HOW TO HIRE · PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a drone videography in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A drone videography in Ireland costs €200–€1,000 per shoot, typically around €450. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a drone videography in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers drone videography work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — promotional Videos — businesses often use drone videography for promotional videos, creating engaging content for marketing purposes.
- How does complexity of the shoot change the price?Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does project's scope change the price?It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does size of the area to be filmed change the price?A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Site Inspections — many industries utilize drone videography for site inspections, such as construction or agriculture — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a drone videography job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
No licence or register applies to photographers in Ireland. The protection is the contract, and copyright law decides who owns the pictures.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
A full wedding or event gallery, start to finish — not a portfolio of best frames from many jobs; Who actually shoots: the person you met, a second shooter, or an associate; The contract: date, hours, deliverables, delivery time, cancellation, and what happens if they are ill; The backup: two cameras, two card slots, where the files live until delivery; Public liability insurance, which many venues require of suppliers.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Who owns the pictures
The photographer is the author and first owner of copyright in the photographs unless the contract assigns it. What you normally buy is a licence to use the images, not the copyright. If you need to print, publish or supply them to a magazine, the licence has to say so. (Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000.)
Settle it in the contract before the day: what you may print, post and give to family, and for how long.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and equipment cover; venues often ask for the certificate. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers drone videography work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — promotional Videos — businesses often use drone videography for promotional videos, creating engaging content for marketing purposes.
A good answer: Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Site Inspections — many industries utilize drone videography for site inspections, such as construction or agriculture — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a drone videography job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and equipment cover; venues often ask for the certificate — event Coverage — drone videography is ideal for covering large events such as weddings, festivals, or sports.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the drone videography starts, and an itemised invoice after — aerial Footage — drone videography typically includes capturing stunning aerial footage of landscapes, events, or properties.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the shoot — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job.
- Project's scope — it changes both what is used and how long it takes.
- Size of the area to be filmed — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can.
- Complexity of the shots — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the shoot — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job
- They will not talk about it: project's scope — it changes both what is used and how long it takes
- They will not talk about it: size of the area to be filmed — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can
- A price for the drone videography before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the drone videography has begun
What a drone videography costs: €200–€1,000 per shoot
The figures are for the job, per shoot, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Real estate videography and Event coverage each carry their own band. Drone Videography price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Drone videographys near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the shoot — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job — that is what the drone videography is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneProject's scope — it changes both what is used and how long it takes — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSize of the area to be filmed — a compact job can be done in one visit; a large one rarely can — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the shots — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the drone videography is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check local regulations regarding drone flights in your area.
- Aerial Footage
- Drone videography typically includes capturing stunning aerial footage of landscapes, events, or properties.
- Event Coverage
- Drone videography is ideal for covering large events such as weddings, festivals, or sports.
- Site Inspections
- Many industries utilize drone videography for site inspections, such as construction or agriculture.
- Promotional Videos
- Businesses often use drone videography for promotional videos, creating engaging content for marketing purposes.
- Real Estate Videography
- Capturing stunning aerial footage of properties to showcase them for sale, highlighting features and the surrounding area.
- Land Surveying
- Using drone footage to gather data for land assessments, helping in planning and development decisions.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a drone videography: questions people ask
The cost of drone videography can vary based on several factors, including the complexity of the shoot, location, and duration. Additional services such as editing and post-production can also affect the final price.
A typical drone videography session can last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the project requirements and the amount of footage needed. More complex projects may require extended time for additional shots.
Some drone videography services may offer emergency or same-day availability, but this often depends on the operator's schedule and equipment. It's best to inquire directly with the service provider for specific needs.
Yes, many drone videography providers offer package deals for multiple related jobs, such as combining aerial footage with traditional videography or photography. This can often lead to cost savings.
Out of scope for drone videography generally includes indoor shoots or locations where drones are prohibited, such as crowded urban areas and near airports. Always check with the provider for specific limitations.
No licence or register applies to photographers in Ireland. The protection is the contract, and copyright law decides who owns the pictures.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in photography & video
Drone videographys near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — VIDEO - CONVERSION / TRANSFER (Photographic and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only