Bird’s-Eye View

Drone photography and video provide spectacular visuals at a reasonable cost.

Jaw-dropping resort photography and video are crucial components of capturing the online attention of prospects, and drone technology, which can produce innovative and affordable aerial visuals, is making it easier than ever for properties to look their best.

Before drones, a view from above was typically captured via helicopter, with rental costs at upwards of $500 an hour. Now, starting at $500, resorts can purchase a camera-equipped drone. The technology’s convenience and cost-effectiveness are what brought Brian Ehlert, managing partner of Wilderness Club, in Eureka, Montana, to use drone photography.

Capturing the club’s 550 picturesque acres of meadows, pines and lakes wasn’t practical with a traditional camera, nor was hiring a helicopter or fixed-wing-plane service. “Piloting a drone from as little as five feet off the ground to a half mile skyward gives us tremendous flexibility to literally shoot from a bird’s-eye view,” Ehlert says.

Ehlert’s pro tip: Be patient when crafting your product. “Shoot on days with ideal conditions, and give your operator and editing team enough time to create a video that really does a great job of showcasing your property,” he says. The result: a compelling and eye-catching experience.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Wilderness Club