Marlene Barriere Holds the First Women Who Drone Workshop in France
Photographer Credit: Jimmy Tissot
As many of our readers may already know, Women Who Drone was founded with the mission of creating an online platform and community that inspires, educates, and empowers women and girls with drone technology. In line with that goal, WWD Brand Ambassador Marlene Barriere set out to educate and empower women in her community, earning her the distinction of being the organizer of France’s first-ever Women Who Drone workshop.
On behalf of her company, Elle Drone Académie, Marlene held two workshops in the Auvergne Region at the bottom of the Puy de Dôme (a volcano). The first was on Sunday, June 28th, and the other took place on Saturday, July 4th. The workshops came about following an Instagram Q&A where Marlene noticed that it was mostly women asking her questions. By conducting them, Marlene set out to introduce complete beginners to drone technology. “I wanted to share my passion and help them to get started. I've learned by myself, and I really enjoy helping other women get familiar with it and grow confidence in this industry.”
Next, there was a practical segment where the participants learned how to perform 3 exercises. During this segment, Marlene worked with the participants one at a time.to ensure that her learners had a grasp on all the basic points. Meanwhile, she was also listening to the other attendees’ questions.
After passing all the practical tests, participants had the opportunity to take a few photos and videos (using the intelligent flight modes or manual shots) which they could keep as souvenirs. To finish, they had a debrief where the participants could ask more questions and “compare their feelings now to their initial fears 3 hours ago.”
When asked to share her personal feelings about conducting the workshop, Marlene had this to say: “I wasn't sure what to expect before the 1st workshop. It was amazing to meet all these women eager to learn something new, stepping outside their comfort zone, trying something out of their reach sometimes."
Photographer Credit: Jimmy Tissot
She went on to say, “Most of the time the biggest fear was crashing the drone or not being able to use the controller. They were, at first, quite stressed. But at the end of the day, they were completely relaxed, succeeding at their first drone attempt or manual shot. It was exhilarating to see them bloom like flowers under the sun. Sometimes you just need a little push, and I am so glad to be able to be that push. If I can inspire more women to join the female drone community, I will be blessed.”
If you’re interested in learning about drones from a fellow member of the community, the next workshop will be on July 19th. Marlene has 2 introductions and 1 beginner workshop a month. You can find the agenda on her website: www.elledrone.fr/academie/. You can register by phone, by email (contact@elledrone.fr), on Instagram, or on the website. To register, you just have to fill in a form and choose the workshop you want to participate in. There are 3 workshop levels starting from 59€. More workshops will be held across the country by the end of the year and online training sessions are coming soon with a tentative Summer launch.
Photographer Credit: Jimmy Tissot
Take a chance, learn something new, and be a part of a community of women who drone!
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
