- AIRWOLF
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Three seasons ago, we received an exciting opportunity to drone Farmer Wants a Wife, the hit reality TV show on FOX and Hulu. Since then, we've traveled across multiple states, capturing aerial footage that brings the beauty of each location to life and helps tell the story of romance on the farm. From golden-hour beauty shots to sweeping transitions, our drone work has played a key role in setting the scene for love to blossom. Capturing Love from Above: 3 Seasons of Droning Farmer Wants a Wife has been an incredible journey, allowing us to showcase the rural charm and heartfelt connections that define the show. After three seasons of droning Farmer Wants a Wife, we've come to appreciate the magic of seeing these love stories unfold from above, proving that when it comes to aerial cinematography, there's nothing quite like capturing love from above.
Season 1: Where It All Began – Oklahoma
The journey with Farmer Wants a Wife started in Oklahoma, where vast farmland, rolling plains, and golden sunsets provided the perfect cinematic backdrop for the show. At the time, we had no idea this would turn into a recurring gig, but by the end of the season, we knew we had found a great place in reality TV world as drone operators. Our job was simple, capture the most beautiful shots possible, giving editors seamless transitions and stunning visuals to weave into the storytelling.
Season 2: Expanding Horizons Across Four States
With the success of the first season, we were brought back for Season 2, which had us traveling to Iowa, Colorado, Georgia, and Florida. Each state presented its own unique landscape challenges. Iowa had endless fields and open skies, Colorado brought dramatic mountainous backdrops, Georgia offered lush green farmland, and Florida introduced wetlands and coastal scenery. These shifts in terrain and weather conditions kept us on our toes, constantly adjusting flight techniques to capture the best possible footage.
Our Drone Operators!
Season 3: Capturing Love in Texas and Missouri
For Season 3, our travels took us to Texas and Missouri. Each state offered its own unique visuals Texas, with its sprawling ranches and vast open spaces, and Missouri, with its rolling hills and picturesque countryside. By this point, we had established a strong workflow with the production team, making every flight more efficient and every shot more intentional.
Coordinating with Multiple Crews
One of the biggest challenges (and most rewarding parts) of working on Farmer Wants a Wife is coordinating with multiple production teams. This isn’t a small operation, there are multiple camera crews, audio teams, producers, and directors, all working together to capture different aspects of the show at the same time. With so many moving parts, communication is key.
While traditional cameras follow the farmers and contestants up close, our drone work provides establishing shots, intro and outros with our host and dynamic scene transitions. Sometimes, we're capturing landscapes to help set the scene; other times, we're flying alongside the host or filming dramatic overhead shots during key moments. Our role is to stay flexible, knowing that schedules can shift, and scenes can change at a moment’s notice.
Working with the Hosts
Throughout the seasons, we've had the pleasure of working closely with the show’s hosts. In Seasons 1 and 2, Jennifer Nettles, a talented country singer and actress, brought warmth and authenticity to the show. Her understanding of rural life added depth to her interactions, and capturing aerial shots of her engaging with the farmers and contestants was a highlight of our work.
In Season 3, Kimberly Williams-Paisley took over as host, bringing her own unique charm and energy. Known for her acting career and genuine personality, Kimberly’s enthusiasm was infectious. Coordinating drone shots around her segments required precision and collaboration, ensuring that her presence was seamlessly integrated into the show’s visual narrative.
How Our Drone Work Enhances the Show
In reality television, aerial shots serve as more than just beautiful scenery, they provide essential in-and-out points for the editors. The wide establishing shots we capture help transition between scenes and tie different storylines together. Our footage isn’t just filler; it’s an essential part of the show’s visual storytelling.
Some of our shots that made it to air for Season 2
The Equipment: Why We Fly the Mavic 3 Cine
To get the best shots possible, we rely heavily on my Mavic 3 Cine, a powerhouse drone that shoots in Apple ProRes at 5.1K resolution. The image quality is broadcast-ready, allowing editors to cut between our aerial shots and ground-based footage without a drop in clarity. Its compact size makes it easy to travel with, which is crucial when bouncing between different states over a 10-week shoot.
The Realities of Traveling for TV Work
Spending weeks on the road is one of the biggest challenges of working in reality TV. Each shoot can last up to 10 weeks, and during that time, we're constantly moving between locations, dealing with unpredictable weather, adapting to different time zones, and making sure our gear stays in top condition, even dealing with the airlines. But the tradeoff? We get to see parts of the country. that we'd never would have visited otherwise. Every new state offers a fresh perspective and another opportunity to capture something incredible.
Building Strong Client Relationships
One of the best parts of returning for multiple seasons is building strong working relationships with the production team. Over time, the producers and editors have come to trust our work, knowing we can deliver the footage they need without having to micromanage. The familiarity makes everything run smoother, when you work with the same team for years, you develop a shorthand that makes collaboration effortless.
Looking Ahead with Capturing Love from Above: 3 Seasons of Droning Farmer Wants a Wife
Each season of Farmer Wants a Wife has been an adventure, and we're grateful for the opportunity to keep doing what we love, flying drones and capturing the beauty of America’s heartland. From golden-hour beauty shots to sweeping transitions between scenes, our work plays a small but important role in making the show come to life. After three seasons of droning Farmer Wants a Wife, we've seen love stories unfold from a breathtaking perspective, showcasing the romance and rural charm of the series in a way only aerial cinematography can.
As we prepare for more projects, we're excited to see where our drone work takes us next. One thing is certain, there’s nothing quite like capturing love from above.
SEASON 3 TRAILER - PREMIERS MARCH 20TH ON FOX NEXT DAY HULU
SEASON 1 TRAILER
SEASON 2 TRAILER
Want to see the gear we use on set? Check out our curated selection of drones, accessories, and filmmaking essentials on our Amazon Store
