Drones are not just for spying on your neighbour’s backyard or capturing epic aerial shots of your latest road trip. These versatile flying machines have a multitude of personal drone uses that can save you time, help you make money, and even save lives.
I have been flying drones for six years, both for practical and recreational purposes. Here, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite 23 personal drone uses that you’ll certainly find beneficial.
Fun Ways To Use Your Drone
With obstacle avoidance systems, you can now enjoy exciting close-range flying. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, try racing drones for a thrilling experience.
Don’t forget, that drones are perfect for creating unique and visually appealing content for social media. So, grab your new drone and start exploring these awesome possibilities!
1. Choosing Your First Drone
When choosing recreational drones consider things like battery life(45 mins+) your skill level and experience, and research the different types of drones available.
Don’t forget to check that your chosen remotely piloted aircraft(RPA)complies with FAA(USA)/CASA(Australia) regulations for recreational use.
Look for user-friendly controls, and reliable flight time, and read reviews from other drone pilots. Drones with obstacle avoidance are a must! The DJI Mini 3 and the new DJI Mini 4 are two of the best drones for beginners, as DJI has managed to cram a whole load of features into a small, well-priced flying machine.
2. Use DJI Quickshots
Once you have your new drone setup you can then access modes like Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket, you can capture epic shots with just a few taps.
There are no advanced flying skills required! So go ahead, and explore the different Quickshots available on your DJI drone to impress your Grandma.
3. Joining Local Drone Clubs
By joining a local drone club, you can connect with fellow enthusiasts in your area and tap into a whole new world of drone-flying fun.
These clubs often organize exciting meetups, fly-ins, and training sessions to hone your skills, requiring hours of training to gain the agility and reflexes needed to control the drone.
Plus, you’ll get to learn from experienced pilots, share tips and tricks, and become part of a tight-knit community that shares your passion for drones.
4. Drone Racing
Get ready to compete against other drone enthusiasts in adrenaline-pumping races and sharpen your piloting skills as you navigate challenging obstacle courses. Join local drone racing clubs for a fun and competitive community.
5. Bring Your Footage To Life Using Editing Software
Whether you’re a beginner in the photo editing space or have some experience, there are various editing programs available that cater to all skill levels.
Adobe Lightroom is one of the best drone editing software on the market for picture editing and its brother, Adobe Premiere Pro, is a wizard for editing your drone videos. I have used both for years now and enjoy the experience of editing every time.
6. Upload Your Footage
Don’t keep those epic shots to yourself; upload them to popular videography sharing platforms like YouTube, Instagram(feel free to check out my drone shots), or Facebook.
There are drone Facebook groups for most major cities around the world with people you can connect with and learn from. Who knows, your creative videos and photographs might just inspire others to take to the skies too.
7. Use Your Drone To Help You Fish
There are many great drone accessories out there, one being a mechanical bait release attachment that connects to your remote control gadget for precise casting.
Plus, capture epic footage of your fishing adventures from a unique perspective. With drones, fishing just got a lot more exciting!
8. Use DJI Active Track
A fun persona drone us is active track, which allows your drone to automatically follow and film you, recording your thrilling activities hands-free.
With professional-quality videos of your adrenaline-fueled experiences, you can share your epic footage with friends and followers.
9. Use Your Drone To Look For Sharks
Discover the wonders of the ocean from above and capture breathtaking footage of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. There’s nothing more exciting than finding a great white shark on your drone and filming it.
Making Money with Your Drone
Turn your hobby into a business. Here are some practical ways to turn your personal drone uses into a profitable freelance business.
10. Sell Drones Using Amazon
You can become an Amazon affiliate and sell their drones to earn a commission. With the growing popularity of drones, there is a high demand for these gadgets.
Here is an example of an Amazon affiliate link to buy a DJI Mini 4 Pro that I will earn a commission from and you can easily set this up too on the Amazon affiliates page.
11. Upload Your Shots to Istock and Getty Images app
Monetize your stunning aerial photos and videos by uploading them to popular stock image platforms like iStock, Pond5 and Getty Images. It’s a great place to showcase your talent and earn money for your work.
Alternatively you can use the stock websites to purchase other peoples content.
12. Train Other People How To Fly Drones
Teach beginners the art of safe and effective drone flying. Help them master the skills needed for stunning aerial photography. Drones are only getting more popular and the newbies need someone to learn from.
13. Using Drones for Property Inspection and Gutter Maintenance
Picture this: instead of climbing up a wobbly ladder with a bucket and a trowel, you can simply send your drone soaring above to check for any issues in those hard-to-reach areas.
Put your drone to work and help homeowners and businesses alike maintain their properties with ease. Your neighbours will be impressed, and who knows, maybe you’ll even get a few referrals out of it.
14. Get Paid As a Real Estate Photographer
Drone photography in real estate has become huge! Capture stunning shots of properties to attract potential buyers and showcase their unique features from an aerial perspective.
Drones in the Professional Field
Drones have found their way into the professional field, revolutionizing various industries. From data collection and surveying to agriculture and wildlife conservation, drones are making a significant impact.
Stay tuned to stay ahead in the drone game!
15. Drones in Data Collection and Surveying
Who needs old-school surveying methods when you can unleash the power of drones? These shiny new gadgets have revolutionized data collection and surveying processes in countless industries.
Say goodbye to hours of painstaking work and hello to accurate and detailed data gathered in a fraction of the time. Drones are the future of efficient and cost-effective surveying.
16. Drones in Agriculture
With drone technology, you can optimize your farming practices and increase your crop yields. These aerial gadgets are perfect for precision agriculture, monitoring crop health, and identifying irrigation needs.
Collect valuable data on soil conditions, plant growth, and even pest infestations using drones. And that’s not all, drones can also help with planting, spraying, and crop monitoring, making farming more efficient than ever before.
17. Drones in Search and Rescue Missions: How Effective Are They?
Drones play a crucial role in search and rescue missions by providing aerial footage and quickly covering large areas to locate missing people. Equipped with thermal cameras, they can detect heat signatures in hard-to-reach areas.
Certain drones have the ability to send out and receive sound like a phone to help with search and rescue in difficult to access airspace, making their portability and autonomy essential in these situations.
Drones also help assess dangerous situations before sending in personnel, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of rescue operations.
18. Are Drones Revolutionizing Firefighting And Emergency Response?
Drones are transforming firefighting and emergency response by providing valuable real-time data to incident commanders.
Some of the professional types of drones, like the DJI M30T or DJI M300, are great for specific needs like having an amazing long range line of sight which helps with assessing the fire from a safe distance and they can be used in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 50°C.
These drones are built to carry a payload which is useful in fire and rescue and can be controlled from a safe distance by a controller.
19. Drones in Journalism and News Coverage
When it comes to journalism and news coverage, drones are revolutionizing the way stories are told. These unmanned aerial vehicles capture unique aerial perspectives that were once only possible with traditional helicopters.
Journalists can now easily cover events and gather footage that would have been challenging to obtain otherwise. Drones allow them to get closer to the action without putting themselves at risk, providing dynamic and engaging visuals that transform the way news is delivered.
20. Aerial Surveying
Drones provide a cost-effective and efficient way to collect detailed data from the sky. With the RTK base station, drones can get a much stronger GPS signal and create precise location and measurement data.
Professional drones like the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and DJI Matrice 300 come equipped with a mechanical shutter which allows for rapid image shooting which is needed for 3D mapping.
Equipped with cutting-edge photogrammetry software, drones can create precise 3D maps and models, giving businesses accurate data for planning, analysis, and decision-making. Plus, they do it all in record time!
21. Drone Use In Mining
Another professional use for drones is within the mining industry. Helping with mapping, surveying, and overall progress monitoring. Equipped with specialized sensors, drones can detect changes in terrain and measure stockpile volumes.
22. Wildlife Monitoring
Keeping an eye on our furry and feathered friends has never been easier thanks to nifty gadgets like drones. No need to disturb their habitat when you can use drones for wildlife monitoring—an essential tool for researchers, conservationists, and animal enthusiasts.
Drones capture stunning aerial footage, track animal movements, and provide valuable data for population studies. It’s a win-win for nature and technology!
23. Infrastructure Inspection
Drones are used to inspect critical infrastructure such as bridges, power lines, pipelines, and wind turbines. They can access hard-to-reach areas and capture high-resolution images and videos for maintenance and safety assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some Personal Drone Uses?
Some of the main personal drone uses are for taking shots of nature to upload to social media, they’re popular for taking footage of real estate as well as making money with your drone as a side hustle from your main job.
Personal Drone Uses – Rules to Follow
When flying a drone for personal use, it is crucial to follow regulations. Each country has its own rules, including registration, altitude limits, and no-fly zones.
The main rules to follow in Australia are don’t fly above people, don’t fly above 120 m, and don’t fly within 5.5km of an airport. The rules can be found on CASA’s website.
Research and comply with the regulations in your area to avoid fines and legal issues. Drones are capable of flying very far but should stay within line of sight.
Whats the Best Editing Software for Drones?
LightCut is the official mobile video editing software recommended by DJI and it’s free. It’s quick and easy to do.
Adobe Lightroom is the drone editing software for pictures. Adobe Premiere Pro is great professional video editing software.
Wrap Up
I hope you learnt a new way to use drones in this article about the 23 personal drone uses. Our bird-like companions have many handy uses, including recreation. Drones are not just a fun toy to play with; they have practical uses in various fields.
The possibilities are endless, from capturing breathtaking footage of your adventures to helping put out fires and utility inspections.
Drones also play a crucial role in data collection, agriculture, search and rescue missions, journalism, and wildlife monitoring. So why not explore the exciting world of drones and see how they can benefit you?
I'm Matt, a writer and drone photographer with over 6 years in the field. I specialize in all things drones – from buying guides and editing tips to monetization strategies. My goal is to help enthusiasts and professionals alike navigate the exciting world of aerial photography and videography, sharing insights that turn drone passion into expertise and opportunity.
