Intro to Drone Photography
Learn to fly a drone with confidence and capture stunning aerial photos and video — no experience required. From choosing your first drone to editing cinematic shots, this course covers everything you need to get off the ground.
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Safely pilot a consumer drone in a variety of environments and conditions
- Understand and comply with FAA Part 107 rules and local drone regulations
- Choose the right drone and accessories for your budget and shooting goals
- Apply aerial-specific composition techniques to capture compelling photos and video
- Configure your drone's camera settings for different lighting conditions
- Plan and execute a complete aerial photo or video shoot from pre-flight to landing
- Edit and color-grade drone footage using Lightroom and/or DaVinci Resolve
- Build a small portfolio of aerial images ready to share or sell
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 19 lessons
Choosing Your Drone & Gear
Cut through the overwhelming world of drone shopping with clear, honest guidance. You'll leave this module knowing exactly what to buy and why.
- 1.1The Drone Landscape: What's Actually Worth Your MoneyIncluded
- 1.2Essential Accessories (and What You Can Skip)Included
- 1.3Setting Up Your Drone for the First TimeIncluded
Rules, Safety & the FAA
Flying legally isn't optional — but it's also not as complicated as people think. This module makes regulations clear and actionable so you can fly with total confidence.
- 2.1FAA Registration & Recreational RulesIncluded
- 2.2Understanding Airspace: Classes, TFRs & No-Fly ZonesIncluded
- 2.3Pre-Flight Safety Checklists & Emergency ProceduresIncluded
Mastering the Controls: From Hover to Confident Flight
The core flying skills module. We start slow and deliberate, building muscle memory and spatial awareness until smooth, controlled flight becomes second nature.
- 3.1Simulator Practice: Learn to Fly Without RiskIncluded
- 3.2Your First Real Flight: Hover, Yaw & Basic MovementIncluded
- 3.3Cinematic Flight Moves for Stunning FootageIncluded
Aerial Photography: Composition & Camera Settings
Great drone shots don't happen by accident. This module teaches you to see like an aerial photographer — applying light, composition, and camera craft specifically to overhead and oblique perspectives.
- 4.1Composition Rules That Work from the AirIncluded
- 4.2Understanding Light for Aerial ShootingIncluded
- 4.3Camera Settings: Manual Mode for Aerial WorkIncluded
- 4.4ND Filters: What They Are and When to Use ThemIncluded
Editing Your Aerial Photos & Video
Raw drone footage is just raw potential. This module teaches you to turn your files into polished, professional images and clips using industry-standard tools.
- 5.1Photo Editing in Lightroom: The Aerial WorkflowIncluded
- 5.2Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve: Cuts & ColorIncluded
- 5.3Building Your Portfolio: Selecting & Presenting Your Best WorkIncluded
Real-World Applications & Going Pro
Put everything together and explore the real ways drone photographers make money and build an audience — with concrete first steps for each path.
- 6.1Real Estate & Architecture Aerial PhotographyIncluded
- 6.2Travel, Nature & Landscape Aerial PhotographyIncluded
- 6.3Monetizing Your Drone Skills: Freelance, Stock & SocialIncluded
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Dave Idell
Hey, I'm so glad you're here. I picked up my first drone a few years ago with zero flying experience and immediately crashed it into a tree — so I know exactly where you're starting from. What followed was hundreds of hours of flights, a Part 107 certification, and work shooting everything from real estate listings to travel films across three continents. I created this course because I wish something like it had existed when I was starting out. My goal is simple: get you flying safely, shooting beautifully, and having a blast doing it. Every lesson is built from real field experience, not just textbook knowledge. Let's get you in the air.
— Dave Idell
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- 6 modules, 19 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed