About Sami Sarkis Stock Photo Library


 

Based in Marseille (Provence, France), I focus on Aerial views, Drone footage, Underwater, Marine life, Environmental, Conceptual and Travel imagery, not only in France, but worldwide (60 countries). 
All my archives (>100,000 pictures) and the latest shots aren't yet online, so please check with us if you can't find the right image on our site, we might have it on file!

 

Assignments are welcome, here in Marseille, Provence, French Riviera or anywhere on Earth! I specialize in UAV for Aerial views assignements in France not only by plane or helicopter but also by electric drone that I'm duly entitled to pilot and fly, both in cities and countryside.
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Check my Drone-Pictures.fr website or licence my aerial artwork (photo and videos) from HOsiHO.com, a highly curated collections of Aerial Stock Footage shot around France and the world by more than 200 aerial artists !


New: I'm also part of a french pilot drone Network that will help you to Find and arrange a drone-shooting in France through a B2B platform HOsiHO network : Drone Operators Network in France!
If you are interested by drone and piloting, please read hereby some tips or read my full interview as HOsiHO's CEO.

If you are a talented drone pilot and would like to join the stock agency, please check and fill the form on this page to apply as a contributor.


My work is also available through major distributors: Getty Images, Agefotostock, PhotoAlto and Alamy. It has been published in hundreds of various publications worldwide, since more than 25 years.

 

 

 

 

LINKS TO PUBLISHED IMAGES (or see the Tear sheets gallery)

 

 

 

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE A DRONE FOR AERIAL SHOOTINGS !

 

UAVs are increasingly fascinating devices, and certainly they are appreciated by many people. Indeed, the drone offers a rather unique piloting experience, which tends to appeal to all kinds of people.
Moreover, it is very easy, thanks in particular to its numerous on-board tools, which can be used in several fields (journalism, rescue, agriculture, Tv productions,...).

 

What is a Drone (or UAV)?

UAVs are aircrafts that can be operated remotely, and therefore without a pilot installed inside. They can be for military or civilian use. Their weight, capacity and autonomy can vary according to the models and uses for which they are intended. They are most often configured to fly autonomously or in Wifi, using a tablet or a smartphone. A UAV can be used in various fields (journalism, police, architecture & real-estate, ...).
These devices are therefore used a lot, and thanks to their high quality on-board cameras, you can film a lot of things and make your aerial missions less constraining.
The sky and your inspiration, is the limit !

 

Why and how should you shoot videos with a drone?

Most UAVs carry HD (high definition) and more and more 4K/8K cameras on board, which makes it possible to produce very good quality footage. These aircraft can also be equipped with various sensors, cameras and other probes for carrying out various missions (artistic, thermographic, cartographic...). Thanks to their multiple uses and the quality of their production, UAVs can provide high quality aerial images that will fascinate anyone who looks at it. Better, these images greatly enhance audiovisual productions and can thus better impact any communication.
UAVs can positively enhance any production work. And it would be a real shame to deprive ourselves of such a tool. For any video assignement using a drone, it is best to call on an experienced drone operator, or to use a professional production company. The latter will be able to guarantee you artistic and technical services of very high quality, as well as creative, highly innovative services in line with your needs.


 

The equipment required by the UAV to take quality videos

A UAV must be ideally equipped to produce quality videos. And so as not to be disappointed by the quality of your recordings or photographs, it is preferable to opt for a UAV equipped with a high-definition camera. A high-performance UAV must therefore be capable of filming in 4 k or 1080 p.

A good-quality UAV must also have perfect stabilisation, for better quality recordings. This stabilisation is often provided by a strong and solidly anchored gimbal to which the camera is attached. A system that isolate the vibrations created by the propellers is also installed, to ensure greater stability for the camera and the camera itself, and avoid the rolling-shutter effect (also known as Jello Effect).

Video monitoring and various intelligent flight modes are other essential elements that enable a drone to produce better quality videos. Video screen allows the pilot to view in live, at a high definition images filmed by the UAV. This monitoring allows accurate framing by the cameraman or the pilot, which will allow you to save a significant amount of flight time. As for the intelligent flight modes, they enable the UAV to be programmed to frame video shots and other overflights but it is also better to avoid it and keep things simple but efficient, creative, inspired and talented.It is more difficult for a begginner but it would be more spectacular to keep full control of the flying camera (the drone!) if you want to really shoot stunning and unique footage that no one else has done so many times before you!
So remember : you have to be Unique & Creative if you want to thrive in the drone stock footage and stills market.
It is not only a question of technique...as usual in any artwork.
 

What are the regulations in force?

Before using or flying your UAV, you must first have it approved and hold a pilot's licence in most of the countries. In France, for instance, it is compulsory to register your UAV with the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority), as soon as its weight exceeds 800 grams. In addition to these requirements, you must also obtain a flight authorisation from the prefectures and town halls before flying over a particular site or place. And as far as flights are concerned, it is strictly forbidden to fly above an altitude of 150 metres (or 120 feet in the USA) , and to overfly urban and sensitive aviation zones (military bases, airports, etc.).
Also, it is often forbidden to fly drones at night, and to film any person without their agreement. And for any damage caused by a drone, its pilot is immediately held civilly liable. That's why you have to be coverd by a good insurance. In France, only professionnal drone pilots have the right to sell their images either as stockshots or for hiring their services.


More about Drone Rules Worldwide, check this ressource.


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