Drone Assisted guide
How to brief a commercial drone photography shoot
By Kevin Steel · Head of Drone Operations
Published
A clear photography brief starts with the result you need. Explain what the imagery should communicate, where it will appear and which parts of the location matter. Those decisions shape the viewpoints, the planned capture and the finished files.
You do not need to specify a drone model to begin. Describe the property, the audience and the intended outputs so the proposed pilot and camera capability can be assessed against the work.
Start with the purpose and audience
An industrial letting brochure may need to explain a building's relationship to its loading yard and road approach. A hotel website may need to show the grounds and surrounding landscape. A corporate film may use the premises as an introduction to the business.
Put the main purpose into one sentence. Then list the channels: website, property listing, brochure, presentation, paid advertising or social media. This makes it easier to decide which compositions and file versions are useful.
Provide enough site information
Include the address or accurate site location, the area you want captured, an on site contact and any relevant access arrangements. Flag known restrictions, busy operating periods and areas that should not appear in the imagery.
If a deadline is tied to a listing launch or campaign, explain both the preferred capture window and the publication date. They are different dates, especially when editing and review are required.
Build a short, prioritised shot list
| Subject | Views to discuss | Marketing purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial property | Main building, yard, loading frontage, entrance, surrounding setting | Explain the premises and how external space relates to it |
| Office premises | Main entrance, elevations, grounds, parking and approach | Introduce the business location and arrival experience |
| Hotel or leisure venue | Venue in its landscape, grounds, terraces and key outdoor facilities | Show the setting and facilities to prospective guests |
| Residential development | Overall development, selected homes, streets and green space | Explain the neighbourhood and property presentation |
Separate essential views from optional ones. This helps the pilot understand the priorities if the conditions or practical constraints make an alternative angle necessary. A desired shot is a request for assessment, not an instruction to fly regardless of the site conditions.
Test each proposed viewpoint against its purpose
For an industrial property, an attractive roof view may add little if it hides the loading frontage or disconnects the yard from the building. Ask for an angle that makes the relevant relationship visible. For an office, consider whether the image explains the arrival and external setting. For a hotel, check whether the composition shows the facilities the visitor is being invited to use.
A useful shot list therefore records three things: the feature, the question the image should answer and where the image will be published. That makes it easier to recognise a suitable alternative if the original angle is impractical.
| Proposed image | Question it should answer | What to check in the composition |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial building and yard | How does the external working space relate to the premises? | Loading frontage, yard and main building remain visible together |
| Office entrance and approach | How is the building approached and presented? | Entrance and approach are understandable rather than obscured |
| Hotel and grounds | What is the setting and which outdoor features matter? | Venue and relevant facilities are recognisable in context |
| Development overview | How are the homes arranged within the neighbourhood? | Buildings, streets and green space are legible at the intended publication size |
These are proposed briefing checks, not reports of completed Drone Assisted assignments.
Decide what photographs you need
Specify dedicated still photographs if those are required. Tell the supplier whether you want a concise final selection or a wider choice, and whether your designer needs landscape, portrait or square crops.
Give actual publication specifications when available. A large printed panel, a brochure image and a small web card may need different preparation. If your agency wants original camera files, request them explicitly and confirm availability and use in the agreement.
Brief the video separately
Raw footage and a finished film are different deliverables. For raw footage, ask your editor for recording requirements before the shoot. For a finished film, set out the audience, approximate duration, key message and intended platforms.
Agree whether titles, logos, music, voiceover, ground footage or multiple edits are needed. Supply approved brand assets where appropriate. Confirm who reviews the first edit, how feedback is consolidated and how many review stages are included.
Watch our property video shot list guide for five shots worth including.
Prepare the location
Before the agreed visit, consider how the site will look from above. Move temporary clutter where practical, review the presentation of entrances and external areas, and brief the relevant site contact about the purpose and timing of the visit.
Tell the pilot about known access or operational issues. The pilot determines the safe operating arrangements and assesses the final flight and viewpoints; site preparation does not replace that assessment.
Agree delivery and usage before capture
Confirm the files you expect, the delivery method, the target date and the review process. Explain whether the material will also go to an agency, landlord, tenant or another party, so the intended use is addressed in the agreement.
For multiple locations, agree consistent file naming and a shared list of required views. Still allow each site to be assessed individually: different layouts and conditions can require different camera positions.
Copy this photography brief
Project or property: Site address or location: On site contact and access information: Purpose of the images or film: Intended audience and publication channels: Preferred shoot window: Publication deadline: Outputs: photographs / raw footage / edited video / a combination: Essential views: Optional views: Photograph quantity or selection requirements: Video duration, aspect ratios and technical requirements: Editing, branding, graphics and music requirements: Review process: Delivery and file naming requirements: Intended users, agencies and usage: Known access issues or areas to avoid showing: Other locations to include:
Configure your photography booking
Use the brief when entering your requirements. Select photography, footage, an edited film or a combination. Review your quote and book online through your account, subject to approval and the applicable payment terms. Complex requirements are assessed individually before your quote is confirmed.