Would you hire an unlicensed physician for heart surgery? Or an unlicensed contractor to build your house?
Did you you know that Federal Law requires all drone operators performing any commercial services to be licensed?
Under Small Unmanned Aircraft Regulations (Part 107), the FAA requires all drone operators performing any commercial services to be licensed. The Remote Pilot Airman Certificate with a Small UAS rating is mandatory for anyone using a drone outdoors for any commercial work.
If the person or persons contracting with you is unlicensed by the FAA, they quite likely were also unable or unwilling to obtain the necessary liability insurance to protect you while they are doing your project. While it is rare, accidents including loss of life have occurred during aerial imaging projects. Be sure to check with your attorney to understand your liability from any accidents from contacting with an unlicensed drone operator.
A significant part of the training required for the Remote Pilot Airman Certificate concerns safety: where you can fly, when you can fly, where you can not fly, when you can not fly. The main concern of FAA is for safety, safety of those in the vicinity of the operation of the drone. You can be assured that a person with the FAA license has shown that they understand the safety issues.
Would it be embarrassing at your wedding to have the FAA shut everything down mid-ceremony? Just a note of caution, but as of today, almost no photographers offering wedding drone services are legally licensed — and the FAA is aware of that fact.
Demand to see the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate of any potential contractor for your aerial imaging needs. Merely registering their drone with the FAA does not allow them to fly it for commercial purposes.