Capturing GlasGLOW by Drone: Eight Years of Event Filming with Itison in Glasgow
As the clocks go back and the nights draw in, one of Glasgow's most anticipated events lights up the West End. For the seventh year running, HawkAye is proud to be capturing Itison's GlasGLOW by drone — filming the Botanic Gardens as they're transformed into one of the biggest light shows in the UK.
It's a project we look forward to every autumn. GlasGLOW is the kind of event that drone filming was made for: huge scale, constant movement, and a story told through light, sound and colour. Here's a look behind the scenes at how we capture it — and why the content we produce does more than look good.
Seven Years Capturing GlasGLOW with itison
Working with the same client for seven years says a lot about trust. Itison knows its brand inside out, and over that time we've built a shared understanding of what great GlasGLOW content looks like — the shots that stop the scroll, the moments that capture the atmosphere, and the angles that make people want to be there.
Every year brings a new theme, new installations and a new story. That means we never film the same event twice. Each year starts with fresh creative thinking about how to show the show at its best from the air.
Glasglow 2019 Drone 
Glasglow 2021 Drone 
Glasglow 2020 Drone 
Glasglow 2023 Drone 
Glasglow 2024 Drone
Filming One of the Biggest Light Shows in the UK
GlasGLOW draws tens of thousands of visitors to the Botanic Gardens across its run. From the ground, it's an immersive walk through light and sound. From the air, it's something else entirely — glowing trails winding through the trees, the Kibble Palace lit up against the night sky, and crowds moving through the gardens like a living light installation.
Low-light drone filming at a live event takes careful planning. We work around crowds, structures, trees and shifting light levels, all while flying safely and within CAA rules. As a CAA GVC-certified operator, safety and compliance are built into every flight before the creative work even begins.
Storytelling First: Drone Content Built Around the Brand
Great event drone filming isn't about collecting pretty aerial shots. It's about telling a story.
Before a drone leaves the ground, we think about what itison needs the content to do: build excitement, show off the scale of the production, and give people a taste of the experience before they book.
That means planning shots around the narrative of each year's theme — the reveal of a new installation, the sense of wonder as visitors walk through a zone, the wide establishing shot that shows just how big GlasGLOW is. Every clip has a job, and every job ties back to the Itison brand and its audience.
The Right Drone for Every Shot
No single drone can capture everything an event like GlasGLOW has to offer, so we use a mix of drones, each chosen for the shot we need. Our heavier drones when we have the park to ourselves and then use the more compact drones to get closer to the action.
Combining these gives Itison a varied content library: big, cinematic hero shots alongside fast, energetic clips built for social media.
Same-Night Turnaround: Drone Content That Drives Ticket Sales
Here's where event drone content really earns its keep. We capture a huge volume of footage for Itison, and it's turned around the same night. That means fresh, high-impact clips are ready to share on social media while the buzz is still building.
For an event like GlasGLOW, timing matters. Content that goes out the same night shows people exactly what they're missing, creates fear of missing out, and helps drive ticket sales for the rest of the run. It's drone filming that works as a marketing tool, not just a record of the event.
Why Event Organisers in Glasgow Choose HawkAye
Since 2016, HawkAye has been delivering aerial cinematography across Scotland, with broadcast credits including BBC Scotland and Premier Sports. For event organisers, that experience translates into:
Fully certified, safety-first drone operations at live events
Content planned around your brand, story and audience
A mix of drones to capture every kind of shot
Fast turnaround so your content works while it matters most
Planning an Event in Glasgow?
Whether it's a light show, festival, sporting event or brand activation, HawkAye can help you capture it from every angle and turn it into content that sells. Get in touch to talk about drone filming for your next event in Glasgow or across Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can drones film events at night in Glasgow?
Yes. With the right certification, permissions and planning, drones can safely film night-time events. HawkAye is a CAA GVC-certified operator and plans every flight around safety, crowds and the venue.
What types of drones are used for event filming?
We use a mix of cinematic drones for wide aerial shots, FPV drones for immersive fly-through footage, and compact drones for tighter spaces, choosing the right tool for each shot.
How quickly can event drone footage be delivered?
For GlasGLOW, we turn content around the same night so it can go straight onto social media. Turnaround for your event can be tailored to your marketing plans.
Do you offer drone filming for events outside Glasgow?
Yes. While we're based in Glasgow, HawkAye films events across Scotland and the UK.
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