- Photographer insurance can protect photographers and videographers against liabilities like injuries, property damage, equipment damage, errors in work, and more.
- Most businesses tailor their photographer’s insurance coverage by choosing several plans to match their needs.
- Arguably, the 3 most important types of business insurance for photographers are general liability, workers’ comp, and business property/equipment coverage.
- It’s important to consider the everyday risks your business faces when choosing which types of coverage to purchase and to understand what types of insurance are legally required in your state (i.e. workers’ comp)
- To find the right plans for your business, we recommend using an online quote tool to get matched to the right type of plans to meet your business’ needs and state requirements.
When you buy something using links found on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content is reviewed & supervised by The Los Angeles Times Commerce Team.
Best Photographer Insurance for 2024
Photographer liability insurance starts as low as $21.25/month.*
*Monthly payment calculations (i) do not include initial premium down payment and (ii) may vary by state, insurance provider, and nature of your business. Averages based on July-September 2023 data of 10% of total SimplyBusiness policies sold.
Quotes available through:
On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- What types of business insurance do photographers need?
- Our top picks for photographers insurance providers
- What does photographer insurance cover?
- How much does photographer liability insurance cost?
- Why do I need photographer insurance?
- How do I buy photography business insurance?
- FAQ: Photographer insurance
- Recommended articles
- Related topics
On This Page
- Key Takeaways
- What types of business insurance do photographers need?
- Our top picks for photographers insurance providers
- What does photographer insurance cover?
- How much does photographer liability insurance cost?
- Why do I need photographer insurance?
- How do I buy photography business insurance?
- FAQ: Photographer insurance
- Recommended articles
- Related topics
Kiah Treece - Business Finance
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Photography insurance is often a combination of several types of business insurance policies specifically designed to meet the needs of professional photographers and videographers and protect against things like bodily injury, lawsuits, property damage, and theft of equipment
As a photographer, you encounter risks unique to you industry such as liabilities relating to work with clients, damage or theft of photography equipment, and more. For this reason, photographers insurance typically includes a mix of general liability and professional liability insurance as well as some form of equipment coverage. If you have employees, your state likely also requires you to have workers’ comp in place.
Whether you operate a full-fledged photography business or freelance as a side gig, having photography insurance is critical to protecting your business and your clients from financial losses.
What types of business insurance do photographers need?
At a minimum, photographers and videographers should consider getting these 3 types of business insurance:
- General Liability insurance: Photographer liability insurance protects clients and third parties in case of bodily injury or damage to their property as a result of your business activities.
- Property insurance: Inland marine insurance and business personal property insurance can protect tools and equipment from loss, damage, and theft either in the field or at your main location of operations.
- Workers’ Comp insurance: Protects you and your employees if you are injured on the job. Pays for medical bills, lost wages/income, temporary disability, etc.
That said, here’s a broader look at the most common types of business insurance available for photographers and videographers:
Advertiser Disclosure
Protects photographers from claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal/advertising injury.
Examples of coverage:
- Client injuries at your photography studio (i.e slips & falls)
- Damage to client property when shooting at their home
Covers damage, loss, and theft of physical assets like gear/equipment at your business’ primary location - does not cover the building.
Examples of coverage:
- Replaces gear stolen from your headquarters
- Replaces props, equipment, & machinery lost in a fire
Great for fieldwork. Covers physical assets like photography equipment when stored or used at off-site locations or in transit over land.
Examples of coverage:
- Repairs photography gear damaged at a shoot
- Replaces photography gear stolen from your car en route to a job
Covers photographers and their employees from financial losses & liability if they become injured or ill due to work-related causes.
Examples of coverage:
- Covers medical bills for employees injured at work
- Covers lost wages from being unable to work
Protects photographers against claims of business negligence, as well as lawsuits resulting from errors or omissions of information.
Examples of coverage:
- Failure to deliver services promised
- Covers lawsuits of defamation or slander
Protects companies’ data & intellectual property from cyber-related risks such as financial losses caused by cyber-attacks, external data breaches, etc.
Examples of coverage:
- Data recovery costs
- Legal fees & lawsuits
Our top picks for photographers insurance providers
Company Name
Types of Insurance Offered
View Plans
General Liability - Professional Liability - Business Personal Property
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What does photographer insurance cover?
What your business insurance will cover depends on the types of policies and coverage you select.
Comprehensive photographer insurance policies should cover the costs of:
- Medical bills for customers and employees
- Repairing and replacing business or customer property
- Paying for lawyers, lawsuits, and settlements
You can customize your photographer insurance to meet your unique business needs. Some of the most important things included in photography insurance include the following.
Coverage for your photographers & clients
If you have a photography business with employees, photographer insurance can be an important way to safeguard both the business and its employees. If your policy includes workers’ compensation, it can cover you and your employees if someone gets hurt or sick on the job.
General liability coverage, can protect both your business and its staff against lawsuits and payouts arising from injuries to customers or members of the public and their property due to accidents. It can also protect employees if they accidentally use copyrighted or other protected materials.
Your cameras, equipment, and property
Photographer insurance can also protect your valuable cameras, equipment, and property. It can provide comprehensive coverage for any equipment and other property that is lost or damaged, whether this be through theft, accidental damage, or even vandalism.
In addition to cameras, insurance can cover things like computers and other photo-processing equipment. If a covered event occurs, insurance will not only pay for repairs or replacements, but it may also cover any additional damages resulting from damaged equipment, such as a missed shooting or lost customer photos.
Coverage for your photography operation
Photographer insurance can protect your business from incidents that could hinder operations. It can include insurance for photography equipment, as well as rented equipment, so you can quickly recover if something is stolen or damaged.
Photographer insurance can also protect against interruptions in your photography business due to natural disasters and other events. It can cover costs such as paying lost revenue if you have to temporarily shut down the business due to an unforeseen event.
How much does photographer liability insurance cost?
Roughly speaking, small photography and videography businesses can pay between $260 and $1,000 per year for photographer liability insurance.
Photographer liability insurance starts as low as $21.25/month*
*Monthly payment calculations (i) do not include initial premium down payment and (ii) may vary by state, insurance provider, and nature of your business.
Averages based on July-September 2023 data of 10% of our total policies sold.
The cost of insurance can be substantially higher if you choose to add other types of coverage, such as commercial property coverage. Coverage can exceed $2,000 annually if you include workers’ comp and protection for expensive commercial property, such as drones.
The cost of photographer insurance can vary greatly depending on several factors, including:
- Type & amount of insurance coverage selected
- Size of your business
- Number of employees
- Operational risks (fieldwork vs studio)
- Your state
Before settling on coverage, take a moment to consider the factors that impact pricing, including the amount and type of insurance that you need to protect your business adequately. We recommend working with an insurance professional to find the right coverage for your business.
Why do I need photographer insurance?
Professional photographer insurance is essential to protect you, your assets, and your livelihood.
You have likely invested in expensive equipment to carry out your work. This can pose a substantial financial risk if something is damaged or stolen. Additionally, if you routinely interact with the public, you could face significant liability if someone is hurt due to your business operations.
Photographer insurance may include various types of media liability coverage, workers’ compensation, business interruption coverage, and other optional protections. These are all coverages you may need to protect yourself from liabilities arising from client dealings, workplace accidents, and natural disasters that could temporarily halt operations.
How do I buy photography business insurance?
Buying photography business insurance is generally the same as purchasing any other commercial insurance policy.
It first requires assessing your business’s risks and needs, vetting various providers to understand their offerings and potential costs, and binding coverage that fits your budget and risk profile.
Here are the general steps to follow when purchasing photography business insurance:
1
Consider your specific business needs and risk factors for coverage.
Before shopping for coverage, figure out what risks your business faces and what kind of coverage you need. Think about the type and size of your business, the kind of photography work you do, your business location, how many employees you have, your equipment and other assets, and how much is required to protect the business as a whole. Consider what kinds of damages could result if a client or member of the public is injured during your work. Evaluating these factors will help you decide what types of coverage you need and how much you need to purchase.
2
Research insurers and compare quotes.
Once you know what risks you must protect against, look at different companies to compare offerings and prices. The LA Times has a tool that can help you do this. It will show you how much each company charges so you can pick the best option for your business.
3
Read all policy documents carefully to understand what is covered.
When comparing providers, review each company’s policy documents to understand what is covered and any exclusions or limitations. Be sure to read the fine print as many of these things can have serious impacts if an incident occurs. Ask your insurance broker for clarification if you have any questions.
4
Bind coverage that suits your budget and needs.
Once you find a provider that offers the coverage you need at a reasonable price, complete your purchase by signing your policy documents and paying premiums. Remember to retain copies of your policy documents so you can refer to them if you think there has been a covered event.
5
Stay up to date on industry changes or risks that may affect your coverage.
After you buy coverage, try to keep up with changes in your specific business or general industry. These changes may impact the risks you face and the amounts or types of coverage you should include in your policy.
6
Periodically review your policy to ensure you are adequately protected.
It’s a good idea to review your insurance policy and costs at least once a year to ensure you have adequate coverage. Regularly reviewing your policy can help you decide whether to make adjustments to your current coverage or change providers if the offerings or costs change.
7
Make timely premium payments for continued coverage.
As an ongoing part of administering your policy, pay your premiums on time every month or year. Doing so will keep your policy current and help you avoid gaps in coverage.
To find the best insurance for your photography business, you can also speak to an insurance agent who can help you understand your coverage needs.
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FAQ: Photographer insurance
Do I have to get insurance for my photography business?
If you run a photography business for profit, it’s incredibly important that you have some amount of insurance. In all states but Texas, you’re even required to have workers’ compensation if you have employees. Many risks come with running a business, and having the right kind of coverage is a critical part of protecting your assets and livelihood. Without insurance, any damages or legal issues that arise in connection to your business could lead to serious financial losses.
What insurance risks come with owning a photography business?
Owning a photography business can come with various insurance risks. The most common include property damage, injury to clients, legal liability, and loss of income due to equipment failure. Depending on the type of photography work you do, you may also face risks related to employee injury or illness, losses resulting from a data breach, and losses incurred while transporting business equipment to or from job sites.
Can I get temporary photographer insurance?
Depending on the insurance company, you may be able to purchase temporary or short-term photographer insurance for a specific job or for a timeframe ranging from a month up to a year. It’s important to note that these policies usually provide less coverage than standard 12-month policies and are often more expensive than full-length coverage.
About the Author
Kiah Treece is a business finance expert with more than five years of editorial experience. Through her experience as a small business owner, real estate investor, and lawyer, she’s knowledgeable in the areas of banking, loans, financing, and insurance for small businesses. Her first-hand experience has enabled her to break down complex financial topics to help consumers make informed decisions so they can spend their money wisely.
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