In the article there is a review of developing aerial photography in Russia from analogue systems to digital ones. Essential decrease of aerial photography for the state mapping in the recent decades is noted. The analysis of a modern condition of topographic aerial photography with regard to aerial vehicles, aerial photographic systems, the onboard equipment for aerial photo survey and navigating is given. Their basic characteristics are resulted. The wide spectrum of the aerial photography product received in various ranges of electromagnetic emission, intended for the solving problems of topographic mapping is characterized. Directions of aerial photography development in the conditions of increasing the resolution of the images received by space remote sensing systems, and wide introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles are shown. The necessity of perfecting normative and technical support of works on aerial photographic survey and topographical aerial photography with regard to aerial vehicles, photographic systems, the onboard aerial photo survey and navigating equipment works is highlighted.