Seven Tips For Shooting From a Chopper on Vacation

Shooting From a Helicopter – Seven Tips For Shooting From a Chopper on Vacation.

In recent years, the popularity of drone photography has exploded. Don’t get me wrong – drones are great fun and while they definitely take great pictures from different altitudes, there's nothing quite like taking photos from a helicopter. If you're going on vacation, there are many companies out there that offer helicopter tours to the public. It’s best to search them out and find the best one to suit your needs, as each company offers different services at different pricing tiers.  Once you’ve located the perfect company to give you a personal helicopter tour, just make sure you pick the appropriate time or day that you want to shoot. 

Check out my Dubai video chopper trip.

The time of day and the length of your tour matters a lot when shooting – noon may be a good time because everything is lit from the top, but there's also a nice evening sun. Or,  you may want to shoot at night to use the city lights in your photos. 

I don’t consider myself a professional aerial photographer by any means, but I’ve put together some of my own key tips when taking photos from a helicopter: 

1. Shoot with the doors open if possible: You don't get the glare of the glass in any of your shots and they’ll almost always come out crystal-clear. Make sure you have a neck strap for your camera because no one wants to see their camera fall into the abyss and be lost forever. If you have to shoot with the doors closed, try to get as close to the glass as you can to help minimize the glare. Avoid sitting too close, as touches the lens on the windows’ glass will cause it to shake.

2. Changing lenses: You really don't want to be changing lenses a couple thousand feet in the air, so if you can, take two cameras. If you don't want to carry two cameras or multiple lenses on you as you travel, there is always the option of renting one. I personally use borrowedlenses.com. If you decide not to go that route, plan on having a good zoom lens like a 24 -105 mm as a starter. I use a prime lens plus a wide-angle 14 – 40mm. I use Canon lenses but that is my personal preference.

3. Shoot on fast shutter speeds: Helicopters vibrate a lot. Because of this, you’ll want to shoot on fast shutter speeds. Wide aperture! You may have to bump up your ISO. 

4. Keep an eye out for the helicopter blades: Many times you think you have a great shot only to find there's a great blur from the blades.

5. Auto focus:  I recommend using auto focus for your first time. There's a lot of motion up there and it's difficult at times to use manual focus. Although, on these images I did use manual focus. Do as I say.  Not as I do! ;) 

6. Have memory card with a lot of memory: I found myself taking a lot more shots than I normally would on any other shoot. When you're up that high, you don't have a lot of time to think so you make “snapdragon decisions” and with every movement of the chopper, the shot changes. Now I have a lot more shots to choose from that I’ll then edit and post.

7. Talk to your pilot through your headset: Communication is key to your great personal tour and aerial photography experience. Most times they're really nice about pausing for a second to let you get a shot or turning the chopper a certain way so you can get a shot. 

 Bonus tip: Be sure to wear something a little warmer than whatever you're wearing on the ground, because from my own experience,  it gets chilly up top!

It’s important not to forget to have fun during your once-in-a-lifetime (or maybe twice-- Lol) tour! Just don’t forget to put down your lens long enough to take in the view and enjoy the incredible tour from above.