Last weekend, we took our first family outing to Heathrow International Airport, and it turned into one of those days you plot in your head forever. With clear skies overhead (a blessing given the recent chill), we got to see an endless parade of aircraft, test a new piece of gear, and enjoy some relaxed family time — all while capturing photos and video footage to remember it by.
We drove in early, eager to stake out a good vantage point. The weather was on our side: sunshine, minimal haze — perfect lighting for aviation photography. My partner (and website designer) found a soft patch of grass to relax on and lay back, while the kids bounced around, squealing excitedly each time a plane roared overhead. They were genuinely thrilled — “There’s one!” became their mantra every 30 seconds or so.
Right off the bat, I was struck by how seamless the movement of airlines was — ground vehicles, taxiing, takeoffs and landings, passengers streaming in — a choreography in steel and wings. It’s a dream for anyone who loves photographing aircraft in their element.
One of the highlights for me was trying out a hot-shoe-mounted phone holder for the first time. The idea was simple: mount my phone on top of my camera so I can simultaneously record video as I shoot stills. The result? A beautiful alignment between my video footage and photography.
Using the mount, I could film landings, and then in post‑production sync up my favourite stills with short clips. The footage enhances the storytelling of the images, letting viewers see the movement and noise, not just the frozen moment. It’s been brilliant.
If any of you are curious, here is an affiliate link to the mount on Amazon so you can see exactly which model I purchased: Phone hot shoe mount
I used it to create this footage.
