Description
Operate drone-mounted cameras to capture aerial images for television, video, and film productions, ensuring safe flight, precise framing, and regulatory compliance.
- • Operate drones with stabilized gimbals to record aerial footage for film, TV, advertising, and live events.
- • Compose and frame shots in flight, adjusting exposure, shutter angle, ISO, white balance, and focus to achieve the director's vision.
- • Operate remote zoom, focus, and gimbal controls to change images per specifications and rehearsal notes.
- • Fly a range of platforms, including light, heavy-lift, and FPV, selecting the appropriate aircraft and camera payload for each job.
- • Adjust camera and flight settings, including ND or polarizing filters, frame rate, picture profiles, and flight modes.
- • Coordinate with the pilot in command, director, DP, and lighting and sound crews to plan shot sequences, camera moves, and lighting needs.
- • Scout locations to assess obstacles, RF interference, sun path, and airspace, and determine filming and lighting requirements.
- • Lead or brief the aerial unit on drone setup, altitudes, stand-off distances, flight paths, and start/stop cues.
- • Calculate payload weight, battery requirements, expected flight time, and performance limits.
- • Set up drones, gimbals, controllers, monitors, and wireless video links; balance and calibrate camera payloads.
- • Perform preflight inspections and calibrations, set return-to-home and geofencing, and verify firmware and failsafe settings.
- • Monitor weather, NOTAMs, and TFRs; obtain LAANC approvals, waivers, permits, and location permissions as required.
- • Establish safe takeoff and landing zones, flight corridors, and crowd control measures; maintain visual line of sight.
- • Troubleshoot issues such as vibration, jello, GPS loss, or exposure problems, and adjust techniques accordingly.
- • Read and interpret call sheets, shot lists, and maps to plan operations, workflows, and equipment setups.
- • Execute live aerial shots for broadcast, configuring downlinks, COFDM or 5G bonding, or RTMP streams as needed.
- • Ingest, back up, and deliver media; perform basic color balance and rough edits when required.
- • Test, clean, maintain, and perform minor repairs on drones, gimbals, cameras, and wireless systems; manage batteries and charging.
- • Stay current with FAA Part 107 rules, airspace procedures, safety best practices, and emerging drone and camera technologies.
- • Adhere to privacy laws, insurance requirements, and risk-assessment protocols for each operation.
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Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
