Before I get started I am linking to the FAA web site with information about Drone safety and laws. I rarely get questions about UAV safety and regulations from people interested in getting a drone, and that should be the very first thing they think about.

As a commercial UAV (drone) pilot I sometimes get questions from people about my equipment, and techniques I use for getting the high quality images and video SharpSkyFilms creates. Of course it is only natural for people to have questions about this relatively new technology and I am always happy to talk to people about Drones in general, their capabilities and other questions people may have. That said, there are some things to keep in mind.

Never approach a drone pilot while he is flying to ask questions!

This should be obvious, but I still get people that come up to me while I am flying and start asking questions or wanting me to show them my screen. I guess this can be understandable, people are curious, but in the name of safety please do not ever disturb a UAV pilot when his craft is in the air. In some ways it may seem like a toy to some people, but the reality is that the FAA considers it an air craft and it must be operated within the rules mandated by the FAA. If you need to alert a UAV pilot to a potential hazard that is another story, but only engage the pilot in an emergency or to prevent one!

I don’t recommend any UAV equipment

I do not recommend any specific equipment if I am asked, there are plenty of web sites that focus on that. Google and you will find an unlimited supply of people and web sites that like to talk about specific equipment and reviews. Your choice of a UAV is a very specific thing and is unique to how you plan to use it.

I have spent a great deal of time researching the different equipment I use in my UAV operation and it was selected with my own specific needs as a professional video content creator. Sometimes people who are in the market for a drone will ask me what specific model UAVs I fly, which is a perfectly reasonable question. For several reasons however, I choose not to talk about my specific equipment, the price I pay for it, where I purchase it, and other questions along that line. As mentioned earlier you can find all that information online. I have been in the imaging business for more than 3 decades and have never been one to focus on the equipment, the most important tool you will ever use is your brain and that is what will make your work special, not the gear you are using.