Share It!Post It!LinkedInRedditPin It!Living in NJ for the majority of my life and growing up doing photography here, youd think I would run out of places to shoot. Honestly, I feel like I have sometimes, but I continue to look for more and more places every day.Ive heard a lot of people say that NJ is boring and that theres nowhere to shoot. Ive heard that you have to travel to take good pictures and all these other wild things that arent true at all. My theory is that if you look hard enough, you can find a lot of very interesting things to shoot.That being said, its important to know where NOT to drone in New Jersey, as some areas have strict laws when it comes to drone photography. This is exactly what Im going to cover in this post, so stick around.Where Not to Drone in New JerseyThese are the spots you MUST keep away from according to New Jersey drone laws:Any state park or state forest (check the map). Sorry for hikers only!Palisades Park (on-foot guide)Any national park areas, recreation areas, or wildlife refuges. This includes Sandy Hook, the Delaware Water Gap, the Great Swamp, Paterson Great Falls)The Statue of LibertyThe Appalachian TrailCertain municipalities (you can see them all listed here)Check out this airspace map, too, to see if there are any other restrictions in place around your planned destination. For more specific laws in New Jersey, click here.Where You Can Drone in New JerseyThere are some amazing spots in New Jersey where you CAN fly your drone:The beach/the ocean. If you check out airspace maps, you can see that much of the shore is fair game.Local parks. Theyre widely allowed, but make sure you abide by the other rules (not flying by buildings, above people, etc)Your house. Weve seen some creative shots of people in their neighborhood or on private property (with permission of the property owner, of course!).Check out this guide if you want help planning your shots and getting some inspiration.Choosing Your LocationLocation is super important for me when it comes to shooting with the drone. I always want to make sure a spot is worth it to fly so I constantly search Google Maps for different places.I remember where these places are because I simply pin them and save them to a list on Google Maps and bam; I can see them on both my computer and phone! How convenient. All I have to do is get in the car, open maps, tap my spot, and drive there.When planning your drone flights, we recommend checking out the Aloft Maps for the best places you can fly.How High Can Drones Fly Legally?The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has established a maximum altitude limit of 400 feet above ground level for drone flights over private property within the state of New Jersey to ensure the safety of airspace and protect the privacy of property owners.Note: Commercial drone operations in New Jersey are subject to the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Part 107 regulations. This means if youre engaging in commercial drone activities, like aerial photography/videography for compensation or business purposes, you have to obtain the necessary certification from the FAA or you run the risk of penalties.Tips Before Your Take FlightLuckily, we have a whole guide to drone photography laws (for recreational AND commercial users) on our site. But here are some helpful tips to get you started for unmanned aircraft (aka drones):Must fly under 400 feet above ground level or, if flying at a higher altitude, stay within 400 feet of a structureMust be within the visual line of sight of the remote pilot in command or a ground observerMust fly during daylight or civil twilight hours (30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset, local time) with appropriate anti-collision lightingMust fly at or below 100 mphMust yield right of way to manned aircraft and avoid restricted airspaceMust not fly over peopleMust not fly from a moving vehicle unless you are in a sparsely populated areaNever fly near other aircraft, especially near airportsNever fly over groups of people, stadiums, or sporting eventsNever fly near emergency response efforts such as firesNever fly under the influenceBe aware of airspace requirements and laws restricting air trafficFor more, check out this website, or the extremely helpful Know Before You Fly website.@picsbypeterado on InstagramChoosing a DroneOwning two drones, youd think my decision would be easy. Am I flying the Inspire 2, X5S, and whatever lens I want, or am I flying my Mavic Pro?The easy answer is, probably my Mavic. I have found this drone to be so portable, convenient, and reliable since I purchased it. The drone obviously has its flaws here and there, but it works very well and I love it.The main reason I use this drone is because it has a really good range. Most of the time when I fly, I have to park further away from the location in a spot I can actually park.Having that little bit of extra range is beyond useful when it comes to shooting.Make Sure Your Drone Can Be Seen! A Must-Have!Strobe Light for Your DroneKeep eyes on your drone at all times!Buy NowWe earn a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.@typoland on InstagramNew Jersey is a bigger state than I had ever thought it was. I drive over the entire state for work, let alone my own personal aerial photos. Google Maps has also probably been my biggest help here in the sense that I can get an idea of what the land looks like from the satellite view before I set out to fly there.Of course, technology has its ups and downs; sometimes I find things on Google that arent actually there anymore or things that have changed since they were last put up there. However, most of the time, Aloft Maps is very reliable and it has become an essential tool for aerial photography.With all that being said, dont get down on yourself because you cant find places to shoot. Take the time to use the resources you have and find new places you think would be interesting.If you have to, go to them beforehand, scout them out, and get an idea of what you really want to shoot there. When you have the time, the weather is how you want it, and you can make it there at the right time of day, give yourself some time to get out there and enjoy some shooting because its a great thing to do.I always say that we are the ones to create excuses for ourselves and I think that is true. There is so much to see in Jersey alone, but its just a matter of finding those spots and shooting them in a way that means something to you.Pack Correctly with Extra Batteries!If youre ready to head out dont forget to pack your drone up so it doesnt get damaged. Also, its a good idea to have two batteries on hand if you want to extend your flight time. You may want to consider having a portable charger on hand.We suggest finding a hard case or backpack to secure your drone while traveling. Below is one some of our community members have used that they like because it fits various drone sizes. Drone Backpack - Fits Most DronesBuy NowMore BagsWe earn a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.Drone MapsDrone Flying Map Brought To You By:New Jersey is one of the most heavily regulated states for drones. And as more and more people pick up drone photography, we at NJspots have seen a lot of photographers taking illegal photos!We have even been guilty of sharing these photos ourselves on our page, just because we didnt know!Weather for Drone PhotographyWeather is absolutely essential to check. This could make or break the shoot and when you drive a solid distance away only to find out that you cant fly there, you may be pretty disappointed.Remember, this is 100% your fault because all you had to do was check the weather. In fact, I made the same mistake the other day and I could not fly at any of the locations I went to.The winds were consistently blowing 20+mph and if I did take my drone up, it wasnt safe to fly it more than 100 ft away from me because it was so hard to get it back.Because of that, I didnt want to risk losing my little drone, so I decided to just put it away and surrender to the weather. I was definitely mad, but I learned my lesson and ended up scouting a few of the locations so I could go back and shoot them another timecontinue reading. Easy To Fly!Sun Hood for DJI Mini ControllersBuy NowWe earn a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.Personal Connection Be CreativeThis is probably the hardest one to explain; every time I shoot something for my own personal work, it has to be something that means something to me.I either have an interest in the location, an idea, a concept, or something I just feel the need to create. Water, railroads, textures, seasons, and so many other things have caught my attention over the years.Being mainly a real estate photographer and videographer, composition has become one of the main things I focus on. Whenever I go out to a location to shoot, I always make sure I nail the composition. Lighting, time of day, colors, look, and all that jazz comes second. Not to mention editing after shooting.Drone Photography EthicsWhile drone photography definitely offers a unique perspective and a bunch of creative opportunities, its crucial to prioritize ethical considerations to ensure responsible and respectful use.You should respect other peoples privacy and personal space by not capturing individuals without their consent, especially in private areas or situations where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.Many natural areas, parks, and wildlife reserves prohibit and restrict drone use to prevent disturbances to animals and ecosystems. Make sure to research and comply with local regulations, and avoid flying in such areas, as your presence could harm or stress wildlife.Its also worth mentioning that many cultural and historical sites prohibit or at least restrict drone use to preserve the integrity and sanctity of these locations.Find Tys Full Article on FStoppers.com Drone Landing PadBuy NowWe earn a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.The post Where NOT to Drone in New Jersey appeared first on NJspots - New Jersey Spots.