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Photography and video

Drone photography and video

Aerial photos and video of a property, site or event. The operator must be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority.
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Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

Licence required

IAA drone operator registration and remote pilot competency

IAA drone operator registration and remote pilot competency, issued or supervised by the Irish Aviation Authority. Ask for the registration number before the work starts and check it on the public register. Check the register: www.iaa.ie

Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor

Irish Aviation Authoritywww.iaa.ieChecked

Drone photography and video: what the job involves

Aerial photos and video by drone for a property sale, construction progress, roof or site survey, event or promo. Flying a drone in Ireland is regulated: the operator must be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority, the pilot trained for the subcategory, and flights kept clear of people and restricted zones.

Also asked for as: drone video · aerial photography · drone pilot for hire · drone photos of house · drone roof inspection

How the job is usually done

  1. Agree the location by Eircode, what must be captured, and how the images will be used.
  2. Check the site against IAA UAS geographical zones and any temporary restrictions, and the distance to people, roads and houses.
  3. Decide whether the flight fits the open category subcategory for the drone, or needs an IAA operational authorisation.
  4. Plan the day: weather, take-off spot, landowner permission, neighbours told, and the area kept clear of uninvolved people.
  5. Fly and capture the agreed stills and video, within line of sight and below 120 m.
  6. Edit, remove or blur identifiable people and neighbours’ private areas where not needed, and deliver the files with the licence.

Drone photography and video: what is included

Usually included

  • Site and airspace check, and flight planning
  • The flight with a registered operator and qualified pilot
  • Edited stills or video in the agreed formats, with a licence for the agreed use

Usually not included — agree it separately

  • An IAA operational authorisation for flights outside the open category, unless the operator holds one
  • Ground photography, unless agreed
  • Surveys or measurements to a survey standard, which need a qualified surveyor

Materials and who supplies them

  • The drone, spare batteries and controller, supplied by the operator
  • Landowner permission for take-off and landing, arranged with the customer

How long it takes

A single property is usually flown in under an hour on site, with images delivered within a few days; weather often moves the date.

When to book

Calm, dry days give the best results; in Irish weather, keep a back-up date in mind, and green spring and summer light suits property listings.

Drone photography and video: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

  • Anyone operating a drone of 250 g or more, or any drone with a camera that is not a toy, must register as a UAS operator, in Ireland with the Irish Aviation Authority on MySRS, and display the operator registration number on every drone. Registration lasts two years.

    Applies to: the drone operator

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 14; Irish Aviation Authority · iaa.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • In the open category a drone must stay within visual line of sight, below 120 m above the ground, under 25 kg, at a safe distance from people and never over assemblies of people. Remote pilots must be at least 16, with exceptions.

    Applies to: the remote pilot

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Articles 4 and 9 · eur-lex.europa.eu · Checked 10 October 2026

  • Subcategory A1 allows flying over uninvolved people with the lightest drones, but not over assemblies; A2 needs a horizontal distance of 30 m from uninvolved people, reducible to 5 m in low-speed mode; A3 needs 150 m from people and from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas. Which applies depends on the drone’s class mark (C0 to C4) or weight.

    Applies to: the remote pilot

    EASA; Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 · easa.europa.eu · Checked 10 October 2026

  • Drones sold for the open category carry a class identification label (C0 to C4) under the EU product rules, which decides the subcategories they may fly in.

    Applies to: the drone operator

    Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 · eur-lex.europa.eu · Checked 10 October 2026

  • Remote pilots need the IAA’s UAS Proof of Online Training to fly in A1 and A3, and a UAS Remote Pilot Competency Certificate (A2 CofC) from a drone training organisation, with a practical test, to fly in A2. Both are renewed every five years.

    Applies to: the remote pilot

    Irish Aviation Authority, under Regulation (EU) 2019/947 · iaa.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • A flight that cannot stay within the open category limits, for example closer to people or buildings in a town, over a crowd, beyond visual line of sight or with a heavier drone, needs an operational authorisation from the IAA in the specific category, or a declaration under a standard scenario.

    Applies to: the drone operator

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947; Irish Aviation Authority · iaa.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • UAS geographical zones restrict or ban drone flights near airports, prisons, military and other sensitive sites. The pilot must check the IAA’s published zones, temporary restrictions and NOTAMs before every flight.

    Applies to: the remote pilot

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Article 15; Irish Aviation Authority · iaa.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • The IAA says a drone operator must always have insurance unless flying for recreation with a drone under 20 kg, so a paid drone photographer needs aviation third-party liability insurance. The EU insurance regulation sets the minimum cover for aircraft operators.

    Applies to: the drone operator

    Regulation (EC) No 785/2004; Irish Aviation Authority · iaa.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • The regulation requires aircraft operators to hold third-party liability insurance, with an exemption for model aircraft below 20 kg maximum take-off mass, which the IAA reads as recreational use only.

    Applies to: the drone operator

    Regulation (EC) No 785/2004, Article 2 · eur-lex.europa.eu · Checked 10 October 2026

  • A drone camera is likely to capture passers-by and neighbours. Unless the use is purely personal, the operator is a data controller and must comply with data protection law: record only what the job needs, avoid filming people and private gardens where possible, and tell people what is happening.

    Applies to: the drone operator and the customer who uses the footage

    Data Protection Commission; GDPR · dataprotection.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

  • The photographer or filmmaker, as author, is the first owner of copyright in the images or footage, unless they made them as an employee in the course of employment. Paying for a shoot does not by itself transfer copyright; the customer gets whatever licence the contract gives.

    Applies to: the photographer and the customer

    Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, section 23 · irishstatutebook.ie · Checked 10 October 2026

What drone photography and video costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

  • Number of locations and flights
  • Stills only, video, or both, and the edited length
  • Restrictions that need an authorisation or extra crew
  • Repeat visits, such as monthly construction progress
  • Travel and weather rebooking
  • Usage: one listing, or advertising and broadcast

What you should get at the end

  • The operator’s IAA registration number, as displayed on the drone
  • The pilot’s competency certificate for the subcategory flown (A1/A3 proof of training or A2 CofC)
  • Proof of third-party liability insurance
  • An operational authorisation, if the flight was outside the open category
  • Final images or video in the agreed formats, with a written licence or assignment

What the provider should hand over

  • Deliver edited stills and video
  • Provide your operator number and insurance details in writing
  • Confirm the licence, and delete unused footage showing people or neighbours

Safety

  • Never hire someone who cannot show an IAA operator registration number and insurance; the customer’s premises and neighbours carry the risk.
  • Drones must not be flown over crowds, and near airports and other sensitive sites only where the zone rules allow.
  • Tell neighbours before flying near their homes; a drone over gardens is a common privacy complaint.
  • Flights are called off in high wind, rain and poor visibility; that is good practice, not an excuse.

Drone photography and video: before you hire

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is your IAA operator registration number?
  • Which competency do you hold, A1/A3 or A2, and does this flight need an authorisation?
  • Are you insured for commercial drone work?
  • How will you keep neighbours’ privacy?

What you can do yourself

Flying your own registered drone over your own property for personal use is allowed within the open category rules; paid work for others needs insurance and the right competency.

What to put in your task

  • What do you need aerials for?
  • Photos, video or both?
  • Where is the site?
  • Will there be people around during the flight?
  • How many visits?

Photos that help

  • The Eircode, or a map pin, of the site
  • Ground photos of the property or site and its surroundings
  • Examples of aerial shots you like
  • Any nearby power lines, tall trees or roads

Drone photography and video by county

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Questions about drone photography and video

Does drone photography and video need a licence in Ireland?

Yes. IAA drone operator registration and remote pilot competency, supervised by the Irish Aviation Authority. Source: www.iaa.ie. Ask for the registration number and check it on the public register. Wording approved by Talqero; not yet reviewed by a solicitor.

Does a drone photographer need a licence?

The operator must be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority and the pilot must hold the competency for the subcategory flown: online proof of training for A1 and A3, or an A2 certificate of competency. Flights outside the open category need an IAA operational authorisation. Commercial operators also need insurance.

Can a drone fly over my neighbours?

It must keep the required distance from uninvolved people for its subcategory and never fly over crowds. Footage of neighbours and their gardens is personal data, so a careful operator avoids it, tells neighbours in advance, and deletes what is not needed.

Can drones fly in towns or near airports?

Sometimes, depending on the drone class, the distances that can be kept and the UAS geographical zones. Near airports and other sensitive sites flights are restricted or banned; the pilot checks the IAA zones before every flight.

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