I’ve been asked by my grand daughter to do her wedding photography with both my DSLR camera and my drone ( video and stills )
The wedding venue have today contacted me saying what they require for flying a drone outside the venue.
The usual op ID and flier ID. Insurance covering at least £1million public liability. After this comes the strange requests for , PAT testing certificate of my drone ( I’ll be taking at least 3 fully charged batteries on the day, so won’t be requiring their electricity to charge these up) They’ve also asked for “a written risk assessment and method statements detailing times, purpose, angle of shot, and the data being captured.”
I think I can just about manage the risk assessment, but what about a method statement ? Timing will all depend on the time of the wedding, ( I know there’s a wedding breakfast after the ceremony, but have absolutely no idea how long this will last ) Assuming the drone shots/ video, will be after this ? Purpose of the shots is to provide aerial pics of the bride & groom and guests. Angles of shots will all be dependant upon which I think is the best angles to shoot from. What on Earth do they mean by “data capture”? As far as I’m aware, the only data being captured will be peoples images.
Help needed folks ( knowing my luck it’ll either persist it down on the day, or there’ll be hurricane force winds) 
I’ve used my drone at lots of weddings and the only thing I’m ever asked for is insurance, even then not at all venues. If you are the only one doing the official photos then don’t try and also do drone shots at the same time, it’s too time consuming. Weddings can be stressful enough without making it hard for yourself.
I’ve photographed over 1300 weddings so have a ton of experience, but I still wouldn’t attempt to do drone shots in the middle of the day along with the rest of the photos. If I have a second shooter with me then I’ll maybe leave them to shoot some photos while I grab some drone shots. If I’m on my own, the only drone photos I take are location shots of the venue and I usually do these when I first arrive or during the wedding breakfast.
Hmmm, not sure the grand daughter would be happy with a few aerial shots of the venue from outside ? I have no intention of flying the drone whilst taking photos with my camera ( I’ve got all on having a ciggy whilst flying) 
But can you help with what they mean by data capture and why on Earth they expect me to have PAT testing certificates of something that uses batteries ?
you cannot pay test the drone, only the charger, and only the 230v side
just ask chat gpt to write you a method statement of how to fly and land a drone for a wedding venue of 1500 words
no one will ever read it but they have a method statement to comment against
Just did a quick search on PAT testing as i am sure if the item is less than a year old it is not required to be tested, but then I found this…
What doesn’t need to be PAT tested?
Battery-operated equipment and cordless equipment (for example, power tools) do not need PAT testing, as they are not powered by mains electricity. However, any battery chargers that power the equipment would need testing as these plug into the wall and charge the equipment.
So leave the charger at home or in the car.
Regarding the PAT testing cert they are asking for, if you’re not planning on plugging anything into their plug sockets, tell them to do one. Also, as @richrab says, the drone itself isn’t required to be PAT tested in any way shape or form
I have emailed them back saying the drone is battery operated and I will be taking a minimum of three fully charged batteries with me on the day, so will not require anything plugging in to their supply. I’m still unsure about them asking for what data I will be photographing/ videoing .
As far as I can see the method is , tell the wedding guests to fight amongst themselves whilst drunk, turn on drone, turn on controller, play with flight controls, twiddle a few sticks, drone takes off. Twiddle with the sticks again to frame each shot, press the take shot button. Twiddle with me sticks again, press the take video button, fly about in a reckless manner till the battery runs out or the drone flies off on its own
Nah seriously I’ll look at using Chat GPT to produce a method statement ( won’t tell them about flying about in a reckless manner though)
I’m a bit worried about the “data capture “ however, as it’s only going to be used to capture pics/ video of the guests outside the venue. ?? I fail to see what they’re getting at with that bit.
Car registrations ? Staff ? Other hotel guests ?
Ahh could be Chris. I’ve had a look on CHAT GPT , most helpful. 2 minutes and a risk assessment, method statement etc has been produced. All I have to do is fill in names and estimated timings of drone flight/s. I will have to visit the venue nearer the time to see what their outside area is like to look for possible obstacles ( trees/ overhead wires etc) Of course everything for the drone is absolutely weather dependent. If it’s raining/ windy, the drone’s staying at home.
As for the PAT testing requirement, I’m kicking that into touch. I wouldn’t entertain plugging anything with electronic circuitry in it, into a PAT tester. I used to PAT test equipment when I worked for a shop fitting company many years ago. I was asked to PAT test everything at head office and they had one other lad “qualified “ to do PAT testing. He PAT tested a computer ( fully, including the flash test ) After it was plugged in to the mains again, he couldn’t understand why it wouldn’t work.
Just a thought …
If you have a portable power station, you can recharge anything in your car without needing to plug into their sockets.
If they insist on timings, then rather than trying to decide a specific time, refer to the time relative to a given event e.g 1 hour after the end of the ceremony.
That at least means if there is a delay, then your plan still works.
Thanks Dave, I reckon three or four fully charged batteries will be enough though. Should give me plenty of time to take a few dozen aerial pics and say 1/2hr of video to mash together. I would get the wedding group lined up as I like then take off, get the pics, land, rearrange the group, rinse repeat. I have an idea for part of the video, guests lined up in two rows, bride & groom walk through them whilst the drone flies backwards facing them ( dunno if that would work with obstacle avoidance however, but cine mode obstacle off, might be an idea) I could possibly fly the drone in whilst videoing before the bride & groom start their walk, then reverse out ( just one of a few ideas I could try )
PS, you never know, I might win the power station charger in the latest GADC comp )
Well … a future one, perhaps - because …
Seems a bit over exaggerated on requests, proof of insurance policy, which can be taken out just for the day. Your proof of registration and risk assessment. You can create a Notams over the location. Pat test is not required, if you do a recce of the site during daylight hours to find best vantage points TOAL and emergency landing site. Plan for weather etc.
plenty of people here have flown events so plenty of information, have a copy of CAA regulations and regarding flight plan just plot out a rough route and elevation.
A spotter and additional photographer would be beneficial so you can fly safely. Over excited guests will always be interested in talking to you when your busy. Good luck
Awww noooooooooo, failed yet again
I couldn’t win a dead donkey in a raffle if I bought the only tickets 
I’m hoping the wife will be my spotter ( although she’ll probs hit the champagne at the reception) I suppose I could hand over camera duties to the son in law’s brother( he’s a keen photographer and knows his way round a dslr )
Edit, I think a NOTAM is a bit over the top ( it’s a mini 3 pro drone ) although I will create a flight plan on drone assist/ dronescene beforehand.
Data capture of video or pictures in public are allowed ! a problem might occur if the church organ music is recorded as it is copyrighted
I don’t think my grand daughter will be having any church organ music at her wedding ( she thinks anyone who listens to it is an old fuddy duddy )
I’m presuming the venue is private property