To edit drone footage in Premiere Pro, import your DJI clips, right-click one and choose New Sequence From Clip so the sequence matches its resolution and frame rate, cut the best moments to music, color in Lumetri Color (apply DJI's D-Log M LUT if you shot log), slow down high-frame-rate clips with Interpret Footage, and export an H.264 or H.265 MP4. Premiere is part of an Adobe subscription and runs on Mac and Windows.
1. Import and set up the sequence
- Copy the DCIM folder from your drone's card to a fast drive. See transfer photos from a DJI drone.
- In Premiere, import the clips (File > Import, or the Media Browser).
- Right-click a typical clip and choose New Sequence From Clip. This matches resolution and frame rate automatically.
- If 4K H.265 playback stutters, create proxies for the clips and toggle proxies on in the Program monitor.
2. Cut
- Put your music on the timeline first and add markers on the beats.
- Drag clips in and trim with the Ripple Edit tool.
- Keep 3 to 6 seconds of each shot. Delete takeoffs, landings and jerky turns.
- Mute or delete the drone's audio track.
3. Color with Lumetri
Normal color footage: open the Lumetri Color panel and adjust exposure, contrast, white balance and saturation in Basic Correction.
D-Log M footage:
- Download your drone's free D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT from DJI's downloads page for that model.
- In Lumetri's Basic Correction, load it as the Input LUT (Browse). Newer Premiere versions with automatic color management may detect log footage differently; if the image looks too contrasty after adding the LUT, check the clip's color space settings so it isn't converted twice.
- Fine-tune exposure and white balance.
- Add creative looks in the Creative section after the conversion.
Model-specific LUT guides: Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S, Mini 5 Pro.
4. Slow motion
For clips filmed at 100 or 120fps:
- In the Project panel, right-click the clip and choose Modify > Interpret Footage.
- Set Assume this frame rate to your sequence frame rate (for example 25 or 30).
- The clip now plays smoothly in slow motion at full quality.
For speed ramps on normal clips, use Time Remapping on the clip's keyframes. Use Speed/Duration for a simple speed-up of long, steady passes.
5. Stabilization
DJI gimbal footage is usually smooth. If wind added jitter, apply Warp Stabilizer with a low smoothness value. It crops the frame and can warp straight lines like buildings and horizons. For FPV footage, use Gyroflow first.
6. Vertical versions
Auto Reframe Sequence creates a 9:16 version that keeps the subject in frame. Check each shot; drone landscapes often lack a clear subject for it to follow. Filming vertically on a drone with true vertical gives a better result.
7. Export
Go to File > Export > Media:
- Format: H.264 for compatibility, or HEVC (H.265) for smaller 4K files.
- Preset: Match Source (high bitrate) is a safe start.
- Resolution and frame rate: match the sequence.
Premiere vs other editors
Premiere is a good fit if you already use Adobe apps, especially Lightroom for drone photos. If you want free software with deeper color tools, see DaVinci Resolve for drone footage, or compare options in editing drone footage on a Mac or PC.
Start with good footage: the DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S record 10-bit D-Log M for more grading room.
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