Louisa Royer, an 8-year-old third-grader from Evansville Day School, Indiana, has set a Guinness World Record as the world’s youngest drone videographer. Louisa’s impressive drone footage, captured during her travels to Europe, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, earned her recognition and accolades, including the 2023 Best New Drone Pilot Award at the AZDroneFest International Film Festival.

Inspired by her love for science, Louisa requested a drone as a gift, which sparked her passion for exploring the world from a unique perspective. Encouraged by her teacher, she submitted her footage to various film festivals, gaining international acclaim.

“I asked for a drone as a gift because I love science, and it seemed like a fun way to explore the world from a different viewpoint,” Louisa told Guinness World Records.

Flying a drone internationally presented challenges, but Louisa successfully navigated them. “Understanding how to safely fly the drone in different countries and locations was tough,” she explained. “You have to be very aware of your surroundings to avoid airports and obstacles like power lines or trees.”

Louisa’s journey to becoming a Guinness World Record holder was inspired by a 13-year-old boy she saw on YouTube, who used drones for mapping. Motivated by his story, she pursued and achieved the title of the world’s youngest drone videographer (female) at the age of 8 years and 258 days.

“It’s amazing,” Louisa said of receiving her Guinness World Record certificate. “It is really exciting and all of my friends and family are very proud of me, which is a great feeling.”