How to Take Drone Photos Without a Drone

Method #3: A 30-foot-tall selfie stick

Photo Illustration: Save As/ Medium Photo Source: Getty Images

I love flying drones that are so cheap that I don’t have to care if I crash them. But if you want to fly a drone for any commercial purpose — like taking nature photos, news reporting, real estate photography, or event photos — things get much more complex and expensive. Professional drones can cost upwards of $2,000, and if you don’t obtain the proper license, registration, and insurance, you could end up with a $250,000 fine — or even land in jail. There are also tons of places where drone use is banned, and some people think they’re creepy.

If you need aerial photos but don’t want to deal with the hassle and expense of a drone, what can you do? I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve developed something of a reputation for taking drone-like aerial photos without using drones. I do it with some tech-enabled location scouting, creative use of airplanes, and a 30-foot-tall selfie stick with a GoPro at the top.

Here are my techniques.

Tall buildings or parking garages

The easiest way to get an aerial photo is to go up a tall building. But not just any building will do. Ideally, you want a building with unobstructed views, where you can get roof access. It’s possible to shoot great photos…