Many insurances for photographers exclude items used in commercial activities. Your insurance will no longer cover the risk of loss as soon as you start using your camera for commercial purposes. Thus, when deciding to insure your camera equipment:
- be careful when looking for an insurance company;
- study the terms they offer;
- carefully read the insurance contract.
Do not hesitate to ask the insurance agent questions if there is anything you do not understand. There are no little things in insurance for a photography business. Any detail missed when an insured event occurs can play against you. Even if it seemed insignificant when you signed the contract.
Of course, most property insurance only covers part of the risks (theft, fire). It can't protect you against something as stupid as a camera falling on the floor.
We found out what photographers should know about insuring their equipment. "How often do they use photography liability insurance?" and other no less important questions.
Table of Contents
What is photography business insurance?
Imagine a photo studio that takes advertising photos. You can't get by with just one camera. The monetary costs increase many times over. And there's no guarantee that some long-legged model won't catch and break the flash cord. The risk that you will have to "work for the equipment" because of such a trivial incident is extremely high. The fear of accidental loss of equipment haunts every photographer. That’s why you need to have professional photographer insurance.
A photographer’s professional insurance covers some damages. They can inconvenience their clients while they are working. As well as many resulting financial consequences. These damages can be:
- Health hazards. While photographing a birthday party, you tripped over someone. And they sprained their ankle.
- Property losses. You damaged something that belonged to the client during a product photo shoot. Or you damaged the client's furniture during a photo shoot at the client's home.
- Non-pecuniary damage. You lost the client's photographs because of a virus. Or you lost an SD card with only one copy of the client's photographs on it.
- A professional photographer's insurance policy covers mainly breach of contract. In the event of fault or negligence, the client will have the right to claim damages. The insurance will cover them.
- Professional liability insurance policies often come with legal help. It allows the professional to get benefits from legal assistance and defense costs. If they cannot resolve the dispute amicably.
Remember that real estate photographers should take out general business insurance for photographers. Insurance or a surety for you and your employees is usually a good business practice. It will cover anything you may damage in the property you are photographing.
What does Photographer Insurance cover?
It is important to determine what other insurance you may need. Use it to go about your profession with peace of mind. It is important to determine what other insurance you may need. Use it to go about your profession with peace of mind. Insurance options for photography businesses for photo equipment and other things depend on whether the user is an amateur or a professional photographer. In the first case, the options are somewhat limited. However, home insurance, for example, can be structured to protect against certain risks, including theft.
Professional photographers have much broader options for insuring their activities. A policy can protect you and your photographic equipment from a variety of events. In addition, you can insure not only the camera itself but also other equipment. You can find more than a dozen insurance companies on the market. They offer all kinds of policies for photographers. All of them are good at first glance. However, as usual, the details are important, and in this case, the details.
For photographers, we have identified the following photography liability insurances:
Bodily injury
Perhaps, during a "photo shoot" with lighting, you or your assistant drop a softbox on the model. The model falls and breaks her shoulder. After this accident, she underwent surgery.
The insurance company sues you. Then it declares us, after a medical examination, a permanent disability of 7%. The amount of damages is about $45000. Your insurance will cover you against this event.
Material damages
For example, you go to some company to "film" employees at their desks. As you are filming, you touch the company graphic designer's computer with your hand. It falls down. The computer doesn't turn on, and you break the screen.
Their insurance company files a claim against you. The cost of the computer is 3000$. Your insurance for photographers will cover you against this event.
Immaterial consecutive damages
Imagine that the action takes place after the damage to the graphic design company. The company receives penalties for late deliveries. The computer breakdown is the cause of these delays. Martin's insurance company files a claim against you. The dry loss is $2,000. Your photography liability insurance will also cover you from this event.
Service vehicles
With auto insurance, the company can cover your trips with different protection ways. You can add to the backup option:
- reimbursement;
- breakdown help.
Employees of your photo studio
Protect your employees by keeping all or part of their benefits:
- during downtime;
- disability pension;
- death benefits;
- support services in the event of a severe stroke.
Supplemental company health insurance is also available. You can find many levels of coverage and extra enhancements. It is flexible to meet your employees' health insurance needs.
What Type of Insurance Do Photographers Need?
It is best to first look at the structure of your business. Considering options of insurance for photographers for your photographic business. Although it can be fun to start your photography business. But protecting your business with an insurance policy is important. It’s gambling with your livelihood and customers without insurance to cover.
If you are not sure of the correct approach, you can contact an insurance agent. It can help you choose the right coverage. Below are some of the major insurance policies. You should consider them when buying business insurance for photographers:
- Equipment;
- Public liability insurance;
- Commercial automobile protection;
- Disability defence;
- Property insurance (owner or renter);
- Life insurance;
- Liability for errors and omissions;
- Workers' compensation;
- Theft and damage insurance.
It is also essential to find other policies you may need. Insurance within the framework of your professional activity as a photographer is essential. This "RC Pro" covers you against all the events which can occur against "third parties". during the exercise of your activity. This insurance for photographers protects you against:
| Name | Guarantees |
| Professional Multi-risk photographer | It is mandatory if you are self-employed. It covers losses in your business premises and property. Remember that they can bring your business to a halt. Often including the RC Pro. |
| Legal Protection | We strongly recommend that you use it. This type of photography liability insurance covers your appearance and defense costs in the event of a court case (e.g. loss of photos). |
| Professional Vehicle | It is mandatory if you have a company vehicle. The coverage in the event of an incident occurring during your business trips. |
| Photographer's health insurance | It is compulsory if you have employees. We highly recommend this insurance for a photography business if you are a sole entrepreneur. It is good for reimbursing your health expenses and those of your employees. |
| Insurance for the photographer | It is significant for the liberal professions. This insurance for photography business allows you to get a per diem in case of a long break in work. Disability is also included in this insurance. |
Besides this, you should consider adapting your coverage to fit:
- Your way of working;
- The type of photo shoot you offer your clients.
Other professional photographer insurance
Professional liability is not the only relevant insurance for a photographer. Read about other insurance options for your business:
- Camera insurance. A camera, such as a digital camera, is a photographer's most important tool. He often invests a lot of money in it. Professional camera insurance protects this valuable investment and replacements. For example, an expensive lens that falls on the floor.
- Contents insurance for photographers. That's why commercial property insurance is appropriate to protect furniture. This occurs in the event of damage caused by:
- fire;
- water;
- hurricane;
- hail;
- burglary.
- Cyber Insurance. Insurance against data loss makes sense. Because photographers work digitally and store images of their clients on their computers. The photography liability insurance covers the theft of images as a result of:
- cyber attack;
- сomputer damaged by a virus.
How much does Photographer Insurance cost?
The cost of insurance for a photography business depends on various factors. It often depends on how high the insurance amounts are for other damages. It's hard to make unequivocal statements. Since each photographer serves a different client base and generates several sales.
Inexpensive business insurance for photographers in this area is already available for less than $100 per year. It is a benchmark that shows that you can insure your liability for relatively small amounts.
You can negotiate sums insured from $100,000 for financial losses. You can insure property damage up to one million dollars. You can also compensate for higher amounts. Ultimately, you should be guided by your professional risk when choosing extensive enough coverage.
The higher the coverage you choose, the more you will pay for photography liability insurance coverage. Also, other factors are important for the insurance company in determining the premium:
- How significant is your annual turnover;
- What kind of freelance work do you do in certain circumstances.
Bottom line
Deciding to insure your photographic equipment is not an easy decision to make. After all, insurance for photographers requires an additional outlay of money, of which a photographer who has decided to start his own business does not have much. Remember that a proper portfolio is also a kind of protection for yourbusiness. You will be able to get more clients thanks to it. Contact our professionals, and they will help you with its design.
FAQ
What risks does the photography business face?
The main dangers in the photo business are the theft of your intellectual property or damage to your photographic equipment. Also, remember that you may have injuries to your body while you are working.
Does the photography business need intellectual property protection?
Yes. As a photographer, your photos are the most critical intellectual property to own. The photographer, if it is his work, has original authorship. Suppose someone else uses any of your work with your permission as the photographer. In that case, you still own the image. Unless you specifically state that you are transferring your ownership to such a person.
What risks are covered by my photographer's liability policy?
The professional liability policy covers you for bodily injury and material and immaterial damages that you may cause to clients or collaborators during a photo shoot, indoor or outdoor.
Is it mandatory for a photography business to have insurance?
Professional liability insurance is not required for professions that are not regulated. However, we recommend that you use it to protect yourself against damage that you may cause during your activities.
What is a term of an insurance policy?
Insurance policies usually run for one year. If the policyholder does not cancel the policy, the contract is automatically renewed for another year.
