Hi all! I'm completely new to drones and want to start taking aerial photos of landscapes during my hiking trips. I keep reading about Part 107 licenses but I'm getting confused about when I actually need one.

If I'm flying purely for recreation and my drone weighs less than 250 grams, I might not need a full pilot's license but will still need to pass the TRUST safety exam. Is this correct?

Also, if I later decide to sell some prints or post on Instagram with monetization, does that automatically make it commercial? The rules seem really unclear and I don't want to accidentally break any laws.

For pure hobby use, you just need to pass the TRUST safety test which is free and can be completed online. However, the FAA has a broad definition of commercial use - even YouTube ad monetization counts, so if you plan to make any money from your photos eventually, just get the Part 107 now.

Don't overthink it for now. Get a good beginner drone that's durable enough to survive learning mistakes and affordable enough that crashes won't break the bank. Focus on learning to fly safely first, then worry about licensing when you're actually making money from it.

I was in your exact situation last year! Started with just wanting landscape photos for myself, but once I got good at it, opportunities started coming up. Getting the Part 107 was easier than I expected - about 15 hours of study time and comes with a money-back guarantee from most training providers.