Don’t Hire A Videographer Who Flies A Drone Without A License
March 13, 2025
Ever since I started offering wedding videography in 2022, I have wanted to offer drone videography. I have watched many wedding films and drone how-to videos on YouTube. I am fascinated by the beauty, technology, and editing. As of November 2024, I had not attempted aerial photography or videography. For Christmas, my wife bought me my very first commercial-grade drone. While I have been learning to fly it, I have also been studying to take my “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)” exam to comply with Part 107. I am proud to say that as of 3/28/25, I am not an FAA-certified drone pilot!!
Responsibility Of Commercial Drone Operation
It is my opinion that to fly, you have to know what you’re doing. I know that sounds silly, but it is very important to know the rules and regulations for drones. Not only could you possibly hurt somebody or damage a venue or someone’s property, but you can actually get in trouble with the FAA. Flying a drone for commercial use is not as simple as just buying a drone.
Here are my tips for making sure you’re hiring a videographer who is fully licensed by the FAA to fly at your venue. Make sure that you verify that your aerial operator videographer has his or her drone certification from the FAA. He or she is required to carry this during operation. This is a certification that every commercial videographer must have. This means the drone operator has taken a written exam at a designated FAA testing facility. Flying a drone is not something where you just say, oh, I’m gonna fly a drone, and that’s it.
I believe that many commercial drone photographers and videographers believe they can purchase a drone and fly it with little to no instruction or training. This is not the case and is illegal. If I were to go by a drone and fly it for myself just for fun, I could do that as long as I’m not within a restricted airspace, such as class C airspace. However, if I want to make any money or am doing it for charity, I must be FAA-certified. I am!
Protect Yourself From Unlicensed Pilot Videographers
Hire a certified, licensed drone pilot to protect yourself, your guests, the venues you’ve booked, and other visitors. Choose a videographer who can show proof of their FAA certification to confirm they’re qualified. I’ve seen too many people fly drones without understanding the certification process. They ignore the rules and haven’t taken the required written test at an official testing center. That’s not only unfair to licensed drone pilots—it’s also unfair to you. It could negatively affect your wedding day, cause harm or damage, and even get the videographer into legal trouble. Make sure your videographer holds the proper certification.
I always tell my couples that I’m licensed to do business in the state of Ohio, and I’m happy to share that license with anyone. You can even find it on the Secretary of State website. I also let them know that I carry full insurance, and some venues require me to show proof of coverage before I can film. If you want aerial shots at your wedding, your videographer must be certified. Venues may even ask for proof before allowing them to shoot. So protect yourself, your guests, and the venue—and have an amazing wedding day.
