Having done two heli shoots now (above Florida in summer and Utah in winter) I thought that I’d share what I’ve learned and experienced, both to give an insight into what it entails and also for those considering their own heli shoot. My most recent heli shoot was above the mountains of Utah in March, so this is all still very fresh in my memory. Scroll to the bottom to see some of shots.
Safety comes first
Choosing a company that puts safety first is crucial for obvious reasons. Don’t take this for granted. Research the companies, their reviews and ask them questions when getting quotes.
If you’re doing an open doors flight to get the best photos (like I did) then you mustn’t have anything loose on the flight (lens cap, hood, spare lenses etc.). So ensure to take a harness with clip with you so you can attach your camera(s) to you seat strap. You can also wrap the camera strap firmly around your wrist. You absolutely don’t want anything flying out and hitting people/property below or the propeller.
On the day of your flight, ensure that everyone is totally confident about the weather forecast. Don’t fly if you have concerns.
If you’re flying in the winter, ensure you have a lot of warm clothing. The last thing you want is to be aborting due to cold. Particularly think about how you’ll keep your finger trips warm so you can continue snapping! And avoid loose clothing that will flap in the wind.
When shooting with doors off, be careful how far you lean out. You’ll be amazed how easily the wind will catch you and your camera.
Planning is crucial
Think about what it is you want to capture - when’s the best time to do this, what’s the best flight path, are there any flight restrictions, what’s the sun’s position, what are the timings of the tide, do you want people about for your captures, what is the lowest height you can fly in that area, are you aiming for more ‘top down’ images…? The list could go on.
Unless you're sitting in the front, you’re best to sit the same side as the pilot to help communication, so think what this means for your route (I always sit behind).
Liaise with the pilot on how long he/she thinks you’ll need for the area that you want to cover. Share with the pilot as much as possible about what it is you want to capture so he/she can ensure the best flight what it is you’re after.
Do you want to fly with the doors off for unrestricted shooting? If not, then check the helicopter offers good vantage points.
Think carefully about your camera gear
As mentioned above, you can’t take anything loose on the flight (bags etc.) so really think about what you’re taking with you. For starters leave your lens cap and hood behind.
In an ideal world I would have two cameras, one with a telephoto lens and then a wide(r) angle option. Rent one if necessary. For my flights so far, I decided to opt for my Canon RF 24-70mm lens which is a very versatile option. This gave me enough zoom for the height we were flying whilst also capturing the wider scene I was after. It probably led me to capturing some shots I hadn’t planned, whilst missing some I had. Although with my Canon R5, I also had sufficient resolution to be able to crop images afterwards. Just be prepared to be flexible! If you opt for a very wide angle lens, just watch the blades creeping into your shots.
Depending on how long you’re flying for, you clearly don’t want to run out of power or memory card space mid-flight. I ran out of memory card space on my first flight and had the terrifying experience of trying to change without losing one. Trust me you don’t that to be you. If you have two cameras this should be sufficient but otherwise ensure you fly with empty and fast memory cards, which are as large as possible. Any spare batteries and cards should go in your easily accessible chest pocket.
If you’re shooting around water, you may need a polariser depending on the time of day. I didn’t need one for my Florida or Utah shoots but many online suggest taking one.
In the content world that we live in, I also suggest having a Go-Pro or equivalent that you can use to capture additional video content. This is invaluable to have if you’re looking to drive social media engagement with your shoot. And when you’re flying, if you’re not taking photos, take video! You can never have enough content and it can all be repurposed.
Have a harness lock to attach your camera strap to.
Last but by no means least, think carefully about what you wear. Have enough layers and protection but ensure they don’t restrict you for when taking photos. But don’t have loose/baggy clothes that could flap around and distract you during the flight with the doors off.
The best camera settings for heli shoots
Choose RAW or JPEG but not both – you want to avoid filling up your memory card too quickly. RAW is best for most flexibility post to adjust colour and other settings.
Shutter speed is critical to freeze motion. Err on the side of caution, as the last thing you want is blurred images for a low shutter speed. The standard rule is to have shutter speed eight times your focal length. So for wide angle, have at least 1/640. For mid-range lens 1/800-1/1000 and telephoto 1/1250 to 1/1600. Always check your first shots as the right SS will vary depending on your flight speed.
Aperture – minimum f5.6 but f7.1-f8 area ideal to avoid blurred edges which is crucial for sharp aerial photography
ISO – the lower the better to minimize noise. Between 200 and 400 should work alongside your shutter speed and aperture
Shoot mode – depending on your subject, ‘continuous’ to ‘continuous high’ is best, alongside continuous auto focus (‘al servo’ for Canon)
Image stabilizer on, if you have it
Take a couple of test shots early in the flight and check the histogram and be ready to change settings throughout the flight.
Keep communicating with the pilot
Keep talking to the pilot during the flight. Getting the perfect shot doesn’t happen as easily on land, so you may need to fly past your spot again, adjust the position etc. Be patient and take plenty of photos. You'll need to be flexible and continually adapt as you fly. I've always been open minded as a photographer, as whilst you may not always get the dream shot you planned, you may surprise yourself with a different capture!
And finally… Make sure to send the pilot a photo or two of them in action. It’s always appreciated a lot by them.
See below the pictures for my flight day check list and some previously unseen captures.
Flight day check list
1. Confirm before leaving for the heliport that the weather is safe to fly
2. Check you have the right clothing – be warm and have nothing that flaps
3. Battery charged, plus a spare
4. Fast, large and empty memory card, plus a spare
5. One, ideally two cameras with appropriate lens + video recording option
6. Lens’ cleaned
7. Harness clip for your cameras
8. Review your pre-flight camera settings
9. Nothing loose or baggy for the flight
10.Remember to keep communicating
11. Don’t waste a second – the time will fly, literally!
12. Be flexible - some of your best shots will be of things you never planned.
I hope this helps! Just hit the ‘Contact Me’ tab if you have any questions that I can help with for your planning.
Thank you and safe flying.
Ben C
