If photography is your business, then you’ll know how important camera insurance is. Camera-specific insurance is designed to help protect your equipment – and therefore your business, by providing a safety net so that you can focus on helping your clients get the service they need.
With years of specialist camera insurance behind us, we understand the needs of the photography business, so we thought we’d dig a little deeper into why a one-size-fits-all solution isn’t the answer when it comes to camera insurance.
WHY MIGHT YOU NEED SPECIALIST INSURANCE?
Professional photographers might want to consider specialist insurance because of the unique, additional risks that come with their work; from liability for accidents while on a shoot, to portfolio damage, specialist insurance adds an extra layer of protection that you don’t get with standard insurance policies. So, you’ll still get the same benefits that come with a standard policy, such as Replacement Hire and New for Old, but with additional cover that looks after other people and their property too, such as employees and clients.
For example, if you’re photographing weddings or events and you’re in public spaces and moving equipment around between different venues, then you could be more at risk of things such as theft or damage, not to mention legal costs. It only takes one small incident to cause a lot of expense; a dropped camera, or a piece of kit left behind.
If you do damage or lose your equipment, then it’s not just a case of buying a new camera; it can take years to build up your photography kit and chances are you’ve built up quite a collection, not only the cameras themselves but also lenses, chargers, memory cards, tripods, props and editing equipment and while some of those items can be replaced quite cheaply, others, such as DSLRs, can cost quite a bit to replace. Never mind the loss of earnings while you take the time to replace them, and some items, such as props, aren’t that easily replaced.
| Your Risk / Need | Why You Might Need Specialist Insurance |
| Expensive equipment | Cameras, lenses, tripods, memory cards, chargers and editing equipment can be costly to replace. |
| Accidental damage | A dropped camera or damaged kit could mean a significant unexpected expense. |
| Theft and loss | Shoots often involve carrying equipment between venues and working in public spaces, increasing the risk of kit being stolen or left behind. |
| Liability | Specialist cover can protect you if you accidentally injure someone or damage a client’s or other person’s property. |
| Legal costs | An incident on a shoot could lead to claims and potentially expensive legal costs. |
| Loss of earnings | If essential equipment is damaged or lost, time spent replacing it could mean missed work and lost income. |
| Hard-to-replace items | Props and specialist equipment may not be straightforward to replace, even if they’re not particularly expensive. |
THE KEY COMPONENTS OF PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY INSURANCE
You can still get benefits such as Replacement Hire and New for Old cover alongside additional specialist protection, including:
- Accidental Portfolio Damage
Accidental portfolio damage is an unexpected incident involving your portfolio; for example, an accident that happens during printing, the theft of a portfolio, flood damage or a portfolio being misplaced while travelling.
- Professional Indemnity
While public liability might cover you for any physical accidents or property damage that happen while you’re carrying out your work, professional indemnity covers the services you provide to your clients; for example, if a client is dissatisfied with their photos, or a missed deadline results in financial loss.
- Props
Props cover helps protect things such as backdrops, costumes, props, lighting etc. Apart from having to pay to repair or replace equipment if it gets stolen, lost or damaged, you also have to factor in the delay to current and future projects that could leave you in breach of contract, as well as the impact on your budget.
- Associates Liability
This is legal liability to any fellow photographers or assistants who are named on your policy, to cover any compensation or costs arising from their use of your photographic equipment; this is included within your public liability cover limit.
As a professional photographer, your livelihood hangs on you having the right skills and the right equipment, and for that equipment to be in good working order. Having the right camera insurance in place provides peace of mind for you and your clients, which in turn increases your credibility. It also means that if the worst were to happen, you have cover in place to ensure you’re up and running again without missing a beat, or a project. Give us a call or take a look at the website for a free, no-strings quote today.
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time.
We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations.
