C‑DRONE
Aerial view of the Étretat chalk cliffs and their arch in Normandy, France

📷 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY · NANTES (44) · €300–900 PER HALF-DAY

Drone aerial photography in Nantes

Drone aerial photography delivers viewpoints that are simply unreachable from the ground: 45° plunging shots, panoramas from 120 m up, low grazing perspectives at sunrise. Our remote pilots fly 20 to 50 megapixel sensors on three-axis gimbals, producing RAW files suitable for large-format printing as well as web use. Every mission is prepared on the official French Géoportail drone map to identify local restrictions and, where required, obtain prefectural authorisations for flights in built-up areas.

The service includes location scouting, flight notification where applicable, the shoot itself and post-production (cropping, colour grading, high-definition delivery via download link). Allow half a day to cover one site: a building, an estate, a business park, a coastline or a plot of land. Images are delivered with usage rights tailored to your needs (communications, press, outdoor advertising).

Free quote — aerial photography in Nantes

Rates

€300–900 per half-day — the range observed on the 2026 French market, including regulatory preparation, flight and delivery. The exact quote depends on the site, the deliverable and the airspace context in Nantes.

Common use cases

The local context in Nantes

The Nantes-Atlantique CTR spreads over the south-west of the city and covers much of the metropolitan area: flights there require a protocol with the airport, while the dense historic centre falls under the built-up-area scenario with notification to the Loire-Atlantique prefecture. The hospital helipad on the Île de Nantes and the Airbus facilities in Bouguenais call for extra care.

The Nantes market is among the most dynamic in western France: the Île de Nantes regeneration and creative district, shipyards and industry along the lower Loire, Euronantes office developments, Muscadet vineyards at the city gates and a distinctive heritage — the Dukes' castle, the Machines de l'île — highly photogenic from above.

Applicable regulations

In France, commercial aerial photography is usually flown in the open category: sub-category A1 with a sub-250 g drone (class C0) even near uninvolved individuals, A2 with a class C2 drone (under 4 kg) keeping 30 m from people (5 m in low-speed mode), or A3 far from anyone and more than 150 m from residential areas. Maximum height: 120 m. The pilot must be registered as an operator on AlphaTango, hold the online A1/A3 training certificate (plus the theory exam for A2), and check restricted zones on the Géoportail drone map. Flying over assemblies of people is prohibited; in built-up areas, since 1 January 2026, professional open-category flight over public space is allowed (no overflight of people, daytime only), otherwise a specific-category flight (STS-01 scenario) with prior declaration is required.

Frequently asked questions

Can drone photos be taken in a city?

Yes, under conditions: in built-up areas a commercial flight generally requires a specific-category scenario with prior declaration to the préfecture (10 working days since 1 January 2026). We handle all the paperwork for you.

In what format are the photos delivered?

Images are delivered as high-definition JPEGs (RAW on request) via a secure download link, within 48 to 72 hours of the shoot, colour grading included.

What happens in bad weather?

The flight is rescheduled free of charge to the next suitable window: rain, wind above 40 km/h or fog make flying impossible or the images unusable. We monitor the forecast with you until the day before.

Can this service be flown anywhere in Nantes?

Almost: CTR de l'aéroport Nantes-Atlantique; Hélistation du CHU sur l'île de Nantes; Emprises Airbus de Bouguenais. Depending on the exact location, the pilot picks the right framework (open or specific category) and files the required declarations — included in the quote.

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