Photographer Insurance: Don’t Go Broke On Your Next Photo Shoot
Accidents can happen during photoshoots, no matter how well prepared you are, and you may be held responsible. It’s inconceivable to operate a business without insurance but many photographers do it and risk losing their entire business, as well as facing personal financial ruin.
In this article we’ll discuss the main types of coverage for photographers. Whether you’re a professional, hobbyist or student photographer, it’s essential that you have insurance for paid or trade shoots with models, assistants, makeup artists or stylists.
Camera Insurance
Model: Brennan, Photographer: Escalante, Makeup Artist: Dana Spence, Wardrobe Stylist: Ruben Lopes
Your photographic equipment cost thousands of dollars and is essential to your business. It can easily be damaged, lost or stolen and without insurance the cost of replacement could turn a potentially good job into a massive loss.
Many people mistakenly think their camera equipment is covered on their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance but that usually isn’t the case, especially if your equipment is used for work. You could add a rider to your existing policy, at extra cost, but without it you’re coverage likely falls far short of the cost of replacing your equipment, and most policies also factor in depreciation, meaning they pay you what the used item is worth now, not what you paid for it or the replacement cost.
However, a business insurance policy would cover the replacement value. So, for example, if you paid $3,300 for Nikon D810 that was damaged, lost or stolen, you’d get the replacement cost to buy a new one (approximately $2800 now).
Office/Studio Insurance
If you have a studio in a commercial building your lease will most likely require insurance. But, if you have a home studio or run your business from home it makes sense to have separate coverage for all of your equipment (computers, lighting, etc).
Liability Insurance
Model: Brennan, Photographer: Escalante, Makeup Artist: Dana Spence, Wardrobe Stylist: Ruben Lopes
This is where having a photographic-specific policy is most beneficial. Liability insurance covers you if claims are made against you during a shoot or from an accident. Most policies provide $1 million of coverage and if you shoot on location it’s essential to have liability insurance. In fact, many businesses won’t allow you to shoot on their property without proof of insurance and may insist you provide a certificate of insurance that includes them in your coverage.
Certificate of Insurance
A certificate of insurance (COI) is proof of insurance and details your specific coverage. Many businesses will require you provide this in advance and may require you list them as additional insured to cover them under your policy while you’re on their property.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
This type of coverage protects you against claims from clients that you failed to deliver the results that were agreed upon. For example, a lost/damaged memory card or hard drive could result in you being unable to deliver any images from a shoot. Contract disputes such as these aren’t covered by your general liability insurance and having an E&O policy can protect you in the event of client disputes.
Workers’ Compensation
The definition of an employee varies greatly from one state to another and is ultimately determined by the state’s workers’ compensation board. Hiring freelancers, like assistants, makeup artists, etc, even for a single day can result in them being categorized as an employee. And, if they were injured in the course of an assignment where you told them what time to report to work, what to do on the job and you supplied the materials (such as lighting equipment), the workers’ compensation board may rule that person as an employee.
Make Sure You’re Covered
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there may be other forms of insurance that make sense for your particular situation, including an umbrella policy to provide coverage in excess of your individual policies.
In summary, it’s not just a good idea but absolutely essential to have at least some of the types of insurance listed here to protect your business, personal finances and everyone you work with.
Additional Resources
- Carr, Susan. ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography. New York: Allworth Pres, 2008.
- Harrington, John. Best Business Practices for Photographers. Boston, MA: Course Technology/Cengage Learning, 2010.
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June 16, 2018 at 2:23 pm, DISPLAYMODE said:
This is a good topic to discuss, but almost every comment is off-topic. I’m surprised at the lack of focus in discussing such an important issue we as content producers all face. I operated without insurance for over 10+ years, though I have it now. I simply covered myself with a good documentation, release forms and proper ID’s exempting me from any liabilities/risk. Equipment is expensive and overpriced, model integrity & professionalism can be questionable. My advise, consult a lawyer to protect yourself against risks and avoid hazardous situations…
July 29, 2017 at 12:02 am, george566515 said:
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January 18, 2017 at 1:03 pm, matt richardson said:
Also check your the small print of your work insurance policy, most photographic specific business policies only cover a limited amount if there is a theft from a car, normally £5000 or less than a Nikon D5, and don’t cover theft from a car at all out of work hours or not driving to or from a shoot.
Home policies will only cover up to £1000 per item unless named on the policy and if they know you are a pro photographer won’t cover anything high end.
Sadly I know this from experience, and if anyone offers you a cheap D5 with no charger or box give me or the police a call!
November 06, 2016 at 9:54 pm, Sebastian said:
Interesting article, but could you elaborate and educate on obtaining photographers insurance? I for on have my insurance cover any equipment used (for work or otherwise) plus any injury to myself or a guest in my insurance. That covers my home only, do what about location specific insurance. Ive worked in placed where the city offered the insurance, but you had to buy it extra. Which insurance carries have you tried? Which ones worked better for you than other and why? Appreciate the feedback.
January 18, 2017 at 2:46 pm, Peter Moeller said:
People have to approach insurances in their countries. Things are quite different internationally.
August 18, 2016 at 1:06 am, harrytuttleFTC said:
Molon Labe! is some groups bot or social experiment. his profile is private, it has posted ~13K comments, and it’s following 2 and 2 are following it. Bot’s such as this are used to dissuade you from read comments or commenting at all. Judging by the moniker “Molon Labe!” I would suggest that it is painted up to look like a pro-military, freedom fighter conservative. It spits off nonsense about liberals and trolls, while itself being a troll.
August 16, 2016 at 4:56 am, artfull said:
I agree that insurance covering both liability and equipment is very important. In my experience, it’s not that expensive for a decent policy, either–roughly $400 per year is a good target. I wonder who wrote this article, since it doesn’t have any credit shown.
August 12, 2016 at 11:44 am, D. Brent Walton said:
Great article. Too many forget the liability insurance and only concentrate on insuring their equipment. All it takes is for your battery charger to short out and start a tiny fire and opps!
August 10, 2016 at 6:20 pm, Hugh McCullough said:
Top photo- Great location! Model’s outfit makes her look even skinnier. And her expression is what I would expect of someone who just got AUDITED! Great photography, but a little more thought I would say.
August 14, 2016 at 1:52 am, Molon Labe! said:
Don’t hate. That’s her fresh new look called “blue steel”…
August 14, 2016 at 10:05 am, Hugh McCullough said:
Since when is offering constructive criticism- HATE? It absolutely blows me away at how people jump to their OWN conclusions. Sad.
August 14, 2016 at 11:01 am, Molon Labe! said:
It was a joke…hence the “blue steel”… That’s a name from a movie where the model was a complete idiot… lol
August 14, 2016 at 4:55 pm, Hugh McCullough said:
YOUR WORDS:
“BIGOT”
“HATE”
“IDIOT”
“MORON”
Now, who’s really “Hate Filled”?
Add Hypocrite to your sick personality.
August 14, 2016 at 7:11 pm, Molon Labe! said:
You forgot troll, and they are all 100% accurate discriptors of the person that you are according to the words you write and the agenda you hold. Welcome to the ignore list ingrate.
August 16, 2016 at 4:53 am, artfull said:
Yeah, poor Moron Lab is definitely displaying his bad attitude and general bigotry.
August 16, 2016 at 1:36 am, artfull said:
You need to tone down this kind of rhetoric, which is mean-spirited and completely out of keeping with the original post you’re reacting to. Throwing in political insults for something that has nothing to do with politics also types you as a reactionary looking for excuses to vent your biases in a hostile way. Look in the mirror. You’re the one with the big problem here.
August 16, 2016 at 4:13 am, Molon Labe! said:
Another liberal idiot troll I see. Go screw yourself troll. Seem you have the problem now. You are the pot calling the kettle black… I read your comments and you are a liberal troll through and through.
August 16, 2016 at 4:49 am, artfull said:
Everyone’s a “troll” but you, huh, jerk-off? If anyone is here acting like a troll, it’s you. Go find an anger management class and graduate from jr high before posting comments with the adults with at least half a brain.
August 16, 2016 at 5:19 am, Molon Labe! said:
I read your history moron. You are a troll and probably just another account for the original pos troll. A lib with a brain…that’s rich… You’re an idiot and it shows so disappear halfwit. Welcome to the ban list. You libs and your loonacy are astonishing.
August 10, 2016 at 1:48 pm, Flyer78 said:
This article has some good points, but it wildly overstates the level of risk that a lot of photographers have. “Your photographic equipment cost thousands of dollars” — yeah right! Many photographers get along just fine with less that $1000 worth of equipment.
January 18, 2017 at 2:45 pm, Peter Moeller said:
Many hobbyists own one body and a couple kit lenses, but some of the semi pro type hobbyists have gear for many thousands. In my case, I have taken up an extra sum with my content insurance. The extra sum insured is $10,000.
January 21, 2017 at 4:10 am, Paul Weijenberg said:
Liability, indemnity, for that insurance is very important.
Sadly, in my country you can get insure for equipment alone, but it costs about 1/4 to 1/5 of the price you bought it. So in 4 to 5 years time, you could have saved yourself the insurance and buy new yourself. Which I do anyway. My business depends not on just 1 camera or one Mac or location. I have backup equipment of everything on 2 locations, miles away from each other.
January 21, 2017 at 9:17 pm, Peter Moeller said:
Paul, to be self-insured is a normal concept in some countries. Just put money aside on a regular basis. If nothing happens, great. If gear is stolen, lost or broken, you have some money saved up to replace it.
January 19, 2017 at 12:26 pm, D. Brent Walton said:
I’d worry more about liability and indemnity insurance. Equipment is relatively cheap compared to an injury lawsuit.