Question 1

Who should I hire for drone photography or video?

Accepted Answer

Hire a pilot who holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, carries drone liability insurance and can send you a certificate of insurance, shows recent work similar to your property, publishes clear prices and turnaround, and checks airspace and local permits before the shoot, not on the day.

Question 2

What is Part 107?

Accepted Answer

Part 107 is the FAA's rulebook for commercial drone flights. Pilots pass an FAA knowledge test, clear a TSA security check, and complete free recurrent training every 24 months. It sets the rules for altitude (generally 400 ft), visual line of sight, night flights, flights over people and controlled airspace.

Question 3

Is it legal to fly a drone over my home, hotel or listing?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes, when a certified pilot flies a registered drone, gets FAA authorization where the airspace requires it, and follows local rules. Some places are off limits, such as national parks and some state parks and city facilities. We check every address before confirming your booking.

Question 4

Can you fly in Laguna Beach?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with a City of Laguna Beach permit, which commercial drone work requires and we apply for. City rules limit flights over Heisler Park, Main Beach Park, Treasure Island Park, Crescent Bay Park, Irvine Bowl and city beaches to FAA-certified pilots, and nobody may fly over City Hall or fire, police or marine safety facilities. Over-ocean shots launch from the wet sand at the tide line or from private property.

Question 5

Can you film in state parks like Crystal Cove?

Accepted Answer

Crystal Cove State Park does not allow drones at all, and Mt. San Jacinto State Park near Idyllwild prohibits them too. Other California state parks allow drones unless a posted order bans them, but commercial filming needs a park permit plus a California Film Commission permit. We will tell you up front whether a location is possible.

Question 6

Can you shoot in Joshua Tree National Park?

Accepted Answer

No. Launching, landing or flying a drone in Joshua Tree National Park is prohibited unless the park superintendent approves it in writing. We shoot properties on private land outside the park boundary and capture the desert landscape legally from there.

Question 7

My property is near an airport. Can you still fly?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. Near airports like John Wayne (SNA), LAX, Palm Springs (PSP) and San Diego, we request FAA authorization through LAANC, which usually approves flights up to a set altitude within minutes. If a location needs more, we tell you before booking. Some areas, like the restricted military airspace over the Twentynine Palms Marine base, are not available.

Question 8

Can you shoot twilight or night aerials?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FAA rules allow night flights for certified pilots who have completed the night training, using anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles. Twilight is often the best light for hotels, pools and coastal homes.

Question 9

Can you fly over our guests or an event?

Accepted Answer

FAA rules limit flights over people, depending on the drone's category. We plan shot paths that avoid flying over guests and coordinate timing with your staff.

Question 10

Will you photograph my neighbors or guests?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not capture people or private spaces where they expect privacy, such as yards next door or hotel rooms. California law and Laguna Beach's drone ordinance both protect this, and we frame and edit to respect it.

Question 11

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Listing aerials start at $225, aerial plus reel packages at $450, ground plus air at $650, and hotel content days at $1,800. See the Pricing page for every package.

Question 12

I heard DJI drones are banned. Is that true?

Accepted Answer

Not for flying. In December 2025 the FCC added foreign-made drones, including DJI, to its Covered List, which blocks new models from US approval. Models approved before then are still legal to buy, own and fly, and the FAA rules for flying them have not changed.

Question 13

What is a resort town walking tour?

Accepted Answer

A live, continuous walk through a town's streets, shops, beaches and dining, and through a hotel's arrival, rooms and amenities, filmed with few cuts so viewers feel like they're there. Drone shots set the scene. You get the long-form walk plus short vertical cuts for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.

Question 14

Can our city or tourism board commission a walking tour film?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cities, visitor bureaus, chambers and destination marketing organizations can commission a walking tour and drone film of their town. You get a long-form film, vertical cuts and stills licensed for your own marketing, and we publish it on our channels too for extra reach. City films start at $800 for a single walking tour; Signature City Films start at $5,500 and Seasonal Destination Series at $16,000. Every film is quoted to your town, so text or call for a quote.

Question 15

How do partnerships with Liive Aerial work?

Accepted Answer

Every partnership is built around your goals and budget. We work with hotels, restaurants, shops, towns and tourism boards across California's tourist towns. Options include featured stops inside our walking tours, co-promotion on Liive from California and Liive from Laguna, and town-wide packages where local businesses take part in one film together. There are no fixed prices: we quote each partnership after a quick call or text. Paid features are always disclosed, and we don't promise views or bookings.

Question 16

Do you do partnerships with hotels instead of payment?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. For a 'stay and film' partnership, a hotel hosts our crew in exchange for a feature, and it's disclosed as a gifted stay or paid partnership. Whether it fits depends on the property and the tour.

Drone photography questions, answered plainly.

Ready when the light is.

Drone photography questions, answered plainly.

Who should I hire for drone photography or video?

Why does it matter that the pilot is licensed?

What is Part 107?

Is it legal to fly a drone over my home, hotel or listing?

Are you insured?

Can you fly in Laguna Beach?

Can you film in state parks like Crystal Cove?

Can you shoot in Joshua Tree National Park?

My property is near an airport. Can you still fly?

Can you shoot twilight or night aerials?

Can you fly over our guests or an event?

What happens if the weather is bad?

Will you photograph my neighbors or guests?

How fast will I get my files?

How much does it cost?

What is Remote ID?

I heard DJI drones are banned. Is that true?

Who owns the photos and video?

What is a resort town walking tour?

Can our hotel be featured on Liive from Laguna or Liive from California?

Do you need permits to film in town?

Can our city or tourism board commission a walking tour film?

Who owns the footage?

How do partnerships with Liive Aerial work?

Do you do partnerships with hotels instead of payment?

Ready when the light is.