2026 · Anthony Soumiatin
Do you need a license to take drone photos of a listing?
Yes. In the United States, drone photos used to market a listing are a commercial drone operation, and the pilot needs an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate (14 CFR Part 107). That applies even when an agent flies their own drone: recreational rules do not cover listing marketing.
What is FAA Part 107?
Part 107 is the federal rule for commercial small-drone flights. A certificated remote pilot has passed an FAA aeronautical knowledge exam and keeps that certificate current, flies within the operating rules (altitude limits, visual line of sight), and gets airspace authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
Can an agent fly their own drone for a listing?
Only with their own Part 107 certificate. The FAA treats listing photos as commercial use because they support a business transaction, so the hobby exemption does not apply, no matter whose drone it is or whether money changed hands for the photos.
What should you ask before hiring a drone photographer?
Four questions cover it: whether the pilot holds a Part 107 certificate, how airspace authorization is handled, what happens when the weather is not flyable, and whether drone coverage is included in the package price. A good answer to each takes seconds; hesitation is the tell.
- Are you Part 107 certificated? A licensed pilot answers instantly and can show the certificate; hesitation or a workaround story is your red flag.
- Do you check airspace authorization before each flight? Around Branson that check is routine but real.
- What happens when the weather is not flyable? You want a reschedule policy, not a shrug and a grey-sky gallery.
- Is drone coverage included in the package price? If aerials cost a large add-on fee, price the whole package against one where they are included.
"Every flight here starts with an airspace check, not a takeoff. The certificate is the floor; the habit of checking every flight is what keeps a shoot safe and legal," says Anthony Soumiatin, owner of Alexana Photography.
What does this mean for your listing?
On lake properties the aerial is often the photo that earns the tap, so it is worth getting from a pilot who can legally take it. We are FAA Part 107 licensed, confirm airspace authorization before every flight, and include drone photos in every package from $195; stand-alone aerials are $145.
How do I verify a pilot is Part 107 certificated?
Ask to see the certificate. Certificated pilots carry it and expect the question; a workaround story instead of a card is the red flag.
Do drone photos cost extra?
Not here. Drone coverage is included in every photo package from $195, and stand-alone drone photos are $145 if aerials are all you need.
What if the property sits near controlled airspace?
That is exactly what the authorization step is for. We confirm the airspace status before every flight and schedule around any restriction.
What about weather over the lakes?
Lake weather moves fast. If conditions are not safe or clear enough to fly, we work with you to reschedule rather than deliver aerials shot in the wrong light.
More on what we fly and deliver is on the drone photography page, including the full aerial portfolio from around Table Rock Lake.