There’s something pretty special about seeing a wedding from above.
From the ground, you’re caught up in all the little moments happening around you. From the air, you get to see the bigger picture: your venue, the landscape around it, your guests gathered together and the two of you right in the middle of it all.
That’s where drone wedding photography can add something really lovely to your wedding gallery.
It doesn’t replace the photographs of your ceremony, speeches, first dance or all those little moments you’ll want to remember from your wedding photography. Instead, it gives you another way of seeing the day, particularly if you’re getting married somewhere with beautiful grounds, countryside, gardens or a stunning view.
What is drone wedding photography?
Drone wedding photography uses a camera drone to capture still photographs from the air.
Rather than photographing everything from ground level, a drone lets me step back and show more of the scene. Your venue, the landscape and all the people you’ve brought together can become part of the photograph.
Think of a country house surrounded by gardens, the two of you walking across the grounds, an outdoor ceremony or all your guests gathered together for a photograph.
These aerial images sit alongside your more traditional wedding photographs and add something a little different to your gallery.
Why choose aerial wedding photography?
Your wedding photographs don’t all need to look the same.
One of the things I love about aerial wedding photography is that it can show the parts of your day that you don’t necessarily get to see yourselves.
You might spend months choosing the perfect venue, styling the tables and making the gardens look beautiful, only to spend most of your wedding day experiencing it from inside. An aerial photograph can show the whole setting in one frame.
It can also capture the scale of your celebration. Your guests, the venue and the surrounding landscape all become part of the story.
What can a wedding drone photograph?
There isn’t one standard wedding drone shot. The best photographs depend on your venue, the surroundings and what’s happening on the day.
Some of my favourite possibilities include:
Your wedding venue
An aerial photograph can show your venue in its surroundings rather than simply giving you another photograph of the building.
For larger country houses and estates, you can see the house, gardens, trees and surrounding landscape all working together in one image.
Your ceremony
If you’re having an outdoor ceremony and the location is suitable, a photograph from above can show the whole scene.
Your ceremony becomes part of the landscape, rather than just another close-up photograph of the two of you.
Your guests
A drone can give you a completely different option for a group photograph.
Instead of everyone squeezing together in front of a building, you can sometimes create a more relaxed photograph from above, with everyone arranged within the surroundings.
Confetti
Confetti looks brilliant from above.
You get to see the two of you walking through the confetti, along with all your guests lining the route. It’s one of those moments where the bigger picture really does add something.
The two of you
Sometimes the simplest aerial photographs are the best.
The two of you walking through the grounds, standing beneath a huge tree or making your way through a beautiful landscape can create a quiet image that feels completely different from your couple portraits.
Wedding drone photography ideas
If you’re considering adding drone photographs to your wedding gallery, there are plenty of possibilities.
You could capture:
- A wide photograph of your venue and its surroundings
- The two of you walking through the grounds
- An outdoor ceremony from above
- Your guests gathered together
- A confetti photograph
- Your reception or drinks area
- The landscape surrounding your venue
- A photograph showing the scale of the whole wedding party
The important thing is not to try to tick every idea off a list.
Your wedding isn’t a styled photoshoot, and the drone shouldn’t be flying around all day just for the sake of it. The best aerial photographs happen when there’s something worth photographing from above.
You can see more examples of my wedding photography portfolio if you’d like to see how I approach different weddings and venues.
Drone wedding photography in Hampshire
Hampshire is a brilliant place for this kind of photography, and there are some beautiful settings for wedding photography in Hampshire.
There are country estates, open countryside, large gardens, woodland, historic buildings and plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces that can look fantastic from the air.
Of course, having a beautiful venue doesn’t automatically mean a drone can be flown there.
The location, surrounding airspace, weather conditions, venue rules and the safety of everyone at the wedding all need to be considered.
That’s why drone photography isn’t something I’d simply decide to do when I arrive at your wedding. It needs to be planned properly.
Can you use a drone at any wedding?
Unfortunately, no.
There are rules around where and how drones can be flown, and those rules are particularly important when you’re photographing a wedding with lots of people around.
Your venue may also have its own restrictions, and some locations simply aren’t suitable for drone flights.
Weather is another big factor. Strong winds, rain and poor visibility can all mean that a planned flight isn’t safe or practical.
If you’re interested in drone wedding photography, it’s worth mentioning it when you enquire. That gives us time to look at your venue and work out whether aerial photographs are a realistic option for your day.
And if they aren’t, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to make the most of your venue and surroundings from the ground.
Drone wedding photography vs drone wedding videography
It’s easy to lump the two together, but they give you quite different things.
Drone wedding photography gives you still images from above, which can become part of your wedding gallery and album.
Drone wedding videography gives you moving aerial footage, which can be used as part of a wedding film.
Both can look fantastic, but they’re not interchangeable. If you’re looking for a particular type of aerial coverage, it’s worth checking exactly what’s included with the photographer or videographer you’re considering.
Is drone wedding photography worth it?
Honestly? It depends on your wedding.
If you’re getting married somewhere with beautiful grounds, a dramatic setting or a landscape that forms a big part of your day, aerial photographs can be a brilliant addition to your gallery.
But you don’t need drone photography simply because it’s available.
Your wedding photographs should reflect your day, your venue and the things that matter to you. If a few carefully planned aerial photographs add something that you can’t get from the ground, then they’re absolutely worth considering.
For me, that’s the appeal.
It’s not about putting a drone in the sky because it looks impressive. It’s about using it when it genuinely adds something to the story of your wedding.
And sometimes, that one photograph showing the two of you, all your favourite people and the place where you got married can end up being one of the photographs you treasure most.
Thinking about drone photography for your wedding?
If you’re getting married in Hampshire and like the idea of adding some aerial photographs to your wedding gallery, get in touch and tell me a little about your plans.
We can chat about your venue, what you’re hoping for from your photographs and whether drone wedding photography could work for your day. Get in touch and tell me a little about your plans.
