There's nothing quite like being a drone pilot. Whether you're flying for fun or working on commercial projects, every mission is different, new challenges and scenes are waiting right around the corner, and you're operating at the cutting edge of technology.
Hobbyists and professionals go through similar stages and emotions. Here are a few things that only drone pilots will understand.
Flying an expensive drone for the first time can be a nerve-shredding experience. And, to be honest, it isn't always fun to begin with. Most newcomers are too preoccupied with making sure their flying robot doesn't just fall out of the sky to enjoy the moment.
In time you learn to trust the technology and understand its limitations, but dealing with those initial butterflies is the first step to being a good drone pilot.
Counteracting those early nervous moments is the thrill of the perfect shot, when you nail the speed, altitude, angle and camera settings to capture a scene perfectly. Feeling this buzz for the first time is step one on your journey to drone addiction.
Like anything, capturing great aerial video on a regular basis takes time, practice and patience. It's also the first step towards getting paid to turn your hobby into a profession.
When you plan a session to fly your drone, it's typical to put a few hours aside for the shoot. But because of how instrumental the weather conditions are, you can only really know on the day whether it's going to be okay to fly or not.
First of all, wet weather or high winds can leave you grounded indefinitely. Second, grey skies or overly bright conditions can have a negative impact on the end result.
Whether you're mapping some agricultural land, filming real estate or just shooting for fun, so much relies on good, consistent weather.
As with any job, having the right tools is key to a successful drone shoot. This means choosing the best drone for the task at hand, along with all of the right extras and accessories to make the process as smooth as possible.
From spare batteries to ND filters, without the right gear you're flying at a disadvantage.
Read more about choosing the right drone for the job and which accessories to consider in these dedicated posts.
Drone technology is still new to most people. So being confronted or questioned by curious onlookers is something that has happened to almost every drone pilot.
It's rare for any other profession or hobby to attract this much attention, and although most of the time it's genuine curiosity, sometimes people can make assumptions and come to negative conclusions.
For now, part of the responsibility of being a drone pilot is to engage with the public and show them what the technology is capable of.
Keen to take your hobby to the next level? Explore the DroneBase community and start earning money with your drone by visiting our Pilots page.