Education / Drone Knowledge Center
As drones have become an integral part to running a successful events photography business, you need somewhere to turn to keep you safe and fly legal.
 

Below you'll find resources to enhance your understanding of insurance options and waivers for your device, information and guidelines for flying, compensation and pricing, safety and etiquette, business applications, and more.

Want to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack?

Find everything you need to know about and keep up with the ever-evolving FAA Drone Regulations.

PPAedu Videos for Drone Photographers

PPAedu has an extensive library filled with hundreds of educational videos on topics that may interest you. They are here to help you learn how to incorporate drones in your business. Aside from being interesting, these videos are packed with loads of information to help you brush up on, or learn more about photography.

What You Need to Know About Drone Registration and Licensing

There are few technologies today with more conflicting regulations and misinformation than that of the legal operation of small unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly referred to as drones. Let's start with the basics: aircraft registration, operator licensing, and insurance.

FAA Drone Registration Service

Click here to go straight to the FAA’s website and get first-hand information on how to register your drone, rules for flying, and how to become a drone pilot.

Drones: Hardware Components & the DJI Go App with Randy Braun & Stacy Garlington

In this video, Randy and Stacy give a brief overview of the DJI drone hardware components as well as their DJI Go App. Take a quick tour of the DJI Go App and learn the internal functions of what goes into drone flight.

  • Get a quick glance into the DJI Go App
  • Learn the basic components of the DJI drone

Buying Your Drone: What You Need to Know with Randy Braun & Stacy Garlington

Buying a drone? Watch the video and learn which features you should be looking for when buying your first drone from Randy Braun, director product experience with DJI, and Stacy Garlington, product specialist with DJI.

  • Important key features to look for: price, camera and lens quality, etc.
  • How to choose a drone that fits your needs

Find Your Flier: Best Drone for Photographers
You want a drone that has reliable photographic quality without a complex learning curve. This list includes what I believe are the safest, highest-quality drones that are ready to fly with a miniumum of training.

High and Mighty: DJI Phantom 4 Review
In March DJI introduced its Phantom 4 drone. In many ways, it's a modest upgrade to the Phantom 3; however, major improvements can be seen in some key areas.

Flying Your Drone with Randy Braun & Stacy Garlington

Curious about what goes into flying a drone? Watch this episode as Stacy shows you a basic overview of flying a drone from the pre-flight checklist to take-off and landing. Get a quick glance at what a drone can do.

  • Basic steps of take-off and landing
  • Overview of pre-flight procedures
  • Learn basic drone flight terminology

FAA to release Drone Facility Maps
The FAA will begin to release their first set of UAS facility maps. These maps, which will be released over the next twelve months, show drone operators which areas, and what altitudes a drone can be safely operated.

New Military Drone Airspace Restrictions Go Into Effect Today!
The FAA recently introduced new restrictions over approximately 133 military facilities that go into effect today, April 14th, 2017. These new restrictions limit drones from flying over the designated facilities to help ensure the military is able to protect sensitive information for national security purposes.

Drone Safety, Tips on Flying, & How to Get the Best Drone Photography on PPAedu!
While many people enjoy flying drones for personal use, when it comes to flying for commercial photography purposes, you've got to really dot your i's and cross your t's to make sure you start off (and stay) on the right foot.

Avoid "Close Calls" When Flying Your Drone
Section 107 Drones regulations have been out less than a year, and drone usage has skyrocketed. Currently, according to the FAA, there are approximately 7,200 registered drones. With such a large increase in drone usage, the number of close calls between drones and airplanes has also dramatically increased.

PPA is proud to offer both equipment and general liability insurance for drones to members who use drones as a part of their photography business. Both insurance plans are great on their own, but work even better together to protect you as a photographer. PhotoCare Plus covers loss and any damage to equipment, including drones. Adding the drone specific general liability plan on top of PhotoCare Plus extends your coverage to include bodily injury and property damage to others. Combining both plans ensures that you have all your bases covered just in case something goes wrong. Below you will find the details of the individual plans and how you can go about signing up.

PhotoCare Plus

  • Provides up to $100,000 in coverage
  • Coverage includes theft of equipment in unlocked vehicles, mysterious disappearances and non-PPA members who are employees, up to $1,000 each
  • All PPA members in good standing are eligible
  • $250 deductive for all losses
  • Full replacement cost on scheduled items
  • Drones/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) coverage available

Get Quote Now

Drones General Liability Coverage

  • Choose between limits of $25,000 and $50,000
  • Annual premiums of $100 or $150
  • Must be compliant with Part 107 of Federal Aviation Regulations, and local and state laws
  • Coverage must be purchased with PPA's General Liability coverage
  • Operation of drone must be in connection with paid assignment for your business.
  • Defense coverage is included inside the limit of liability
  • Coverage extends to Bodily injury and Property Damage of others.

Ready to purchase coverage?
Call our team at 888-202-1526 to secure your coverage today.

Accidents Happen: Insure Your Drone
Thanks to new regulations enacted this fall, it's now easier than ever to add drone photography to your business. But beyond passing the FAA's aeronautical knowledge test and being vetted by the TSA, you'll also need something else: insurance.

NOW AVAILABLE: Drone Liability Insurance
PPA is pleased to introduce a new General Liability Endorsement exclusively made for UAS/Drone operators!

How to Do Drone Photography
Aerial photographer Parker Gyokeres first started experimenting with drone photography as a public affairs photojournalist in the U.S. Air Force. On assignment to document various operations, Gyokeres often wanted to get more elevated perspectives, but he couldn't get high enough with a ladder or on a building.

What You Need to Know About Drone Registration and Licensing
There are few technologies today with more conflicting regulations and misinformation than that of the legal operation of small unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly referred to as drones. Let's start with the basics: aircraft registration, operator licensing, and insurance.

9 Drone Composition Tips
Drone imaging has given us a new way to obtain unique camera angles. Let's take a look at some of the details you'll need to consider when planning these compositions.

Drone Safety, Rules & Etiquette with Randy Braun & Stacy Garlington

So you want to fly a drone? First learn the safety, rules and proper flying etiquette before you take flight. Randy and Stacy will discuss the basic safety procedures that go into flying a drone. This episode will also briefly explain the FAA flight rules and regulations.

  • Creating a checklist prior to taking flight
  • Understanding proper flight etiquette
  • Quick overview of FAA rules
  • Understanding the difference between commercial use versus hobby/recreational use

10 Best Drone Practices
There it is: Your spanking new Remote Pilot certificate from the FAA. You can now fly a drone and get paid for it! The potential is huge because low-altitude aerial photography can immediately differentiate your business.

7 Drone Commandments
Tips for novice pilots.

Drone Crash Leads to 30 Days in Jail
Mistakes in drone safety could result in destroyed equipment, injuries, fines, and possibly even jail time.

Drone Safety, Tips on Flying, & How to Get the Best Drone Photography on PPAedu!
While many people enjoy flying drones for personal use, when it comes to flying for commercial photography purposes, you've got to really dot your i's and cross your t's to make sure you start off (and stay) on the right foot.

Washington D.C. is always a NO-DRONE ZONE
No matter what time of the year it is, you cannot fly a drone in the D.C. airspace.

7 Drone Commandments
Tips for novice pilots

9 Drone Composition Tips
Drone imaging has given us a new way to obtain unique camera angles. Let's take a look at some of the details you'll need to consider when planning these compositions.

Have Drone Questions? Get Solid Answers from a PPA Pro!
In the past four months, all everybody seems to be talking about are Drones. Between trying to figure out the new FAA regulations, deciding what type of drone to get, studying for the FAA certification test, and making sure you are properly insured; it can make anybody's head spin.

Drone Contract Rider
This sample drone contract rider can be inserted into your event photography agreement.

Download sample

 

 

How to Apply for Section 107 Waivers
Many members have asked PPA about Section 107 Drone Waivers and how they can apply for them. Well, have no fear; PPA is here to give you tips to ensure your waiver will be granted.

Practice Part 107 Knowledge Test
Breaks the test down step by step and also puts extra emphasis on areas that many members found difficult.

What YOU Need to Know About Drone Waivers! Part One...
It's been a year since the introduction of the Section 107 drone regulations and many photographers are still extremely excited! As more and more photographers look to incorporate drones into their businesses, the FAA is attempting to stay on top of the influx of waivers that are coming in.

What YOU Need to Know About Drone Waivers! Part Two...
As a part of our drone waiver series, we will continue to talk about the 9 waivers drone photographers can apply for under the section 107 regulations.

What YOU Need to Know About Drone Waivers! Part 3
As a continuation of our Drone-Waiver series, today we're going over how to obtain a section 107.31: Visual Line-of-Sight wavier.

What YOU Need to Know About Drone Waivers, Part 4
This week PPA's drone-waiver series addresses Section 107.33, also known as "Visual Observer".