You know a drone shot when you see it: The aerial technology provides the most striking views above a destination or specific property. This type of powerful footage might seem out of reach due to a limited budget or lack of technological savvy. But it’s more accessible than you might think — and it’s a tool travel advisors definitely want in their marketing arsenals.
“Drones are easy to fly,” said Christine Lozada, a drone operator and traveler with a corporate marketing background who shares drone insights widely on her YouTube channel. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Why Drone Footage Matters
Footage from a drone not only shows off a site in the most appealing way possible but also helps locate the featured place in the context of its surroundings. It might help show, for instance, that a hotel is within easy walking distance from a beach or heritage site, highlighting both views and convenience. Or, it could show just how isolated in the wilderness a lodge intended as a remote retreat is.
Plus, drone shots are just plain beautiful, conveying a cinematic quality that takes the viewer on a more dynamic journey than if they’d simply viewed a set of still shots or ground-level videos. Drone footage conveys the awe and wonder that flowing blocks of copy do not.
“It’s a known fact that people are more swayed by emotion than logic, and anything that has the potential to give goosebumps is effective indeed,” wrote John Brady, a U.K.-based drone pilot for Orion Aerial Images in a recent LinkedIn article. “People would much rather watch a dynamic video and see their intended holiday destination than read a load of text about it.”
Brady noted that the best drone videos tell a story that keeps “the viewer watching as gradually more and more is revealed up to the very end.” For example, a video may start with a sunrise at sea level, rise above the beach, and then reveal the entire oceanfront with hotels and shops amid a backdrop of morning light. “People imagine themselves at that destination looking out of their hotel window or walking along the promenade in the same beautiful scenery,” he said.
How To Use Drone Footage
Lozada urges consistency for both practice and maximal content creation potential. “Every single time you’re traveling, fly your drone wherever you are,” she said on her website. Once the footage is captured, share the video assets widely.
You can integrate drone footage into your professional website and, more importantly, use it in your social media marketing. Make sure to shoot in a high-quality mode, and don’t forget to change the upload settings to maintain that high quality and avoid compression, Lozada advises.
For best results, she recommends rotating drone video files vertically before posting them and optimizing the aspect ratio for the platform you’re using, such as Instagram or TikTok.
Beyond that, make sure to tag any relevant destinations, subjects and potential customers, and use hashtags to amplify your footage and expand your reach.
“What you capture: Share it,” Lozada said. “No one knows who you are until you grab their attention, so tag them in, and engage with, their social media.”
How To Get Started
For beginners, Lozada recommends low-priced yet high-powered drones with robust safety features, including DJI’s Mavic Mini 2 SE, 3 or 4 Pro models.
You don’t need to register your drone or get a pilot’s license simply to buy or operate a drone. And you won’t need such a license or registration if you’re flying a mini drone just for fun.
But if you’re planning to earn money with your drone, you’ll need to register on the FAA website for a nominal fee and put that registration number on your device. You’ll also need to get a Remote Pilot Small Unmanned Aircraft System License, which requires passing a test administered by a local testing location and paying a fee.
Originally featured in the Spring 2024 issue of The Compass magazine
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