I recently spoke to a photographer at WPPI that told me jokingly that if his apartment was burning down and he could only save one thing, he’d reach for his DJI Inspire Quadcopter. Forget the hard drives and photos; his love and obsession for his drone was so great.

Over the years, as the popularity of drones and aerial photography has increased among photographers and hobbyists, the FAA has scrambled to put forth rules and regulations for the safety of the general public. As they continue to work to solidify laws for the usage of drones, for new drone operators, it can be difficult to ascertain what is legal and not legal when flying (You’d hope that people would use common sense, but we know that’s not always the case). It’s wisest to educate yourself, whether you’re an amateur or a hobbyist, so that you don’t unwittingly harm others or ruin your very expensive toy.

[REWIND: THE POINT REYES SHIPWRECK FIRE | OP-ED ABOUT RECKLESS PHOTOGRAPHERS]

Late last year, the FAA mandated that drone owners register their UAV’s with the FAA and pay a small fee or face some hefty fines. (You can do so here if you haven’t already). That’s a good place to begin as soon as you take your drone out of the box.

If you’re a commercial operator, you need to know all the information in the infographic below. Compiled by All Digital, it tells you general information on where you cannot fly, special drone laws for various states, and special rules for professional drone operators all in one handy place.

*Note* As one astute reader pointed out, the infographic made no mention of the ‘DC No Drone Zone’ law; not surprisingly, the airspace around our nation’s capital is the most restricted airspace in the country. You can find more details on the FAA website here.

Infographic: What You Need To Know About Shooting Video With a Drone
Source: Infographic: What You Need To Know About Shooting Video With a Drone