For companies that want to use small drones, a new era began Monday.

FAA officials say the new guidelines allow commercial drones to do missions that would otherwise put humans at risk such as responding to natural disasters, search and rescue missions, inspecting bridges and countless other fields.

The FAA announced the new rules in June, clarifying what was an ambiguous set of drone rules and eliminating the need for companies to file for operational exemptions or to hire a licensed pilot to fly the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). With drones already involved in a mix of business applications from weddings to real estate shots, how do the new drone laws impact professional photographers?

For a full look at all the rules and regulations visit FAA.gov.

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Monday ushered in a new era for American drone flight, as the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) much-anticipated commercial drone rule went into effect. "Over the next 10 years, commercial unmanned aircraft systems could be generate more than $82 billion or the U.S. economy, and by 2025 could be supporting 100,000 new jobs", said Anthony Foxx, U.S. secretary of Transportation. And flying drones over people - prohibited under current rules if those people aren't directly participating in the operation - would be relevant to the construction industry, he said. Under the new rules, people over age 16 can take an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved facility and pass a background check to qualify for a remote pilot certificate.

Starting Monday, commercial drone pilots do not have to have a valid FAA pilot's license. He says it will provide an untapped industry for commercial drone photography. "Drones are something that I think will have a big future in the roofing industry as well as the insurance industry and crops and agriculture".

"You're going to see a lot of people entering this market and the people who are doing this safely and legally are going to be the ones who last and the ones who are cowboy-ing it are going to fade away", added Hupy.

The FAA is now working on new rules that eventually will allow drone flights over people and beyond an operator's line of sight, but are also have to hammer out privacy safeguards.