Drone rental: advantages, disadvantages and who to turn to

When is renting a drone a better solution than buying one? Who should you turn to, and at what rates? Some advice.

The potential of quadcopters in filming and photography is by now well known, and the average cost of a drone is not far from the average prices of equipment used by professional photographers and video makers.
Yet there are still many professionals who, quite rightly, before buying a tool that is as professionalising as it is delicate, would like to get to know it better, and not only from a technical point of view.

While buying an expensive lens or a latest-generation video camera "only" requires a financial investment, when it comes to quadcopters you also need to know the regulations or hold a licence to operate them.
So the investment is also one of time and responsibility, and it makes sense to rely on industry professionals, both to get the drone best suited to our professional needs and for the right training and certification.

In which cases, then, is renting more convenient than buying?

Let's look together at when, for professionals who today can no longer do without this tool in order to stay competitive, renting is the better choice.

1 - Photographers and video makers
Aerial filming is nothing new in photography and audio-video editing, and new-generation quadcopters are increasingly sought after in this field.
If you are a photographer or a young director who cannot yet afford, or does not know well enough, the world of remotely piloted aircraft, it can still be useful to shoot an aerial video for a short clip promoting your business, to be shared online virally. If among your first clients there are accommodation businesses, newlyweds or sports facilities, you could offer an aerial service to show you are competitive, by turning to a company able to rent you a certified drone and, in the best case, also on-site assistance on the day of the shoot.
This can also be a first "hands-on lesson" to help you decide whether or not the quadcopter is the right tool for you.

2 - Independent reporters
As already noted by American foundations and universities such as the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, in the coming years drones will radically change the way journalists and independent reporters cover stories.
If a young journalist has a story in mind to sell to an online publication, or needs to showcase their innovative way of narrating an event, getting help from a company that rents drones and teaches how to fly them can be a winning card on their CV, a real investment in self-training.
We all know by now that information today is viral and travels through social media. We also all know that a video goes viral on social media faster than a written text. If the video is "different", it spreads faster and gets more shares, just like scoops.

3 - Engineers and surveyors

A newly established engineering or surveying firm, or even a sole practitioner, does not always have all the means and contacts to take off. Moreover, still very few engineers and surveyors use quadcopters for photogrammetry and mapping, even though the future of the market is heading in this direction. Turning to a company that rents certified drones and offers assistance can be a way to learn how to use one even before buying a drone and getting the licence, and to avoid dealing right away with the study of regulations at an already delicate stage of your business.
Especially for engineers and surveyors it is better to turn to companies that design and manufacture drones, as in the case of Aerialclick, because they can recommend the type of equipment for each specific activity. In addition, building a relationship with the manufacturer, which constantly deals with clients requesting mapping and similar jobs, is a way to network, which is essential for start-ups.
In these cases, renting is more convenient and useful than an immediate purchase.

In all the cases mentioned above you must be very careful when making agreements with suppliers who have certified aircraft. There are both technical and legal differences of no small importance.

Do you have doubts or other specific questions about renting a drone? Write to us, and we will find the best solution together!