Your photos take you all over the world where you capture roaring waterfalls, soaring eagles, rugged mountains, and more. As a photographer, you photograph the natural world in a way that no one else can, bringing it to life in still photos.
As a seasoned photographer, you know the tricks of the trade: how to use that sun flare to create a glowing halo of light, the perfect angle for a sky full of stars, and even swapping lenses to shoot a faraway bear and her cub.
In these situations, you are either traveling, in the elements, or using multiple pieces of equipment to get the perfect shot. These situations can lead to several different hazards of the trade. These hazards include faulty memory cards, damaged or stolen equipment, and more.
Don’t worry though! You have options when it comes to protecting your photography business with insurance for photographers. Keep reading to learn about the 10 things to consider when looking for photography insurance. Listed below are 10 things to consider when looking for photography insurance.
Experience In The Industry
When looking for photography insurance, it’s important to look for a provider who is established in the insurance world. In an ideal world, you would find an insurance provider who has years of experience serving photographers and catering to their unique needs. Insurance companies with this type of experience are able to provide you with customer coverage, can advise you on what you do/don’t need, and can even give you an idea of the most common claims and how to minimize your risks.
Check out Full Frame Insurance. They have years of experience, cheap prices, and knowledgeable agents who can answer your questions and help you find the coverages you need.
When you choose an established photography insurance provider, you can rest assured that they have seen it all and can help you with any claim that comes your way.
Good Reviews
One of the best and most honest ways to determine if an insurance provider is the right one for you is to look at their reviews. No matter the brand or industry, you can always trust your fellow customers to let you know what companies are doing well and where they can grow. Reviews provide unfiltered feedback from trustworthy sources (their customers!!) that highlights the things the insurance provider does well.
While some negative reviews can just be negative people, it’s important to note that if every other review is negative you might want to consider a different provider whose positive reviews far outweigh the bad.
Coverage Details
When looking for photography insurance one of the most important things to look at is the minimum coverage allowances.
Typically, coverage allowances start at $1M per year. That means, your insurance can cover up to $1M per claim. For example, if while at a shoot your client trips and breaks their ankle, you are covered up to $1M for medical and legal expenses.. The breakdown of coverages can look a little like this:
General Liability – $1M Occurrence / $2M Aggregate
Camera Equipment Coverage – $1,000 Occurrence / $5,000 Aggregate
It’s important to note that some insurance providers offer higher coverage limits for those with more expensive gear or who need extra peace of mind. I highly recommend protecting your gear. Accidents will happen.
Damage to Premises Rented – $300,000 Occurrence / $300,000 Aggregate
Professional Liability – $100,000 Occurrence / $200,000 Aggregate optional and only available in certain states
Cyber Liability – $100,000 Occurrence / $100,000 Aggregate optional
This is the breakdown of coverages for Full Frame Insurance and gives you a general idea of what coverages and limits to look for when shopping for photography insurance. If you can find coverage that looks something like this, that is a great start to protect your business.
In general, good photography insurance covers your expensive equipment, extends coverage to rented spaces, allows personalized limits and additional coverages, and protects in case of a broken memory card or breached contracts.
Insurance For Your Equipment
As a photographer, you understand that your equipment is not only expensive but oftentimes priceless. Without your equipment, it would be near impossible to complete your job.
It’s not always easy to predict when claims or accidents will happen, even if you are being incredibly careful. You could be at a photoshoot when your lens slips from your bag and crashes to the ground - making it unusable. Camera insurance can protect your equipment in transit, at home, or at a studio. When shopping for camera equipment insurance make sure it has high limits or protection, protects lighting equipment, and can be personalized to fit your needs.
This type of insurance allows you to continue working, shooting pictures, and using your gear without the fear of your business being financially ruined if something happens.
Cost
When considering which photography insurance provider is the right one for you, it’s important to consider the cost. The cost of photography insurance can change depending on which coverages you decide to include on your policy or where you decide to run your business.
According to Insureon, the median cost of insurance per year can cost up to $779
Included is a list of the starting rates for several different insurance providers:
• Acuity Insurance: Starts at $350 Annually
• Hiscox Insurance: Starts at $350 Annually
• The Hartford: Starts at $332 Annually
Full Frame Insurance offers insurance for photographers that starts at just $129
How To File a Claim
\As a business owner you can’t always predict a claim, they can be unpredictable and devastating if you aren’t protected. When in the market for photography insurance, make sure you find a provider who makes filing a claim easy.
Any Deductibles
\Some insurance companies can have high deductibles on their policies. Make sure to check out how much the deductible is and if you would be able to afford it should you ever need to file a claim. Full Frame Insurance never includes a deductible for general liability and has a minimum deductible of $250 per claim for gear and equipment coverage.
Fine Print/Hidden Fees/Hidden Terms and Conditions
When looking for an insurance provider, double-check that there are no hidden fees or terms and conditions. Unfortunately, this is common in the insurance industry so it is important to do your research and find an honest provider who lays it all out there, even the smallest details.Event or Annual Plan to Fit Your Needs
Do you shoot more than three photo shoots per year? Or is it just a side gig? If photography is your full-time job, it would be beneficial to find an insurance provider who provides photographers with annual coverage. This coverage protects your business 365 days a year.
If you only book a few photo shoots a year or are more of a hobbyist, then event photography insurance may be a better fit for your business.
It is important to find a provider who offers both in case plans ever change. Full Frame Insurance provides photographers with the option of annual photography insurance or event photographer insurance.
Ability to List Additional Insureds
Do you shoot at weddings, birthdays, corporate events, or attend conferences or studios? If so, you may be required to list the landlord or event organizer as an additional insured or “AI”. An additional insured is anyone who requires you to extend your insurance coverage to them in case a claim were to happen as a result of your business activity or actions.
Common additional insureds can be wedding venues, concert promoters, expos, or national parks. Some insurance companies charge high fees per additional insured and some don’t offer additional insureds at all. It is important to do your research and find an insurance provider who can give you everything you need to be successful.
Who Provides The Best Photography Insurance?
As always, it’s important for you to find the right fit when it comes to photography insurance. Just as you like to use a particular camera brand, you can find the perfect fit for photography insurance.
The question of who provides the best photography insurance is relative and is an opinion entirely up to you to make. But remember, the best photography insurance providers offer:
• High coverage allowances
• Good reviews
• Low cost
• Camera equipment insurance
• Low or no deductible
• Unlimited additional insureds
• Industry experience
• Easily filed claims
For a closer example of coverage details and policy limits, feel free to check out Full Frame’s coverage details page where you can get all the information you need about the policy breakdown of photography insurance. You can even compare policies and get an understanding of what coverages are available to you.
When searching for insurance, make sure your provider provides additional insureds. Full Frame offers access to unlimited additional insureds for just $30.
Photography insurance can be as great a tool as an expensive camera lens. It can be personal and fit all your business needs. It protects and provides peace of mind as you run your business and capture all the beauty that life has to offer.
Author Bio
This was a guest blog post by Parker Browning. Parker is a Marketing Content Writer for Full Frame Insurance, with extensive knowledge of the business liability insurance space. Parker has a bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and Content Writing. Parker has worked as a content writer for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and has several pieces of published work, including for Southern Utah University. Parker enjoys everything writing and her ideal afternoon would be spent on a beach with a good book.
