Drones for Music Videos in Los Angeles

A drone shot in a music video has to earn its place. It's there to move with the track, open up the world of the song or put the artist somewhere the audience can't go, not to fill a gap in the edit. Lithium Aerials is a Los Angeles drone company that flies for music videos, features, television and commercials. We bring the same aircraft, permits and crew to a music video that we bring to a studio feature, sized to the budget and the shot.

What Drones Do Well in Music Videos

Performance

Orbits and push-ins on the artist or the band, a pull-back that ends on the whole stage, a reveal from behind a crowd. Performance shots work best when the move is timed to the track. Send us the song ahead of time and we'll plan the moves around it.

One-takers and FPV

FPV drones can fly through doorways, around dancers and down hallways in a single continuous take. A small ducted cinewhoop can fly close to talent and set dressing safely. It takes rehearsal and choreography, and when it works it's the shot people remember. See FPV drone filming.

Locations and scale

A desert road, a rooftop at night, a coastline, a city grid. Aerials are the fastest way to show where the song lives. Los Angeles has all of it within an hour or two, which is a big part of why so many videos shoot here.

Night

A lot of music videos happen after dark. Our DJI Inspire 3 has dual native ISO, which makes clean night aerials possible without a lighting package that the budget can't cover. For scenes that need light from the air instead of a camera, see drone lighting.

Choosing the Right Aircraft for the Budget

Music video budgets vary more than any other kind of work we do. We fit the aircraft to the shot, not the other way around.

• DJI Inspire 3. Our go-to for most jobs. Small footprint, more economical and an excellent full-frame image. For most music videos, it's the right call.
• FPV. For one-takers, fast moves and close work around performers.
• Freefly Alta 6. When the DP wants a box camera like the RED Komodo in the air, the Alta 6 carries it.
• Freefly Alta X. For bigger productions where the aerials have to match the A-camera and the DP wants their own lenses. See heavy-lift cinema drones.

If your shot doesn't need the bigger aircraft, we'll tell you.

Permits and the Things That Catch Music Videos

Music videos tend to move fast and lock locations late. That's where drone work gets held up. A few things to know:

• Every location has a permit office. Most of Los Angeles goes through FilmLA, but Burbank, Santa Clarita, Malibu and others run their own film offices with their own drone requirements and lead times. Malibu wants its drone application seven days ahead and doesn't allow filming on Sundays.
• Airspace comes first. Much of Los Angeles is controlled airspace, and the altitude you can fly depends on the exact location. We check that before we quote.
• Crowds. We don't fly over people unless we're using a compliant lighter drone or have a waiver. Performance shots with an audience are planned around that from the start.
• Insurance. We carry $5 million in aviation liability coverage and can turn around a certificate of insurance quickly.

For the details, see our Los Angeles drone permits guide.

How We Work With Directors

We plan the shots with the director and DP before the shoot: the moves, the timing against the track, where the aircraft starts and lands, and what happens if the wind picks up. On the day, a pilot flies, and on bigger setups a dedicated camera operator runs the gimbal so the pilot can focus on the aircraft. We shoot and hand off the footage. We don't cut the video, so your editor gets clean camera originals.

Every shoot is flown by FAA Part 107-certified pilots. We're IATSE Local 600.

Who We Work With

Lithium Aerials has provided aerial support on feature films, network and streaming series, and national commercials. See our work and our aerial cinematography services.

Book a Drone for Your Music Video

Send the track, the treatment or a mood board, the locations and dates, and we'll tell you what's possible and what it'll take. Contact us or call 323-505-7104. We're based in Los Angeles and travel for music videos across the US.

Music Video Drone FAQ

How much lead time do you need for a music video?

As much as you can give us. Airspace authorization and drone permits can take from a couple of days to more than a week depending on the location, so send locations as soon as they're likely.

Can a drone fly over a crowd at a performance?

Only with a compliant lighter drone or an FAA waiver. We plan performance shots so the aircraft isn't over the audience unless the rules allow it.

Can you do a one-take FPV shot through a set?

Yes. It takes rehearsal and choreography with the performers. Small ducted FPV drones can fly close to talent safely.

Do you edit the video?

No. We shoot and hand off the footage. Your editor gets the camera originals.

Can you shoot at night?

Yes. Night is routine for us, and the Inspire 3's dual native ISO keeps night aerials clean.