Starting A Drone Photography and Video Business In The UK

Simcoemedia offers aerial video and photography (see examples and an overview of the service on the Simcoemedia drone page). Whilst drones are becoming widely available and increasingly sophisticated, there are rules and regulations restricting how these Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are operated.

This article is not intended to be a comprehensive legal guide or compliance checklist, but it does cover many of the key areas you should examine when considering using a drone for commercial purposes in the UK.

1. Legal Requirements

It is crucial that you understand the guidelines and rules to ensure you remain within the law. Where operators may decide to take their drone abroad, you must ensure you are compliant in those countries too. This may involve registering your drone with the aviation authority, taking relevant drone tests and confirming that your insurance covers operation in the relevant location.

According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as of 2 April 2025, the basic guidelines are as follows:

If your drone has a camera (unless it is a toy) or weighs 250g or more then you need to register with the CAA. You need to renew this registration every year. This is a registration of you as the operator rather than the drone itself. Anyone flying a drone weighing 250g or more needs to pass a test and get a flyer ID from the CAA. This is free and online. Regardless of whether you legally need a flyer ID we strongly recommend that you do the learning and test as it gives you valuable information on flying your drone safely. If you already have a flyer ID that is still valid, you don’t need to re-do the test until it expires, although you are required to keep up to date with the new regulations. You can register, get your flyer ID and find more information at register-drones.caa.co.uk

There are however some other rules you must follow should you decide to purchase and fly a drone for business or pleasure:

• Airspace & Permissions: Ensure that you do not fly into restricted areas and no-fly zones (e.g., airports, urban areas, military zones etc). A useful website highlighting restricted airspace for drones within the UK can be found on the NATS website.
• Insurance: Public liability insurance is mandatory for commercial operations (providers like Coverdrone or FPV are examples of popular insurers). According to the CAA’s drone code

There is no distinction between flying commercially and flying for pleasure or recreation. This means that an approval just to operate commercially is not required. However, all commercial drone flights require valid insurance cover.

2. Business Strategy And Development

• Target Audience: Identify sectors with potential to generate revenue, including real estate, construction, surveying, weddings, events or tourism for example. Each sector poses unique challenges for a drone operator.
• Pricing Strategy: As with any other business model, consider pricing based on hourly rates, project-based pricing or larger packages. Any cost analysis shouldl include travel, recording and editing of the video. Remember that you need to cover the costs of setting up your business in the first place – the drone, insurance and CAA fees.
• Competitive Analysis: Research competitors and determine how to differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Creating a showreel of your best work including your own signature video movement and composition combined with striking photography will ensure you stand out.

3. Equipment And Technical Considerations

• Drone Selection: Choose drones that meet your business needs and legal requirements. For example, drones in the sub-250g category, while compromising on quality to a degree, have significantly less restrictions than those over 250g.
• Camera Capabilities: There are a variety of drones available, each with their own capabilities in terms of camera quality, automation (such as Point Of Interest and Precision Landing) and battery life. Ensure that you check out examples of video footage and photography via reviews from reputable sources on video platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo to gauge camera quality and ease of use.
• Accessories: You will likely need accessories for your drone so invest in extra batteries, ND filters, SD cards, a landing pad, and a controller with a bright screen for use in direct sunlight where necessary.

4. Post-Production

• Editing Software: Software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro are suitable for video; Lightroom or Photoshop are common editing tools for photographs. Some drones, such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro for example, are capable of creating High Dynamic Range images.
• Stabilisation and Grading: High-end drone footage may require colour correction LUTs and stabilisation software prior to delivering the final product.

5. Scalability

• Additional Services: Drones are also capable of mapping, 3D modeling (photogrammetry), thermal imaging and cinematography for film/TV. You are likely to require an upgrade to your existing hardware and software to cater for these highly specialised services.

Useful Links

• See the Simcoemedia aerial video and photography page for more details about the service offered.
• For legal requirements and rules on drone use within the UK see the CAA Drone Code.
• Register your drone with the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Check where you can fly your drone with this regularly updated map – NoFlyDrones.
• Follow the The Drone Creative on YouTube for information about drones including hints and tips on operating DJI products.

Simcoemedia Aerial Drone Footage

Final Comments

As mentioned in the first paragraph, this article is designed to provide an overview of the general rules and guidelines associated with owning a drone and operating it commercially. If you are considering adding aerial video and photography to your business then please ensure you follow the drone code.