NO commercial use mandate at this time apparently.   Any one have any information on how to .. or when?   

I am a landscape photographer who sell prints and digital licensing of photography.     I would like to delve into use of drones for a new perspective but it appears I would be unable to sell any images or video. (?)

That unfortunately makes the drone just and expense toy...

Thoughts?  Comments appreciated.

Chris

Well, you have to walk before you can run - you should delve into the hobby and learn as much as you can. That's often done by flying the machines. You didn't become a talented photographer (I hope) and go commercial the first times you picked up your camera.

As to the laws and guidelines - I think it's fair to say "it depends" in this sense. I have pictures taken from mountaintops which cannot in any way be identified as whether I took them standing there- or from a drone. The same might go for you in some situations - heck, you can set up a 40 foot pole and take pics from that....

What is officially commercial can be a gray area..especially in relatively low volume. Example - you are contracted to shoot a wedding or a special garden and 90% of the photos are at the ground and a few from the air. I really doubt the FAA is going to come knocking on your door. In fact, a few books of drone photography are being sold.

http://www.amazon.com/Drone-Art- ... Kilby/dp/0989929507