolina Drone Academy. This course dives deep into camera options, settings, accessories, and the best practices for maximizing the way you use your drone to capture aerial images and video content.
You will learn:
- Controller and hardware settings
- Best camera options to use
- Configuring software
- Flight maneuvers
- Picking the proper filter(s)
- How to plan out your shots for optimal results
- Autonomous flight modes
- And more!
During the one-day class, an in-person instructor will review drone footage and imagery from movies and other productions. Students can follow along as the instructor demonstrates the best camera and software settings while exhibiting key flight maneuvers.
Price: $299
Other Valuable Resources
We love your go-getter attitude in wanting to learn how to capture amazing cinematic-quality images and videos with your drone! That is why we added a list of some other amazing resources that you should really check out to further enhance your knowledge and to mold yourself into a master drone photographer.
Aerial Photography and Videography Using Drones Book
Not able to take a class and more interested in reading a book? Eric Cheng’s book outlines pretty much everything you need to know as a beginning drone photographer. You will get an overview of the basics, how to capture better photos/videos with your drone, and many key elements in-between.
This is a killer resource that you can reference whenever you need to! You can find it here on Amazon.
Drone Film Guide YouTube Channel
Drone Film Guide teaches subscribers how to photograph and film like a pro. Their video series will help you make minor tweaks to your flying in order to achieve the desired cinematic shots that everyone dreams of.
DJI Guides
DJI has an entire library called the DJI Guides on their website. This site is packed with thorough and comprehensive information that will help you learn how to utilize your DJI drone or other product so you can create the best quality content.
“From Where I Drone” Blog
If you are seeking information on every single aspect of what it takes to make stunning aerial drone content, then you need to check out From Where I Drone Tips & Tutorials page. Their content provides readers with high-quality advice sprinkled with details tips and suggestions that can really help you to level-up your photography expertise.
Social Media for Aerial Drone Content Creators
If you are feeling lost and looking for inspiration from more experienced aerial photographers and videographers, check out the following platforms:
- As one of the biggest repositories of aerial photos and film online, AirVuz is a social platform that was created for those to share drone footage and images, which makes it an amazing place to go to find inspiration. All content is organized by via tag and subject, making the platform very easy to use and find what you are seeking.
- Similar to AirVuz, Skypixel is user-friendly and provides people with more hands-on videos, tips, and tutorials. It is another great platform to not only enhance your aerial content creation expertise, and offers more inspiration and collaboration with other creators.
- If you’re searching for other drone enthusiasts in your area, you need to check out MeetUp, a social platform that brings like-minded people together. You can search by location to find individuals who are interested in meeting up to talk about and learn more about drones. Can’t find a drone photography community near you? Start one!
We hope that you found this comprehensive list of the Top 15 drone photography courses and resources helpful in your journey in becoming a seasoned aerial content creator. Whether you are starting out and on a budget or are an experienced UAV pilot looking to support themselves with drone photography, there are learning opportunities everywhere – you just have to find the ones that best suit your situation.
Good luck in your endeavors as you capture the world from new heights!
