Choose the right aircraft
In the world of aerial photography, not all aircraft are created equal! If there is one thing you need to snag a great photo from the air, it’s a clear, uninterrupted view. All True South aircraft that embark on scenic flights have been carefully selected with exactly this in mind, with large windows and guaranteed window seats for all passengers. Our Airvans have bubble windows and can also be flown with the doors open, and our Piper PA32R Lance can have its rear doors fully removed, making both aircraft ideal for aerial photography.
Know your scenic flight highlights
A solid understanding of the main landmarks you’ll see will help you to be as prepared as possible. Taking a scenic flight over Milford Sound? Great! A spot of research will tell you that there is a high chance of cloud and perhaps some rain—but this can make for magnificently moody pictures with the right equipment and well-prepared photographer at the helm!
Experiment with settings beforehand
There are plenty of variables with flying: light, weather and altitude among others. We recommend experimenting with your camera (or phone) settings before taking your flight so you can understand which settings will get you the best result. A fast shutter speed is a must; one thing we can guarantee is that will be travelling at pace, so this is the best way to make sure you don’t end up with a blurry shot!
Bring more than one lens
If getting the perfect picture is a priority and you have a good camera at your disposal, you’ll want to bring a couple of different lenses along for a variety of different landscapes. A wide-angle lens is great for capturing a vast landscape, while a telephoto lens will allow you to zoom and capture your subject in more detail.
Communicate with the pilot
It can be tricky to juggle equipment, adjust your settings and get your timing right too. If you need another attempt at getting your shot, simply let our pilot know and we will do our best to help. If you book a flight specifically for the purpose of aerial photography, we can customise our altitude and distance from your subject and circle as many times as you like!
