Commercial Aerial Photography FAQ

Lensaloft selects equipment around the brief rather than using one fixed camera system. Medium format, high-resolution mirrorless cameras, Phase One and Fujifilm GFX systems, Rodenstock optics, Sony and RED cinema cameras, 360° rigs and specialised stabilised camera systems are all used where appropriate. Every project has different requirements for resolution, lens choice, altitude, movement and final output, so the capture system is planned to suit the job and the budget rather than forcing the job around a particular camera.

Helicopters, drones, FPV drones, cranes and elevated work platforms are all used regularly, together with specialist camera mounts and stabilisation systems. Each platform has different strengths. Drones are excellent for precise lower altitude work, helicopters provide speed, altitude, range and access to much larger and heavier camera systems, while cranes and EWPs can be useful where a fixed elevated viewpoint is required. Lensaloft can recommend the most appropriate platform, or combination of platforms, after reviewing the brief.

Neither is universally better and each one has its strengths. Drones are often ideal for low and medium-altitude photography, close architectural work, repeatable positions using RTK and projects where a compact operating footprint is useful. Helicopters are generally better for higher altitudes, rapid repositioning, longer distances, large-format camera systems, long lenses and complex city or major-event coverage. Most of our projects benefit from using both. See our helicopter aerial photography and commercial drone photography services for more detail.

Yes. Combining helicopter and drone capture can give a project a much broader visual range. A helicopter can establish the large scale context and reach higher or more distant positions, while a drone can work closer to buildings, landscapes or activity on the ground. Lensaloft regularly plans mixed-platform projects so the lighting, angles, camera systems and post production remain visually consistent across the final image set.

Pricing is project specific because aerial work can vary enormously. Rather than a cookie cutter approach we prefer to work with you to get the best possible result within budget. The main factors are the platform required, helicopter airtime or drone operating requirements, location, airspace and approvals, number of shooting sessions, crew, specialist camera systems, travel and post production. A straightforward drone shoot and a complex controlled airspace helicopter production are very different jobs. Send through the location, required imagery and intended use and we can recommend the most efficient approach and provide a clear quotation.

Yes. Post-production is managed in house using colour-managed, high-gamut displays and professional retouching and finishing workflows. Depending on the project this can include colour and exposure work, panoramic stitching, perspective and lens corrections, image blending, local retouching, mapping mosaics, 360° processing and preparation of files for print, digital, rendering or video workflows. The aim is to maintain control of image quality from capture through to final delivery.

Yes. Lensaloft maintains professional commercial drone credentials and $20 million public liability cover suitable for major commercial projects. Australian operations are conducted within the CASA framework using our licensed pilots, with project specific permissions or flight authorisations obtained where required. International projects are planned according to the aviation rules and permissions of the country in which the work takes place.

Potentially, yes — but a CBD flight is not automatically permissible simply because the aircraft is small. Melbourne involves controlled airspace, helicopter activity, tall buildings, people, roads, private property and site-access considerations. Each location must be assessed individually and we regularly obtain aviation approvals, airspace coordination, site permissions and plan carefully controlled launch and recovery areas. Lensaloft routinely assesses complex urban briefs and will advise whether a drone, helicopter or another elevated platform is the most practical solution.

Flights near controlled airports are subject to strict rules and airspace restrictions. Under the standard drone rules, aircraft over 250 g generally cannot be flown within 5.5 km (3 NM) of a controlled airport without the appropriate authorisation. We can apply for or use specific airspace authorisations where the operation is eligible. Lensaloft checks the airspace, airport environment and operational requirements before confirming whether a proposed location is feasible.

The standard Australian drone height limit is 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level. We were the first commercial operator to be authorised above 400ft in Melbourne CBD and provide many solutions to cover all kinds of complex briefs. Flying above 400ft requires the appropriate CASA flight authorisation as well as additional airspace coordination, risk assessment or operational controls. Lensaloft has experience planning specialist above-400-foot work and will assess whether it is practical for a particular project rather than assuming approval is available.

Under the standard rules a drone must generally remain at least 30 metres from people who are not essential to its control and navigation, and it must not fly directly over a person. Thankfully, CASA provides an approval pathway for certain commercial operations over or near people, which we can implement where conditions are suitable. For public events, busy sites and urban locations, Lensaloft plans the operation around both aviation requirements and the realities of controlling the ground environment.

Yes, commercial night operations can be conducted within the appropriate CASA operating framework. CASA requires a ReOC and an appropriately licensed remote pilot, together with the applicable night procedures and operating requirements. Night work also introduces practical considerations such as aircraft visibility, orientation, site lighting, launch areas and increased operational risk, so it is planned separately from a standard daytime flight.

For commissioned projects Lensaloft can manage or coordinate the aviation planning required for the proposed shoot. Depending on the job this may include CASA flight-authorisation work, controlled or restricted-airspace coordination, pilot and aircraft planning, site permissions, launch-location assessment, risk controls and communication with relevant stakeholders. Helicopter projects may also involve flight planning and coordination with air traffic services. The exact approval pathway depends on the location and operation.

Simple projects in unrestricted locations can sometimes be organised quickly, but complex work should be discussed as early as possible. Controlled airspace, airports, major events, restricted or military airspace, operations above 400 feet, specialist aircraft, road or site controls and night work can all increase lead time. Weather is also a factor, so allowing flexibility around the preferred shoot date usually produces a better result.

Development viewline photography shows the real view expected from a proposed building, floor level, apartment or rooftop before construction is complete. Lensaloft captures elevated photography from drones or helicopters at nominated heights and viewing directions, providing imagery that can be used directly for marketing or supplied as accurate visual context for architectural renders. See our development viewline photography service.

Accuracy depends on the required use and the capture method. Lensaloft can combine pre-planned coordinates and target heights with aircraft telemetry, RTK reference information and barometric height data to maintain repeatable positions and levels. For render backgrounds we also record lens and viewing information so the photography can be matched more precisely in post-production. Viewline photography is typically not a substitute for a cadastral or engineering survey unless a separate survey scope is specifically commissioned.

Yes — that is one of the principal uses of viewline photography. If you provide the site location, proposed floor levels or camera heights, preferred directions and any available plans, Lensaloft can plan elevated positions that approximate the intended future views. Photography can be produced for individual levels, apartment orientations, panoramas or a broader set of views for sales and architectural visualisation.

Yes. Render-background photography is a major part of Lensaloft's development work. The shoot can be planned around the render camera direction, target height, field of view for lens choice and time of day. Depending on the production workflow, we can supply rectilinear views, wide panoramic backgrounds or 360° HDR source material. Matching the photography to the visualisation brief before the flight generally produces a much more convincing final render than trying to adapt an unrelated aerial photograph afterwards.

Normal aerial photography is composed around a visual viewpoint. Aerial mapping is captured systematically to create a high-resolution vertical representation of a site or precinct, often by combining many overlapping photographs into a detailed mosaic and / or a full working 3D model. Lensaloft's aerial mapping work is particularly suited to large sites, events and precincts where a current, high-quality photographic plan view is required.

Not by default. Lensaloft's standard mapping product is a high-resolution photographic mapping and mosaic service rather than a cadastral, engineering or GIS survey. Where a project requires survey-grade measurements, geospatial deliverables or certified data, that requirement should be identified at the briefing stage so the appropriate specialist workflow can be incorporated into our capture.

A 360° aerial panorama is an immersive spherical view that lets the viewer look in every direction from an elevated point above a location. Lensaloft creates high-resolution interactive panoramas from helicopters and drones for property developments, tourism, major events, planning presentations and digital experiences. Tours can include labels, hotspots, links and multiple viewpoints. Examples can be viewed in our 360° panorama portfolio.

Aerial photography is highly dependent on weather, visibility and light. Wind, cloud, haze, smoke, rain and air quality can all affect whether a flight is safe and whether the imagery will meet the creative brief. Lensaloft monitors conditions leading into the shoot and will recommend postponing or adjusting the timing where necessary. For golden-hour, dusk and long-distance city work, atmospheric clarity can be just as important as whether it is technically raining or sunny.

The time in the air can be relatively short, but the complete production often involves much more than the flight itself. Pre-production may include angle studies, airspace checks, permissions, pilot briefings, weather monitoring and site planning. Capture time then depends on the number of locations, altitudes, directions and lighting conditions required. Lensaloft will normally build the required flight or operating time into the quotation so the production is planned efficiently.

Yes. Lensaloft is based in Melbourne and works throughout Australia and internationally. Projects are regularly planned around our network of local helicopter operators, specialist pilots, drone operating requirements and travel logistics. Where practical, multiple locations or related shoots can be coordinated into the same production schedule to make travel and aircraft costs more efficient.

Final commissioned imagery is supplied without a watermark. Delivery is tailored to the project and can include high-resolution master files for print and production together with web-ready versions for digital use. Colour space, bit depth, resolution and video delivery specifications can be matched to the client's workflow. Watermarked or lower-resolution files may be used during preview and selection stages, but the licensed final deliverables are supplied clean.

Yes. Lensaloft maintains an extensive archive of aerial photography and footage from Australia and locations around the world. Work that is not restricted by an existing client agreement may be available for commercial licensing. Fees depend on the specific image or footage, media, territory, duration, audience and exclusivity required. Send through the intended use and we can confirm availability and provide a licensing quotation.

A commissioned project normally includes a usage licence covering the agreed requirements of that project. Lensaloft retains copyright and intellectual property in the material unless a separate copyright transfer has been agreed in writing before the project commences. This approach allows the licence to be tailored to the actual campaign or commercial use while protecting the value of the work. If your organisation requires broader rights, exclusivity or an assignment of copyright, please raise that during quoting so it can be priced and documented appropriately.

Usually, yes. If a campaign grows beyond its original scope, additional usage can generally be licensed without repeating the photography. This may include longer campaign duration, new territories, additional media, broader digital use or industry exclusivity. The availability of expanded rights depends on the original agreement and any existing restrictions, so it is best to provide the new intended use when requesting a licence extension.