DJI Air 2S Mastershots Tutorial: How to Get Cinematic Clips Fast

What MasterShots Does (and Why It Feels Like “Instant Film Crew”)

MasterShots is an automated filming mode in DJI Fly that combines two things in one run:

Automated flight maneuvers around a selected subject or scene
Automatic post-editing into a short, cinematic sequence using built-in templates

Instead of choosing one QuickShot at a time, MasterShots strings multiple moves together, then creates a finished highlight video with minimal effort. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Before You Start: Set Up for a Clean, Safe Run

1) Pick the right location

MasterShots is happiest in open areas. Even though the Air 2S has obstacle sensing, you still want generous space because the aircraft will fly a planned trajectory that may include climbing, backing away, and circling.

Choose a location with:

Clear airspace around the subject in every direction
Minimal thin obstacles (wires, bare branches, antennas)
Stable GPS and minimal signal interference
Predictable lighting (consistent sun or consistent cloud cover)

2) Battery and storage reality check

MasterShots is short as a final video, but it records multiple clips back-to-back. Make sure:

Battery is comfortably above the “I can land anytime” zone
microSD card has plenty of free space
Card speed is reliable for your chosen resolution and frame rate

3) Camera settings first, automation second

MasterShots will fly and record using your camera settings. Decide these before starting:

Resolution: 4K is a practical sweet spot; 5.4K is best if you plan to crop in editing later
Frame rate: 24/25/30 fps for cinematic motion; 50/60 fps if you expect faster movement or want light slow-motion options later
Color: Normal for quick sharing; D-Log for grading (if you’re comfortable color-correcting)
White balance: set a fixed value to prevent color shifts mid-run
Exposure: in bright daylight, consider an ND filter so motion doesn’t look overly sharp and “stuttery”

How to Launch MasterShots on Android (DJI Fly)

Step-by-step

Power on the aircraft and remote controller
Connect your Android phone to the controller and open DJI Fly
Enter Camera View
Tap the shooting mode icon near the shutter button
Select MasterShots (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)
Choose your target:
- For a person, you can tap a plus icon or draw a box around the subject to enter Portrait mode (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)
- For landscapes or landmarks, select the target/scene and proceed; the app will calculate the route automatically
Review the estimated flight path shown on the map
Adjust the shooting area (more on this below)
Tap Start and keep hands off the sticks unless you need to stop

When the sequence finishes, the aircraft typically returns to its initial position for that run (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”).

The Three MasterShots Routes: Portrait, Proximity, and Landscape

MasterShots chooses routes based on the target type and distance. You’ll see these route types described as:

Portrait
Proximity
Landscape

(Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Think of them like three “directors” with different tastes.

Portrait: when the target is a person

Portrait mode is designed around a human subject, keeping them as the hero of the sequence. It uses moves that create a dynamic “me in the scene” feel: pull-backs, circles, and lift shots that reveal the environment.

Key detail:

In Portrait mode, you can set the Start Point to Current Location so the drone treats its current position as the initial position (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Proximity: when the drone is closer to the subject/scene

Proximity favors tighter moves and stronger parallax. It’s great for smaller landmarks, sculptures, or a compact location where you want energy and closeness, but it demands more caution because tight paths and low-altitude moves amplify risk.

Landscape: when the scene is wide and open

Landscape creates a grand, spacious feel: wider circles, more breathing room, and moves that showcase scale. It’s ideal for mountains, coastlines, large parks, skylines, and big architecture with clear space.

The Moves MasterShots Uses (So You Know What the Drone Will Do)

MasterShots runs a sequence of maneuvers automatically. The exact set depends on route type.

Below are the maneuvers DJI lists for each route. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Portrait mode sequence

Zoom In/Out
Circle (Medium)
Circle (Close)
Dronie
Circle (Far)
Tilt up + Fly Forward
Rocket
Camera Down + Circle
Camera Straight + Descend
Camera Down + Descend

What it looks like in practice:
Portrait mode is designed to keep the human subject readable while switching between intimate and epic framing. Expect the drone to rotate around you, retreat, rise, and descend while shifting gimbal angle.

Proximity sequence

Dronie
Circle (Far)
Tilt up + Fly Forward
Circle (Close)
Circle (Medium)
Rocket
Camera Down + Fly Forward
Camera Down + Circle
Camera Straight + Descend
Camera Down + Descend

What it looks like in practice:
Proximity feels “closer and punchier.” There’s often more noticeable parallax and movement against the background. It can look very cinematic when the subject has depth behind it (stairs, cliffs, layered city streets).

Landscape sequence

Dronie
Circle (Far)
Tilt up + Fly Forward
Roll + Fly Forward
Circle (Close)
Zoom In/Out
Circle (Medium)
Rocket
Camera Straight + Descend
Camera Straight + Circle

What it looks like in practice:
Landscape is built for sweeping locations. The roll and longer arcs help the viewer feel the scale of the environment.

Adjusting the Shooting Area: Width, Length, and Height

One of the most important MasterShots controls is the shooting area size. DJI Fly lets you adjust the width, length, and height of the planned area based on the environment. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

How to think about those sliders

Width: how wide the drone can orbit or move side-to-side around the target
Length: how far it can travel forward/backward (pull-backs, push-ins)
Height: how much vertical range it will use (rockets, descents)

Rule of thumb for clean results

Bigger area = smoother motion, safer margins, less chance of sudden braking
Smaller area = stronger intensity, but higher risk and more “twitchy” framing if obstacles are near

If you’re unsure, go bigger. A wide, graceful MasterShots sequence almost always looks more “premium” than a tight, nervous one.

How to Stop MasterShots Safely

MasterShots is automated, but you remain responsible for safety.

Manual exit options

DJI states you can exit by:

Tapping the X on the right side of DJI Fly, or
Pressing the Flight Pause button on the remote controller

When you exit, the aircraft will leave MasterShots and hover. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

What can automatically stop the recording

DJI notes recording can stop if:

You push the control stick manually
The aircraft passes through a restricted zone or altitude zone
Obstacle avoidance is triggered

(Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Practical meaning:
If the drone suddenly brakes because it senses something, the cinematic flow breaks. That’s a signal your scene is too tight, too cluttered, or the planned area is too aggressive.

Choosing the Right Route for the Scene (Fast Decision Guide)

Use Portrait when

You want a “hero subject” video featuring a person
The background has depth and looks good from multiple angles
You have room for circles and pull-backs

Best environments:

Open viewpoints, beaches, fields, wide plazas
Scenic overlooks with visible background layers

Use Proximity when

The subject is smaller or you want dramatic parallax
You want energy and closeness
The area is open enough to safely allow tighter moves

Best environments:

Small landmarks, statues, compact rooftops (with clear space)
Cliffside points with safe distance from walls and trees

Use Landscape when

The environment itself is the subject
You want broad cinematic movement
You have wide open airspace and a distant horizon

Best environments:

Mountains, coastlines, desert, large parks, open skyline views

Camera Settings That Make MasterShots Look “Cinematic,” Not “Auto”

MasterShots can create gorgeous motion, but the image can still look harsh if the camera is set up poorly.

Motion and frame rate

24/25/30 fps looks more cinematic if exposure is controlled
50/60 fps looks smoother for fast motion and can be slowed slightly in editing

If the shot looks jittery, it’s often not the gimbal. It’s motion cadence: fast movement with a very high shutter speed can look choppy. In bright light, an ND filter helps the drone maintain more natural motion blur.

White balance

Auto white balance can drift during a multi-move sequence. Locking white balance keeps the sequence consistent, especially at sunset or in mixed lighting.

Sharpness and noise handling

If your footage looks overly crispy (halo edges) or overly smeared (plastic texture), check the in-app style settings and keep them moderate. MasterShots already adds motion drama; you don’t need extreme sharpening.

Getting Better Results: Practical Techniques That Work

1) Choose a subject with a clear silhouette

MasterShots planning and framing looks best when:

The subject is easy to “read” from multiple angles
The background isn’t chaotic

A lone tree, lighthouse, monument, car on an empty road, or a person in an open area often looks better than a busy crowd scene.

2) Avoid reflective “confusers”

Glass buildings, shiny roofs, water surfaces, and complex textures can sometimes make automated motion feel less stable visually. You can still shoot them, but give the drone extra space and aim for a wider planned area.

3) Make the subject “center-worthy”

If you want the result to feel intentional:

Place the subject near the compositional center before starting
Ensure the drone has enough room to orbit evenly

4) Keep the scene consistent for the whole run

Because MasterShots stitches multiple moves together, anything that changes dramatically mid-run can look messy:

Lighting shifts
People walking into the hero frame
Vehicles passing too close beneath the drone
Wind gusts causing constant corrections

Editing and Templates: Turning the Run Into a Finished Video

A major promise of MasterShots is automatic post-editing with templates. DJI describes it as: shoot first, then the aircraft/app automatically edits footage and offers templates for a one-tap finished video. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Typical workflow inside DJI Fly (Android)

After the sequence completes, go to Album
Find the newly created MasterShots result
Open it and review the auto-edited version
Select a different template if you want a different pace or vibe
Adjust music or trim choices if the editor provides those options in your version
Export

Notes for quality:

The best-looking final export comes from original footage saved on the aircraft storage
If you’re editing from cached previews, the result may be lower quality than expected

Where MasterShots Files Are Stored (So You Don’t Lose Them)

MasterShots generates a finished video and also records underlying clips.

A reliable mental model:

Original clips: typically on the aircraft microSD (or internal storage if no card)
App previews: can exist as cached files on the Android device for quick playback
Exported edits: saved to your phone storage after you export from DJI Fly

If you don’t see the finished video immediately, give the app a moment. It may need time to complete the automatic edit before the result appears fully in the Album.

Troubleshooting Common MasterShots Problems

Problem: “Recording stops unexpectedly”

DJI notes it can stop if you move the sticks, enter restricted/altitude zones, or obstacle avoidance triggers. (Source: DJI Support – “Introduction to MasterShots”)

Fixes:

Hands off the sticks once it starts
Increase your planned area size
Move to a location with fewer obstacles and cleaner airspace
Avoid tight spaces where sensors will constantly trigger

Problem: The drone brakes mid-sequence and the clip feels broken

Likely cause: obstacle sensing detected something.
Fixes:

Increase distance from trees, poles, walls, and roof edges
Fly higher (with safe/legal compliance) for more clearance
Use Landscape route style by positioning farther from obstacles

Problem: The subject looks too small in the final video

Fixes:

Start closer (safely) before beginning, then allow a larger area for movement
Use Proximity route behavior by selecting a closer subject distance
Avoid excessively large width/length if your subject is already small

Problem: The subject goes off-center or feels inconsistent

Fixes:

Choose a clearer subject
Start with the subject framed cleanly and stable
Avoid scenes where the subject is partially blocked by branches or structures

Problem: The final video looks “low quality”

Fixes:

Confirm you exported the original-quality result, not a preview
Check resolution settings before shooting
Transfer originals to a PC for grading/export if you want maximum quality control

Pro-Level Tricks: Make MasterShots Look Less “Template,” More “Film”

1) Use MasterShots as a shot generator, not a final edit

Many experienced pilots treat MasterShots like a tool to gather multiple cinematic moves fast, then:

Pull the best 2–4 maneuvers
Edit them manually into a custom sequence on PC

This avoids “same-template syndrome” and gives you full control over rhythm.

2) Time your MasterShots with natural movement

MasterShots shines when the scene itself is alive:

Rolling clouds
Waves hitting shore
Traffic streams
People moving slowly through a plaza
Shadows stretching during golden hour

Even if the flight path is automated, the world makes the shot feel unique.

3) Choose one dominant mood

Before starting, decide the vibe:

Epic: Landscape route, higher altitude, wide arcs
Intimate: Proximity route, lower altitude, tight parallax
Personal: Portrait route, subject-centered, clean background

If you mix moods in a cluttered scene, the output can feel confused.

Quick MasterShots Checklist (High Success Rate)

Open area with clearance in all directions
Subject clearly visible with a clean silhouette
Camera settings set in advance (resolution, fps, color, white balance)
Planned area set wider than you think you need
Hands off sticks during automation
Ready to pause/exit instantly if anything looks unsafe
Review and export the finished video from DJI Fly, and keep originals on the aircraft storage for best quality backups

MasterShots is at its best when you give it space, stable light, and a strong subject. Do that, and the Air 2S can produce a complete cinematic sequence in minutes with surprisingly “intentional” results.