Get started with drones

Drones have revolutionised image making but many ground-based photographers are still unsure about taking their first steps, or the legal aspects. Chris Gorman, aka The Big Ladder Photographer, is here to help

- Chris Gorman

Take the test

On first look, getting into drone photography can seem to be a little daunting. Beginners need to firstly register the drone with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This involves a simple online test based on the ‘drone code’, but it’s not like a driving test, so don’t worry. Then you obtain an operator ID which must be attached to the drone by law. See full details at bit.ly/droneregsuk

Where can I fly?

It’s highly advisable to undertake your first-ever drone flights on open private land (see if you can befriend a local farmer). You also need to make sure you can fly legally in your chosen airspace – use the Drone Assist app for Android and iOS, or the CAA drone safety map at dronesafetymap.com. It is illegal to fly within 5km of an airport and this is a very serious offence, so be sure to check before launching. Note that permission was granted for all the images used in this article.

Hey Mr DJI

By far the most popular drones are the DJI Mavic range. This includes models such as the Mini 3, the Air2S or the high-end Mavic 3. The drone of choice for most beginners is the Mini 3 because it comes in under 250g – heavier drones require a qualification to fly in built-up areas. As a result, it has become popular with professional drone users, too.