My name is Paul. I'm a freelance travel writer, and I just purchased a DJI MINI SE drone to take aerial landscape shots for a guidebook I edit. I've done a fair amount of photographic work on land with a DSLR, but this is new for me. Any pointers are welcome!
Hello from Michigan
- Thread starter writerdad
- Start date
Welcome to the forum. You will find plenty of support here. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum!
LoudThunder
Part 107 Licensed
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.
Member Map
mavicpilots.com
Paul, I've got some NEWS that you need to pay attention to and that is you need to get your Part 107 License to take those landscape shots for that guidebook.
I've included the link to getting your TRUST certificate but it is only for you to fly your little drone for fun. Those photos that you take for the guide book will be considered a commercial enterprise and that requires a license and that link is blow also.
But before you throw in the towel, you need to learn to fly your drone safely and for fun…
As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…
If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…) . If your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds) and you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.
I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Flyer.
Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)
FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com
Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)
FAADroneZone
If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…
Online Ground School: Aviation Classes - Pilot Institute
Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.
pilotinstitute.com
Since you live in Michigan, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.
Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute
pilotinstitute.com
Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
Do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).
Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.
Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."
Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini SE, including the User Manual.
After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"
Happy Droning…
Last edited:
dirkclod
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum.
Please and do be sure you have read our guidelines.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .
Please and do be sure you have read our guidelines.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .
careless
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!
Chetk7677
Well-Known Member
kalimah
Well-Known Member
Welcome. Nice to see a “near Detroiter” who’s also a photographer. You’ll find great info and tips here.
There are some really good photographers on this Forum. They will be able to help whenever you need it. Just ask. You’re very welcome
kalimah
Well-Known Member
Most definitely! It’s always to find someone in close proximity to where I live.
kalimah
Well-Known Member
Greetings writerdad, welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia.
Regards
Regards
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Hi, another from Michigan. I'm on the west side of the state, north of GR. I do have my 107 Cert, if you wanted to get some shots around my neck of the woods I would be happy to show up and be the Pilot in Command (PIC) for you to legally use your drone photos for the guidebook. By being the PIC I can literally hand you the controls and let you fly/photograph, as long as I am watching the drone, making sure you follow laws, and can take over at a moments notice.
Also, I studied for 7 days for the 107, having no aviation experience, and was able to pass on my first try. I did buy an online course to study, but you can find almost everything on Youtube for free if you know what is on the test.
What @LoudThunder said about needing a 107, it isn't just if you are paid, it is if it is for advertising, promoting, pay, images used on a website, pretty much anything past photos of your kids or property for yourself. It's been discussed, but even if your neighbor asks you to check out his roof vents, that *could* be considered to be a 107 required mission if that was your intent when you took off.
But welcome to the forum. I have a P4P, Air2S, and a Mini2. The camera on the A2S really does help a lot over the Mini, but if you get the settings right, the Mini does a good job at still photos.
Also, I studied for 7 days for the 107, having no aviation experience, and was able to pass on my first try. I did buy an online course to study, but you can find almost everything on Youtube for free if you know what is on the test.
What @LoudThunder said about needing a 107, it isn't just if you are paid, it is if it is for advertising, promoting, pay, images used on a website, pretty much anything past photos of your kids or property for yourself. It's been discussed, but even if your neighbor asks you to check out his roof vents, that *could* be considered to be a 107 required mission if that was your intent when you took off.
But welcome to the forum. I have a P4P, Air2S, and a Mini2. The camera on the A2S really does help a lot over the Mini, but if you get the settings right, the Mini does a good job at still photos.
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