{"id":34748,"date":"2025-05-15T10:00:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drone-normandie.com\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T10:00:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T08:00:40","slug":"timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner&#8217;s guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"34748\" class=\"elementor elementor-34748\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b2c99e1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b2c99e1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-981f938\" data-id=\"981f938\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-703bc1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"703bc1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Timelapse is a fascinating cinematographic technique that involves accelerating the passage of time by capturing a series of images at regular intervals, then stitching them together to create a video. When shot with a drone, this technique can capture spectacular aerial views and dynamic scenes, such as the movement of clouds, changing light or moving crowds. If you&#8217;re a beginner and want to create your own timelapse videos with a drone, this guide will give you all the information you need to get started.  <\/p><h2>What is a timelapse?<\/h2><p>Timelapse is a process whereby photos are taken at regular intervals over an extended period of time, then grouped together to produce a time-lapse video. This makes it possible to show phenomena that take place too slowly to be perceived at normal speed, such as the growth of a plant, the formation of clouds or the transition from day to night. <\/p><h3>Why use a drone for a timelapse?<\/h3><p>Using a drone to make timelapse videos offers several advantages:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Unbeatable views<\/strong>: A drone can capture scenes at heights and angles inaccessible by other means, offering a unique perspective.<\/li><li><strong>Smooth motion<\/strong>: You can add motion to timelapse, creating a dynamic video with a moving flight.<\/li><li><strong>Greater flexibility<\/strong>: Unlike conventional ground-based timelapse techniques, drones can capture images in a wider variety of ways, from panoramas to more complex scenes.<\/li><\/ul><h2>How to create a timelapse with a drone?<\/h2><h3>1. Choosing the right drone<\/h3><p>First of all, it&#8217;s essential to select a drone capable of shooting high-resolution photos and taking images at regular intervals. Several drones are designed to facilitate timelapse capture, including the following models: <\/p><ul><li><strong>DJI Mavic Air 2<\/strong>: This drone is equipped with a 4K camera and lets you take timelapses by adjusting the intervals and duration of the capture.<\/li><li><strong>DJI Mini 3 Pro<\/strong>: More compact but powerful, it offers timelapse capabilities with a quality camera.<\/li><li><strong>Autel EVO II Pro<\/strong>: This drone offers excellent image quality and numerous options for photographers and videographers.<\/li><\/ul><h3>2. Setting up the drone for a timelapse<\/h3><p>Once you&#8217;ve selected your drone, it&#8217;s important to configure it properly to get the best possible timelapse. Most modern drones have a timelapse mode built into their flight application. Here are the steps to follow:  <\/p><ul><li><p><strong>Activate timelapse mode<\/strong>: on applications such as <strong>DJI Fly<\/strong> or <strong>Litchi<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll find a specific timelapse mode. This mode lets you define parameters such as photo frequency (interval) and shot duration. <\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Choose interval<\/strong>: The interval between each photo depends on the type of scene you wish to capture. For example: <\/p><ul><li>For a sunrise or sunset, an interval of 5 to 10 seconds may be ideal.<\/li><li>For a cloud or a dynamic scene, an interval of 1 to 3 seconds can give good results.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><p><strong>Exposure adjustment<\/strong>: Be sure to manually adjust exposure and white balance to avoid sudden changes in lighting during capture.<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Plan the flight<\/strong>: If you want to add motion to your timelapse (smooth camera movement during flight), you can define a flight route with points so that the drone moves slowly while capturing images.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3>3. Take the photos<\/h3><p>Once you&#8217;ve set up your drone and made the necessary adjustments, it&#8217;s time to start capturing your images. It&#8217;s important to bear in mind that timelapse can take a long time, depending on the length of the scene you want to film. For example, for a 10-minute timelapse with 5-second intervals, it could take several hours of flying to capture all the necessary images.  <\/p><h3>4. Image processing and video assembly<\/h3><p>Once you&#8217;ve taken the photos, it&#8217;s time to assemble them to create your timelapse video. Here are a few key steps: <\/p><ul><li><p><strong>Import images<\/strong>: Use software such as <strong>Adobe Lightroom<\/strong> or <strong>Litchi<\/strong> to import and organize photos.<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Assemble the timelapse<\/strong>: You can use video-editing software such as <strong>Adobe Premiere Pro<\/strong>, <strong>Final Cut Pro<\/strong> or <strong>DaVinci Resolve<\/strong> to assemble the images and export them as video.<\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Adjust speed<\/strong>: Once the images have been stitched together, adjust the speed so that they scroll at the desired rate.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3>5. Add effects and finalize video<\/h3><p>To make your timelapse more dynamic, you can add effects such as smooth transitions or virtual camera movements. Software such as <strong>Adobe After Effects<\/strong> or <strong>Insta360 Studio<\/strong> let you add &#8220;zoom&#8221; or &#8220;rotation&#8221; effects to images, to enhance the visual effect. <\/p><h2>Tips for successful timelapses with a drone<\/h2><ul><li><strong>Be patient<\/strong>: A timelapse can take a long time, so make sure you have enough battery and storage on your drone.<\/li><li><strong>Keep an eye on the weather<\/strong>: Weather conditions can affect timelapse quality. Try to shoot in stable weather, especially if you&#8217;re capturing scenes such as sunsets or clouds. <\/li><li><strong>Use an ND filter<\/strong>: ND (neutral density) filters are very useful for managing light and avoiding overexposure, especially when shooting in daylight.<\/li><\/ul><h2>Conclusion<\/h2><p>Creating timelapse videos with a drone is a spectacular way to capture the passage of time and produce impressive visual content. Thanks to modern, easy-to-use drones and intuitive applications, it&#8217;s never been easier to make aerial timelapses. Whether you&#8217;re a photography enthusiast or an experienced videographer, this technique offers endless possibilities for enriching your creative projects.  <\/p><p>For more information on drones and their functionalities, here are some useful links:<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dji.com\/mavic-air-2\">DJI Mavic Air 2 &#8211; The official DJI web site<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/auteldrones.com\/\">Autel EVO II Pro &#8211; The official Autel Robotics web site<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/flylitchi.com\/\">Litchi &#8211; Application for drones<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insta360.com\/app\">Insta360 Studio &#8211; Timelapse and VR software<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Timelapse is a fascinating cinematographic technique that involves accelerating the passage of time by capturing a series of images at regular intervals, then stitching them together to create a video. When shot with a drone, this technique can capture spectacular aerial views and dynamic scenes, such as the movement of clouds, changing light or moving [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[247],"tags":[248],"class_list":["post-34748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drone-en","tag-drone-normandie"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>timelapse with a drone: A beginner&#039;s guide - Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"timelapse with a drone: A beginner&#039;s guide - Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Timelapse is a fascinating cinematographic technique that involves accelerating the passage of time by capturing a series of images at regular intervals, then stitching them together to create a video. When shot with a drone, this technique can capture spectacular aerial views and dynamic scenes, such as the movement of clouds, changing light or moving [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-15T08:00:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Damien\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Damien\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner's guide - Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner's guide - Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","og_description":"Timelapse is a fascinating cinematographic technique that involves accelerating the passage of time by capturing a series of images at regular intervals, then stitching them together to create a video. When shot with a drone, this technique can capture spectacular aerial views and dynamic scenes, such as the movement of clouds, changing light or moving [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/","og_site_name":"Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","article_published_time":"2025-05-15T08:00:40+00:00","author":"Damien","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Damien","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/"},"author":{"name":"Damien","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/86b707f863b1c081c630be778794de87"},"headline":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner&#8217;s guide","datePublished":"2025-05-15T08:00:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/"},"wordCount":902,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","keywords":["drone normandie"],"articleSection":["Drone"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/","name":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner's guide - Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","datePublished":"2025-05-15T08:00:40+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#primaryimage","url":"","contentUrl":""},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/timelapse-with-a-drone-a-beginners-guide\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Accueil","item":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"timelapse with a drone: A beginner&#8217;s guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/","name":"Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","description":"T\u00e9l\u00e9pilote certifi\u00e9 \u00e0 Caen \u2014 prises de vue a\u00e9riennes par drone pour l&#039;immobilier, le BTP, l&#039;\u00e9v\u00e9nementiel et le tourisme en Normandie.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle","url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/logo-drone-normandie-caen.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/logo-drone-normandie-caen.webp","width":1400,"height":191,"caption":"Drone Normandie \u2014 Photo &amp; vid\u00e9o a\u00e9rienne professionnelle"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/photo__911\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/86b707f863b1c081c630be778794de87","name":"Damien","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83e8f144c46faf580909acdc6a56c682bf1f107522e3393d9a02074fe6047073?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83e8f144c46faf580909acdc6a56c682bf1f107522e3393d9a02074fe6047073?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/83e8f144c46faf580909acdc6a56c682bf1f107522e3393d9a02074fe6047073?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Damien"},"url":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/author\/photo9111729518\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34748\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drone-normandie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}