# Drones and commercial photography - USA

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drones-and-commercial-photography-usa/697278>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 2, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drones-and-commercial-photography-usa/697278 "2014-09-02T18:43:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drones-and-commercial-photography-usa/697278/1 "2014-09-02T18:43:55Z")

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I heard of a local photographer who is including aerial pics and/or vid taken from a drone in certain realty tour packages sold.

It is my understanding that you cannot sell drone obtained images or video in the US.

Am I mistaken? Are there certain exceptions? What kind of trouble could this person get into?

**I do not need answer fast, I am not the person in question, I am not seeking legal representation.**

If so inclined, tell us your opinion of for profit droning.

(Most realty togs I know use long poles for raised vantage point pics/vids. Nodal Ninja even sells special rigs for this. 20 - 30 feet is common.)

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drones-and-commercial-photography-usa/697278/2 "2014-09-02T19:33:10Z")

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Commercial drones are banned by the FAA  
[ul]  
[li][https://www.faa.gov/uas/[/li][li]http://www.faa.gov/news/fact\_sheets/news\_story.cfm?newsId=14153[/li][li]http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=76240[/li][/ul]](https://www.faa.gov/uas/%5B/li%5D%5Bli%5Dhttp://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=14153%5B/li%5D%5Bli%5Dhttp://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=76240%5B/li%5D%5B/ul%5D)  
However,  
[ul]  
[li][Bloomberg - Are you a robot?](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-06/drone-pilot-s-fine-dropped-by-judge-finding-against-faa.html%5B/li%5D%5Bli%5Dhttp://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/07/02/ntsb-drones-faa-appeal-pirker/11793203/%5B/li%5D%5B/ul%5D)  
Personally, if I see a drone over my house I would be inclined to bring it down by whatever means available to me. (I wonder if I still have my Wrist Rocket somewhere …?) But that’s just me. 🙂