Learning to Fly: My Beginner’s Guide to Drones with a DJI Mini 3

Follow me to mountains
Jan 24
3 min read

I’ve always loved taking photos and videos when I travel but there’s something about drone footage that just hits differently. Seeing a familiar place from above feels like unlocking a whole new perspective. I’ve always loved those epic aerial shots you see on Instagram, mountain peaks, winding roads, crazy blue water. So eventually, I decided it was time to get my own drone and see what I could do.

That’s how I ended up with my first DJI Mini 3. Well… actually, my first Mini 3 didn’t last long. I almost flew it into a waterfall on day two in Norway, I freaked out and returned it whilst on trip! A couple years later, I was still obsessed with drone shots that I bought another one… and this time, I’ve kept it and absolutely love it and would not be without it.

Why I Picked the DJI Mini 3

From friends and social media, I soon understood DJI was the brand for drones. The Mini 3 ticked all the boxes for a beginner like me:

No licence required: It’s under 250g, so in most places you can fly it without a licence, just stick to the basic drone rules.
Refurbished version: I bought mine refurbished the second time around too, cheaper and I felt less worried about crashing it.
Vertical camera mode: The camera flips vertical, which is perfect for Reels and Stories without weird cropping.

It’s small, smart, and super capable, exactly what you need when you’re learning.

Quick Drone Rules You Should Know

Not the most exciting part, but super important if you don’t want to lose your drone or annoy anyone.

Stay under 120m (400ft).
Keep it in sight at all times.
Avoid crowds, roads and private property.
Stay away from airports (the DJI Fly app will warn you if you’re too close).
Always check for no-fly zones: the app or tools like Drone Assist (UK) make this easy.
Be respectful of people and nature.

Getting Ready to Fly

Before you hit “take off,” a quick routine helps keep things smooth:

Charge everything (drone, controller, phone).
Update firmware before heading out.
Calibrate if you’re in a new area.
Check the props no cracks or loose ones.
Find a big open space for practice flights, a field, park or beach is perfect.

First Flights: Keep It Simple

My first flights were all about staying calm and not crashing. Start small:

Use auto take-off and hover a few metres off the ground.
Practice smooth moves forward, back, rotate and land.
Learn Return to Home - it’s your panic button if things go wrong.
Once you’re comfortable, try slow pans or fly-bys for short clips.

You’ll be amazed how cinematic even the simplest shots can look from above.

Epic Places to Fly (That I’ve Ticked Off So Far)

Once you get confident, hunting for new drone spots becomes addictive. My favourites so far:

Cadini di Misurina, Dolomites (Italy) it has dramatic peaks which look insane from the air, especially at sunrise.
Henningvær Stadium, Lofoten (Norway) the football pitch on its own little island, surrounded by turquoise water and mountains. Unreal.
Alpe di Suisi, Dolomites (Italy) the highest alpine meadow.

All of these were total “drone dream” moments.

What I’ve Learned So Far

A few things I’ve picked up since my first near-waterfall disaster:

Wind, even a light breeze can mess with your control - check gusts before flying.
Always hit record early. Your best shot might happen while you’re lining up the frame.
Landing is harder than it looks, take your time and avoid rushing the descent.
Birds are curious (and brave) - they might come after your drone.

Each flight teaches you something, and that’s honestly part of the fun.

Next on My Drone Bucket List

Now that I’ve got a bit of flying confidence (and haven’t crashed this one… yet), I’m already planning where to take my Mini 3 next. These are the spots at the top of my list:

Iceland (Round Two!) I’ve been before, but I barely scratched the surface. This time I want to capture the real drone magic - flying over black sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls and especially the highlands while crossing rivers. Those remote, rugged landscapes look unreal from above and feel like another planet.
The Maloja Pass, Switzerland- That winding mountain road is the definition of drone perfection. Long curves, dramatic elevation, and snow-dusted peaks - it’s one of those shots you’ve probably seen a hundred times on Instagram but still never get tired of.
Faroe Islands - The cliffs, sea stacks, and tiny villages are like something out of a fantasy movie. I can’t wait to fly over Drangarnir, Tindholmur and the dramatic coastline for some epic aerial

Final Thoughts

Getting into drones has been one of the most fun (and slightly nerve-wracking) hobbies I’ve picked up. The DJI Mini 3 made it super beginner friendly but still powerful enough to get amazing shots.

If you’re thinking about starting, just do it. Go slow, learn the basics, expect a few scares and before you know it, you’ll be chasing sunsets from mountains tops.