New technology is constantly reshaping the way we take and share photos, and this summer one trend rose above the rest.
According to the latest data from photo-curation app
Popsa, global searches for “drone photography” hit record highs in August 2025, topping 180,000 searches worldwide. That’s a 122% year-on-year increase, signalling a huge surge in curiosity from both professionals and hobbyists alike.
But behind the hype is something deeper. A genuine cultural shift in how people want to capture and share their world. As Popsa’s CEO, Liam Houghton, puts it “drone photography has gone from niche novelty to mainstream demand, almost overnight”.
Drones have gone from hobby to professional photography tool
Drones have quickly evolved from recreational gadgets into indispensable tools within professional photography.
As the technology improved - offering better image stabilization, higher-resolution cameras and easier controls - drones have gone from a costly luxury to an everyday tool, giving photographers easy access to a bird’s-eye view.
This shift is especially notable in industries like real estate and wedding photography, where demand for aerial imagery has soared. Searches for drone services in real estate have risen by 129%, and by 30% in wedding photography over the last year.
It’s hardly surprising that these industries have found wide-spread use for them - drones have become essential tools for creating dynamic and cinematic visual narratives.
“They let you capture perspectives that the human eye can’t reach” according to Mathias Fernandes, resident drone photographer of Portugal’s Algarve coast.
“I quickly realised that a drone would allow me to truly do justice to the verticality of the Algarve’s dramatic landscapes. Being able to showcase those towering cliffs, sea stacks and intricate rock formations from above opened up an entirely new creative world for me.”
From composition secrets to essential equipment, here are Mathias’ pro tips on how to master the art of drone photography:
Step one: Train your eye
“Learn to see things differently, to look at a scene and start building a story or a composition even out of simple or mundane subjects. You can practice this with any camera at first; it doesn’t need to start with a drone.
Once you build a strong sense of depth, composition and storytelling, you can then apply those principles to drone photography.”
Step two: Practice flight control
“When it comes to actually flying, the first priority is learning how to maneuver the drone itself. Get comfortable with how the drone reacts to your commands. In the beginning, focus on flying rather than creating photos or videos, so you build confidence in handling the drone in different situations - from weddings to holidays abroad.”
Step three: Do your homework
“If you’re travelling to another country, get familiar with local laws and make sure you have all the paperwork, permits and authorisations required. Check weather conditions ahead of time, especially wind speed, to make sure it’s safe to fly.
The more you know beforehand, the fewer problems you’ll have when you shoot. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people try to wing it.”
Step four: Get creative
“Choose open obstacle-free locations for your first creative flights. Before flying, try to envision the shots you want to create – you can sketch them out or look for reference photos online to inspire you.
Having a plan before take-off helps you stay focused, avoid wasting battery time, and give you confidence while flying because you know exactly what you want to capture.”
Step five: Bring the essentials
“Drone aside, you’ll need a few things on hand. Spare batteries are a must, and so is a lens cleaning cloth to make sure your drone is spotless before take-off. Extra propellers are always good too and for video work, carry ND filters to control exposure and get smoother footage.”
Step six: Think horizontal
“Capture the wider composition but frame your shot so that the centre portion of the frame is optimised for vertical cropping. This future proofs your content, whether you want to share it on social media or upload it to YouTube, without compromising on quality or creative intent.”
