Spark Media Video Production Agency
What are FPV Drones?
- Rebecca Snoad
Date Published: 16/01/2025
FPV drones are quickly becoming the go-to tool for marketing spaces and showing off facilities in a fun and creative way. This style of aerial videography is becoming increasingly popular online at the moment and the demand for FPV drone services has grown significantly in a wide variety of industries.
In this blog, we’ll be diving into what FPV drones are, the benefits and applications of them, and the pre-production and planning that goes into this type of shoot.
What are FPV drones?
FPV stands for First-Person-View, which essentially means that the pilot can see what the drone sees in real-time. The drone’s on-board camera transmits a live video feed to a pair of goggles worn by the pilot on the ground who controls the drone using a dedicated radio controller, just like our Drone Pilot, Harry, is pictured below. It’s as if they are sitting inside the drone and flying it, which makes for a more immersive flight experience.
What are the benefits of FPV drones?
So, what’s the difference between FPV and traditional drone filming? FPV drones are much faster, more agile, and lightweight. Whereas traditional drones typically observe action from afar, FPV drones can get you much closer to the action. Their more compact size enables them to fly through tight spaces and access difficult-to-reach areas, offering a unique perspective. It gives the pilot more precision and control, even enabling them to perform acrobatic manoeuvres, like flips and dives. This leads to more creative, dynamic shots and it can add a playful character to your videos.
What are the applications of FPV drones in filmmaking?
FPV drone flythroughs are a fantastic, modern marketing asset that can be used across a huge variety of industries, including showing off new properties, sports stadiums, event venues, office spaces, factories, warehouses, shopping malls, schools, restaurants, medical facilities, and more. It can range anywhere from a fairly simple flythrough tour to a highly choreographed showpiece. Check out our FPV drone tour for the FA of St. George’s Park, where England football teams train. It was shared on the England team’s social media platforms, gaining 800K+ views overall.
What does an FPV drone shoot look like?
There is a lot of planning and pre-production that goes into an FPV drone shoot to make it as safe and predictable as possible.
Our Director and Drone Pilot will always attend the filming location before the shoot to conduct a Recce. They begin to map out flight paths and assess the location to identify any challenges or potential risks, such as any tight spaces or obstacles, which will then be written into our risk assessment. The pilot will typically carry out connectivity tests to determine the best location for them to base themselves while flying, looking for a central location to ensure good signal throughout the flight.
They will also form a picture of the level of crowd control we will need on the day depending on how busy the space is, which will determine how many spotters and runners we need. During filming, the camera on the drone streams live to virtual reality goggles worn by the drone pilot. To increase awareness of any potential in-flight hazards, a spotter is always there to ensure the drone remains in visual line of sight.
Unlike regular drones, FPV drones do not typically have built-in stability and assistance systems, so a great deal of flying expertise is needed. At Spark Media, we have an in-house licensed drone pilot who specialises in FPV flying, so you would be in great hands!
