Define the production outcome first. Feasibility and flight decisions belong to the qualified operator.
01 / PURPOSEDescribe the edit, not just the aircraft.
A listing video, a vertical social edit and a brand film need different framing and shot lengths. Specify the delivery format, orientation, approximate final duration and whether still photographs are needed. Separate must-have shots from optional ideas. Include the date you need the finished files, review rounds and file delivery method. A clear brief makes it easier to compare production quotes on the same deliverables.
02 / LOCATIONAccess and airspace are separate checks.
Permission to enter a property is not the same as permission to conduct a flight. Share the proposed location and site contact with the operator through your agreed private channel. For US work, the FAA’s commercial operator guidance explains the Part 107 framework and situations requiring further authorization. This planning tool is not an airspace check, a permit or a safety assessment. The pilot must confirm what is feasible before the shoot is committed.
03 / CONTINGENCYWrite down the ground-only alternative.
Weather, site restrictions or conditions on the day can prevent a planned flight. Agree what happens next: rescheduling, a ground-only shot list or a revised deliverable. Confirm the cancellation and travel-cost arrangements in writing. Discuss image usage rights, recognizable people, private property and retention of raw footage with the production team. A realistic fallback protects the project better than an unconditional promise of aerial footage.