Clients split into two types. Some just want a raw flyover of a building and will cut the rest themselves. Others need a finished spot that goes straight to the website, YouTube, and a paid campaign. Those are two different jobs and two different prices. Before you pick up the phone, it helps to know which group you're in, because it drives both the brief and the quote.
What an aerial brand film is and when it pays off
An aerial brand film is not just flight footage. It's a production: concept, shot plan, air and ground footage, edit, color, sound, and licensed music. Raw drone material, even in 4K, is a half-product. The edit is what turns it into an advert that actually sells.
Drone wins where scale and context matter: a developer's housing estate, a hotel and its surroundings, a production hall, a warehouse, an office park, a corporate event, a B2B brand that wants to show its reach. One shot from 80 metres says more about a site than ten photos from the pavement.
There are cases where a drone is overkill. Cramped office interiors, a small plot with no visible surroundings, a budget that won't cover the edit - then spend the money on good ground coverage instead. If you're deciding between photo and video, or planning short social formats, we covered that separately in our pieces on photo versus video for property listings and on drone reels for Instagram and TikTok.
How to order a drone film step by step
The whole path from the first call to a finished film is usually 1-3 weeks. Here are the seven steps we run through with every client:
- Brief - you tell us what the film is for, who it's for, and where it goes.
- Quote - based on the brief, you get a range and a scope.
- Storyboard and shotlist - we agree what we shoot and how.
- Location and airspace check - whether we can fly there legally.
- Shoot day - one day, sometimes two for several locations.
- Post-production - edit, color, sound, channel versions.
- Delivery and rights handover - files, formats, and licence in the contract.
Part of the work sits with the studio (flight formalities, gear, the edit), part with you (the brief, location access, signing off the concept and the shots). The sooner we close your part, the smoother the rest runs.
Brief: what to prepare before the first call
A good brief shaves days off the production and protects you from paying extra for revisions. You don't need an essay - eight points are enough:
- Marketing goal - selling flats, recruitment, brand image, a product campaign.
- Target audience - who you're talking to and what they should do after watching.
- Channel and format - YouTube and site in 16:9, social in 9:16, a lobby screen in 1:1.
- Style and references - 2-3 links to films you like.
- Length - typically 30-60 s for an advert, 60-120 s for a company film.
- Company USP - the one thing the viewer should remember.
- Budget - at least a range, so we can match the package right away.
- Deadline - the air date or event by which the film has to be ready.
Plus the assets: a vector logo, a brand book if you have one, the contact for the decision maker who will sign off the shots, and details on location access (keys, security, hours). Three questions worth answering up front: who is this for, what should the viewer do after watching, and how much do you want to spend.
Storyboard, shotlist, and concept
A storyboard is a shot-by-shot scenario, drawn or written - useful for narrative spots and when you need to sign the idea off with the board. A shotlist is a simpler list of frames to capture, enough for image films and property presentations. On a PROMO package we usually do a shotlist; on PREMIUM, a full storyboard.
The drone shots that actually work in advertising:
- Reveal - the camera brings the subject out from behind an obstacle, a strong opener.
- Orbit - circling the building, showing scale and surroundings.
- Fly-through - a pass through a gate, a hall, between buildings.
- Top-down - an overhead view of an estate, a square, a site.
- Follow - tracking a car, a person, a machine.
A drone alone won't carry a spot. Reveal and orbit build the scale, but the story is told by details: the product in a hand, an employee's face, an interior. That's why we combine air shots with ground shots. Signing off the concept before the shoot isn't a formality - it's the moment you can still change the idea cheaply. Revisions after the shoot cost a whole new shoot day.
Locations, permits, and flying over people in 2026
The most common client fear: are we even allowed to fly here, and who's liable if something goes wrong. In short - flight formalities are the contractor's duty, not yours. But it's worth verifying them, because this is what separates a pro from someone winging it.
Airspace. Most of Warsaw sits inside the CTR controlled zone of Chopin Airport (EPWA - the airport code for Warsaw Okęcie). Many locations need pre-tactical clearance and coordination with PAŻP (the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency). We check this in the DroneTower/DroneRadar app ahead of time, not on the shoot day.
Flying over people. In the open category, flying over an assembly of people - for example over guests at an event - is prohibited. Scenarios with shots over people require the specific category: an STS scenario, a ULC (the Polish Civil Aviation Authority) authorisation, or a certificate. If you're planning a pass over a crowd, make sure the studio holds this, otherwise that shot simply can't be flown legally.
We covered the clearances themselves in our piece on drone flight permits in Warsaw and the CTR EPWA zone, and pilot qualifications in the article on the A1/A2/A3 drone operator certificate.
Shoot day: how to prepare on your side
The gear and the pilot are our job. A few things stay on your side, and they decide whether we capture the material in one go.
- Weather and time window - the best light is the golden hour in the morning or before sunset. We keep a plan B for wind above roughly 38 km/h or rain.
- Location ready for the frame - tidy grounds, cars parked where they should be, anything that spoils the shot switched off, gates open and keys available.
- Decision maker on set - someone who can approve shots on the spot so we don't come back for revisions.
- Safety and GDPR - we mark off the zone, and if employees or guests are in frame we inform them in advance and keep data protection in check.
When people are visible in the frame, RODO applies (the Polish implementation of the EU data protection regulation). How to handle it on a drone shoot is laid out in our separate article on RODO and drone footage.
Clients lose the most time and money not on the drone, but on an unapproved frame. Half an hour talking through the storyboard saves the entire second shoot day.
Post-production: edit, color, sound, channel versions
This is where raw material becomes an advert. The edit covers selecting the best shots, cutting to the music's rhythm, color grading, graphics and motion design (animated logo, captions, data), sound, and licensed music. It's the stage where it's easiest to burn budget on revisions, so we set the rules up front.
- Revision rounds - typically 1-2 included, further rounds chargeable.
- Format versions - 16:9 for YouTube and the site, 9:16 and 1:1 for social. We agree these before the edit, because adding them later costs.
- Post time - roughly 5-10 working days plus a revision round.
- Music - only licensed (Artlist, Soundstripe), so YouTube doesn't block the film over rights.
How much an aerial brand film costs - 2026 pricing
Below are real net ranges for Warsaw. This is a starting point - the final quote depends on the brief, the number of locations, the scope of post, and any specific-category permits.
| Package | What's included | Locations / shoot time | Film length | Net price PLN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| START | Raw shots, no edit, working material | 1 location, up to 2-3 h | raw material | approx. 800-1500 PLN |
| PROMO | Edited film with color and music | 1 location, half a day | 30-60 s | approx. 1700-3500 PLN |
| EVENT / COMPANY | Drone + ground shots, edit | 1 shoot day | 60-120 s | approx. 3000-5000 PLN |
| PREMIUM | Several locations, 2 operators, animation, motion design | 1-2 days | 60-120 s + social cuts | from 6000 PLN up |
For comparison: a shoot day with an operator and no edit runs about 3000-4300 PLN net. Extra vertical 9:16 social versions cost 300-800 PLN per format. What really lifts the price: a second location, a second operator, animation and graphics, a wider music licence, specific-category permits, and express turnaround.
The full rate breakdown by genre is in our piece on aerial filming prices in Warsaw 2026, and on invoicing and VAT in the article on VAT and invoicing for drone footage.
Film rights, invoice, and handover
This is where it's decided whether the film is really yours. The usage fields and the licence define where and for how long you can use the material. The key question to ask: are social and paid campaigns included in the price, or a separate buyout. Often the base price covers organic publication, while wider fields are charged separately.
- Formats and quality - clarify whether you get a finished 4K file, or also the source files and raw shots.
- VAT invoice and deposit - the B2B standard, usually a deposit on signing and the balance on delivery.
- Handover checklist - matches the storyboard, all agreed formats (16:9, 9:16, 1:1), rights written down, and a backup.
- Backup - ask whether the studio keeps a copy and for how long, in case you need the film again.
With all of that in the contract in black and white, the order runs without misunderstandings, and the film is ready to air on the date we fixed in the brief.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an aerial brand film cost in Warsaw in 2026?
- A simple edited film starts around 1700 PLN net, an event or company package runs 3000-5000 PLN, and a premium production with several locations and animation from 6000 PLN up. A shoot day alone without an edit is about 3000-4300 PLN. The price depends on the brief, the number of locations, and the scope of post - exact ranges are in the package table.
- What do I need to prepare to order a drone film?
- A brief: goal, target audience, channel and format, budget, and deadline. Plus 2-3 style references, a logo or brand book, location access, and a decision maker on set to approve shots. The whole layer of flight formalities sits with the contractor.
- Do I need a permit to film with a drone over my company or event?
- Permits and registration are the operator's duty, not the client's. In Warsaw many locations sit inside the CTR EPWA zone and need pre-tactical PAŻP clearance. Flying over people and over guests at an event requires the specific category - an STS scenario or a ULC authorisation. Make sure the studio holds it.
- Does the drone operator need liability insurance?
- Yes. Since 13 November 2025, OC liability insurance is mandatory for drone operators with a take-off mass of 0.25-20 kg, regardless of flight purpose, including commercial work. The minimum cover is 50 000 SDR, about 270 000 PLN. No OC means a fine up to 4000 PLN. Ask the contractor for the policy.
- How long does producing an aerial brand film take?
- Roughly 1-3 weeks after the brief is approved: a few days for concept and storyboard, one shoot day (weather permitting), 5-10 working days of post plus a revision round. Express turnaround is possible for a surcharge.
- Will I get full rights to the film and a VAT invoice?
- Yes, but the scope of rights - usage fields, duration, and channels, including paid campaigns - must be written into the contract, because it isn't always in the base price. A VAT invoice is the B2B standard. Ask about source files and delivery formats (4K, 16:9, 9:16).
