5 Types of Insurance Every Photographer Needs

Although success in the photography field does depend on creativity, the business choices you make matter just as much. You already have a lot on your mind when it comes to organizing shoots, meeting your clients, and snapping photos. And it’s no secret to you that performing your work comes with a lot of unpredictable factors.

Photographer’s Insurance is a reliable way to not only protect yourself and your property but to ease your mind. In fact, in your line of work, it’s a must! 

Let’s look at 5 important types of insurance every photographer should have.

The Importance of Insurance for Photographers

Some of the risks involved with a photography business can be big – especially when it comes to the equipment you are using. A photographer needs to have insurance in order to protect their assets. General liability insurance is needed in case they are sued over an injury, or some kind of property damage and property insurance is needed for the very valuable equipment that is used.

This brings us to the three most important reasons a photographer needs to have the right insurance for his business:

Medical Costs. If there is an accident during a photo shoot and it turns out to be your fault, then you may have to be responsible for the medical costs. For example, someone may trip over your bag or equipment or hurt themselves on a light you are using. Even when you take every precaution you can think of; accidents do still happen.

Equipment Damage and Loss. As a photographer, your gear is a vital component of your business. If something were to happen to this expensive equipment, it may be hard coming up with the money to repair or replace it. Equipment insurance is an inexpensive way to protect your gear.

Lawsuits. This is a common reason for a professional photographer to purchase insurance for his photography business. Lawsuits between friends, for example, can put you out of business – even if you are not liable and didn’t show negligence. As a photographer you may run into a situation where you agree to photograph a wedding for a friend or family member and that friend or family member decides to sue you. A professional liability insurance policy can help you.

For all these reasons and more we will outline below, insurance for photographers is essential.

Keep in mind that the following is for informational purposes only. For answers to specific questions, or to find the best option for you, consult with an insurance agent and attorney.

 

 

#1 Professional Liability – Errors and Omissions

Professional Liability insurance, also known as indemnity or Errors and Omissions insurance, protects your company if you’re sued because a client is dissatisfied. It also protects your business in the event of a client making a claim that you failed to deliver agreed-upon services. This applies whether the error is real or perceived.

This coverage could benefit your business if you regularly provide services or give clients advice. In some cases, a client might even request that you have this coverage to fulfill a contract.

What does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?

A client can claim that you failed to complete services for any number of reasons, from forgetting a detail they specified before the shoot, to a fire destroying wedding film before you can develop it. Unforeseen events can be costly when a lawsuit is involved. And it’s not always possible to predict how a client will respond to your work, whether you made a legitimate mistake or not. Professional Liability coverage can protect you in a situation like this, even helping you recover some of the income you lost in court fees.

 

#2 General Liability Insurance

In many cases, it’s not enough for a photographer to have only Professional Liability insurance. General Liability insurance coverage can protect your company if another business or individual claims physical injury, resulting in medical costs, or property damages. Here are some example situations that this type of coverage would help in:

Physical Injuries:

The photography profession involves setting up equipment quite often. This can increase the risk of trips and falls, and the odds that they might make a claim against you for that. General liability coverage could protect you against third party claims of injuries and medical costs for these types of situations.

Defamation, Slander, or Libel:

Being a photographer can sometimes mean working with high-profile clients. If you have employees who will also be around said high-profile clients, gossip can occur, which can lead to lawsuits from the celebrity against your business. General Liability insurance may help you with a settlement and defense costs in case of this type of scenario.

Client Property Damage Costs:

Setting up equipment and working with employees can mean that accidents happen. If you’re at a client’s house to do a portrait shoot and something of theirs is damaged, General Liability coverage may help with covering the associated costs.

 

 

#3 Business Property Insurance

Many business owners think that general liability coverage is enough to cover both their own losses and their customers’ losses. But in most cases, general liability insurance policies don’t protect you in terms of your own property. A Business Owner’s Policy is one way to make sure your own property is protected.

Business Owner’s Policy

This is a combination of business property insurance and general liability insurance. It’s a great choice for professional photographers who are concerned with protecting both themselves and their businesses. A Business Owner’s Policy can be used to cover small businesses that also need business equipment protection.

Photography equipment, in particular, requires special care and protection because, as you and all other photographers know well, it’s not cheap. Here are a couple of scenarios that a Business Owner’s Policy could help cover the costs of:

Data Recovery

Photography equipment can get damaged. If you were to accidentally drop your equipment bag, damaging your portable hard drive in the process, you would be unable to get your photos from it. In such an event, your Business Owner’s Policy could help you cover the expenses of recovering this last data. It could also help you pay to repair any other damages you may have sustained from dropping the bag.

Business Equipment Damage

Videos and pictures require proper cameras and other professional items. You wouldn’t photograph a wedding without top-notch equipment, right? With Business Owner’s coverage, you will get general liability and photography equipment protection. Let’s say you’re in the studio and one of your lights is knocked over and broken. A Business Owner’s Policy could help you cover the costs of this damage.

 

 

#4 Electronic Data Loss Insurance

In our modern age, your electronic data is crucial for the success of your business. Electric Data Loss protection coverage helps protect your business in case your important company information is lost. This covers damaged or lost electronic information and data, E-commerce coverage, and computer operation interruptions.

It’s impossible to know when your important data could be lost because computers and related devices can be unpredictable. There are also unfortunate events such as fires or floods that can cause electrical damage and data loss. This is why protection is absolutely necessary for any professional business owner.

For example, while the Hiscox standard Business Owner’s Policy described above does cover up to $10,000 for some restoration or replacement costs, it might not be enough.

Upgrading to Electronic Data Loss protection increases your loss limit to $25,000. However, this upgrade doesn’t cover employee actions, your personal mistakes, or your liability from data loss.

 

#5 Commercial Automobile Insurance

If you own a small business and frequently use vehicles in your work, you need Commercial Auto Insurance. This protects your company from everyday driving-related risks. Even if you’re one of the many photographers who rely on your personal vehicle for work, your personal insurance coverage will only apply to your drive to and from work.

Many business owners mistakenly assume that commercial auto insurance coverage isn’t necessary and that only people with company vans need it. But if you have employees who are driving to take care of business matters with their own cards, on company time, commercial insurance is necessary. If any of your employees are driving other workers or materials to a job site, a commercial insurance policy is necessary.

Without protection specifically designed for business vehicle usage, your company is at risk each day. Don’t leave this to chance; give yourself the peace of mind of a Commercial Automobile Insurance policy from Hiscox.

Hired/Non-owned Automobile Liability

Hiscox offers hired/non-owned automobile liability insurance. This optional upgrade will protect your company in the event that it’s liable for damages an employee caused with a rented or personal vehicle. To apply, the damages must have occurred when the employee used the vehicle for a business-related task. Note that this is protection for your business, not necessarily those who work for or with you.

This upgrade covers:

-Liability claims
-Employee Actions
-Defense costs.

It doesn’t cover:

-Property transportation
-Physical damages

Learn more about photography business insurance from Hiscox.

This resource from Pixpa has some great information about the different types of photography insurance coverage as well.

What About Cyber Liability Insurance?

Cyber liability insurance is something many photographers and videographers consider because it offers them protection against data breaches and hacking incidents. It is an insurance policy that pays for recovery expenses. Some policies also cover customer notifications, credit monitoring, legal fees, and any fines there may be.

If you are a photographer that accepts credit cards, stores customer information digitally, or conducts any of your business online or in the cloud, then cyber liability insurance is definitely something you will want to consider.

Can Business Insurance Help with Copyright Infringement?

Businesses have the right to protect their copyrights and their trademarks. However, mistakes can happen. If you are facing a claim of infringement, it is critical that you act. If you have business insurance, you need to let your agent know right away.

Some business insurance policies will help with copyright infringement. If the claim is small, your insurance company may pay the settlement for the material. However, you need to make sure you have the right kind of insurance policy in place for this kind of coverage. A basic general liability insurance plan may help only a little but might not help at all.

Where can I get coverage?

Hiscox offers insurance policies tailored to the needs of small businesses, such as your photography business.  

With the scenarios mentioned above, and the benefits offered by Hiscox, it’s clear why they are a top choice for professional photographers. The policies are easy to set up, leaving you extra time to focus on your creative work. Below are some common benefits to choosing Hiscox for your business insurance coverage:

You can buy direct

You can get immediately insurance coverage with Hiscox. Simply go online and buy it and you’re covered.

Competitive, affordable rates

In some states, business insurance with Hiscox can cost under $25 per month.

Read more about photography business insurance from Hiscox.

Conclusion

Not only does photography insurance protect you, but it can also protect your clients and help you pay for unexpected legal expenses or attorney fees. Items got lost or damaged all the time and working with people can be very unpredictable. You’ve worked hard to build your business, so don’t let these unexpected events put you at financial risk.

Get in touch with an insurance company today for an insurance quote to start protecting yourself and your photography business.