Hi All,
I’m a newb and slowly getting used to getting the drone to do what I want, when I want. My grandsons are currently learning to skateboard and their instructor has said he would be happy for me to video them whilst they learn. The problem is keeping them in frame ! I’m finding it hard to get my drone (Mini 4 pro) to look in the direction I want it to look in in the speed that I need it to ! I either go in the wrong direction or am simply too slow and get to watch them go out of shot. Does anyone have any advice on how I can practice? the controller (RC2) movements, drone positions, shooting settings even! (I have a decent set of ND filters), pre setup and even perhaps editing (although I think I’m getting ahead of myself at this point !) I think I need to grasp the basics before I can create the masterpiece ! 
Thanks in advance for all and any help.
Sam.
I don’t know what options the 4 Pro has, but it sounds like a job for ‘Follow me’ option if it’s available on the model…?
Hi MDSteve, thanks for the reply. It does have that facility but the skateboarding is pretty fast. Do you think it would be able to cope? I guess in sports mode it might help but I lose obstacle avoidance 
Hi mate, as mentioned, I’m not familiar with the 4 Pro, it does the tracking it’s self (the drone, that is) when in ‘Follow Me’ mode. I think it’s a case of RTFM - for the exact performance details, or check the DJI Page for the 4 Pro for an outline.
Hope this helps clarify things, we all have to do the same, get some basic ideas, then research if that option/feature will work for what I/we want to do. In the end, try and see how it does, is the best approach in most things.
Let me know how you get on…
Although the mini drones by DJI are great, they are hugely limited in agility and performance.
The best way to start with your filming is to find a line that you can fly and the skaters find enjoyable. It’s all about communication between you and the subject. If you just turn up and try to film you will get naff results. Spend an hour or two getting the line right, the tricks right and the communication protocol in place.
Keep with it and you’ll get the best you can from the mini then move to the avatar or FPV for the great shots.
Hi Sam,
Biggest thing is don’t try and fly the drone like a race drone 
Slow everything down at first. The Mini 4 Pro is more than capable, it’s just building muscle memory with the sticks.
A few things that helped me:
• Put the drone into Cine mode — movements become much smoother and less twitchy.
• Practice using only ONE stick at a time first before combining movements.
• Try tracking people walking before skateboards 
walking pace helps you learn framing.
• Keep the skaters slightly off centre in the direction they’re travelling rather than dead centre.
• Fly wider than you think you need to — easier to crop in later than lose them out of shot.
• Lower your gimbal movement speed in settings so camera tilts are smoother.
• ActiveTrack can help massively once you get used to it. The Mini 4 Pro tracking is very good.
• ND filters are great outdoors — aim for shutter roughly double your frame rate (e.g. 4K 30fps = around 1/60 shutter).
Best practice sessions are honestly just following bikes, dogs, joggers or cars in an empty area and repeating the same movements over and over. Eventually the controller inputs become second nature.
And don’t worry about editing yet mate — getting smooth controlled footage is the hard part. The “masterpiece” comes later 
You’ll improve way quicker than you think
Good advice. Listen to Gilbert
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