The small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), or drone, is emerging as a powerful video and photography platform for both professional and hobbyist videographers, photographers, artists, scientists, and storytellers. With technology comes many regulations, safety knowledge, and understanding of how the drones and government work in relation to drones.
This 3-day course prepares students who already have their drone licenses and are interested in understanding the how to physically fly your drone, with a focus on capturing and editing aerial photography using the latest drone technology and photo editing software.
- Day 1 (Online) will be spent learning about photography from the basics of how your camera works to advanced techniques and angles using drones
- Day 2 (Optional In-person class) will be spent together outdoors, having students utilize the information and techniques learned from the first day. This will also be a chance to ask questions and get immediate feedback on your shots.
- Day 3 (Online) will be used to teach you how to take the photos you captured during the previous class and show you how to edit them using Adobe Lightroom
This class is for beginner-advanced students with an interest in drone photography who have received their Part 107 license. Whether you’ve flown before or not, this course is for anyone who knows the laws and is now looking to understand more about photography. If you’re ready to upgrade your shots, take the camera off of auto, and learn the process from capture to final edited product, this class is for you.
Students must use a computer (PC or Mac) to communicate as this course is online. We ask that students come prepared with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and Adobe Lightroom already downloaded on their devices for the third day of class. You may download the free trial of Adobe Premiere and the free trial of Adobe Lightroom a few days prior to the final class if you do not own either of these Adobe software products. Please keep in mind that each free trial only lasts 7-days, and you will need it for this course. You may find free trial access here: Adobe Photoshop Free Trial | Adobe Premiere Free Trial | Adobe Lightroom Free Trial
We recommend (however, not required) that students enroll in and complete Introduction to Drone sUAS Videography & Photography prior to taking this workshop.
Interested in Drone Videography? Check out our 3-day course!
Day 1: Learning (Online - 9:30-12pm & 1-3pmEST)
- Photography
- What makes a photo clean – more specifically, what makes a picture blurry?
- Auto vs Pro
- Picture Profiles (LOG, HLG*, Color/Normal)
- Resolution
- White Balance (Kelvin Scale)
- Exposure
- ISO (180 degrees rule)
- Shutter Speed
- Aperture
- *Zebra (peaking settings)
- Favorite drone settings
- Gimbal settings
- Sensor sizes
- What are megapixels
- Choosing the subject of your shot
- Rule of thirds and other tips
- Times of day to shoot at
- Shooting in the dark
- Picking the equipment right for you
- Show samples of work done
- Introduction to Adobe Lightroom
Day 2: Pre-flight (In-person - 9:30-11am EST)
- Preflight check in action
- Review of equipment
- Check on batteries
- Check on drone
- Firmware updates completed
- Extra wings, batteries, etc.
- Weather check
- Check Air Space
- Approval for airspace
- LANCC approvals
- Review of equipment
- Setting up controller
- Cine vs. tripod/normal vs. sport
- Safety features engaged with all three
- Moving back and forth
- Moving up and down
- Multi-axis movement
- First flights
Day 2: Flight (In-person - 12-3pm EST)
- More flight time – personal assistance and review of photos
Day 3: Editing videos (Online - 9:30-12pm & 1-3pm EST)
Lightroom
- Importing photos
- Lighting
- Cropping
- Exposure
- Contrast
- Highlights
- Shadows
- White
- Blacks
- White balance
- Point curves
- Color curves
- Color mixing
- Color grading
- Luma and hues
- Clarity
- Dehaze
- Texture
- Details
- Masking
- Fixing blurry photos
- Black and white photography vs color photography
- Exporting
