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Photography business insurance will protect you if photo equipment gets lost by accident or stolen. You can also use this to cover lawsuits for bodily injuries, property damage, and copyright infringement.
Policies included in a photographer insurance plan are general liability, professional liability, commercial property, and more.
Yes,Photographers need to have the minimum level of liability insurance upon the client’s request. Clients who have big projects might only hire you if you have $1 million-$2 million liability coverage, which they can be named as additional insureds.
Photographer liability insurance is a term that pertains to either a general liability or professional liability policy. The sections below discuss how each works.
| General liability insurance per occurrence limit | General liability insurance aggregate limit | |
| NEXT(Best) | $500,000/$1,000,000 | $500,000/$2,000,00 |
| Thimble | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| The Hartford | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| CoverWallet | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Progressive | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Allstate | $1,000,000/$2,00,000 | $2,000,000 |
Accidents can happen in a photography session, especially if you do this outside. However, Freelance and professional photographer insurance programs offer a general liability policy as a primary coverage. That said, protection begins with this.
General liability insurance for photographers takes care of situations where your photography session results in an injury or property damage to third parties.
These are the expenses that your general liability policy can take care of each time clients, independent contractors, homeowners, businesses, and other third parties file a claim for bodily injury or property damage:
For photography studio insurance, what we recommend is a commercial property policy. Commercial property insurance will reimburse your losses if the photo studio gets damaged or destroyed because of:
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | The Hartford | Progressive | |
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $170,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $20,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | $2,500 | Included | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Excluded | Included | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included | Included | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Excluded |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded | Included | Included |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Excluded | Included | Included |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
A business owner’s policy is a combination of commercial property and business insurance for photographers. It’s cost is cheaper than when you bought the two policies separately.
| CoverWallet | Thimble | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | The Hartford | Progressive | |
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $500,000 | $250,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Photography Equipment Insurance For Camera Equipment
Numerous options exist for getting photography equipment insurance for camera equipment. You can go for stand-alone tools and equipment coverage, general liability insurance with optional tools and equipment coverage, commercial property insurance, and inland marine insurance.
Authorities will require workers compensation insurance if you’re a photographer with one or more full-time and part-time employees.
Employees can fall from a height while installing lighting or props. Bodily injuries might be sustained due to squatting or bending. Moreover, camera gear is heavy and continuous lifting can result in muscle strains.
Workers compensation insurance will take care of the following expenses if an employee sustains a work-related injury or disease:
Insurance companies sell photographer insurance for one day as a short-term general liability policy. A short-term general liability insurance only lasts for hours, days, or weeks.
The general liability policy of one day photography insurance has a $1 million-$2 million per occurrence limit. Some optional policies found in the usual general liability policy might not be included.
The average photography insurance cost is $39 per month or $468 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. Factors that affect the cost of premiums are claims history, business history, business size, number of employees, and annual revenues.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
| General liability insurance | $39 | $468 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $49 | $588 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $45 | $540 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $70 | $840 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $60 | $720 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Cyber liability insurance | $50 | $600 | $500-$1,000 |
| Photography equipment insurance | $41 | $492 | $500 |
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
underwrites a tailored insurance for photographers having general liability, workers compensation, commercial auto, and commercial property insurance policies. Work with NEXT because you can get a 10% discount if you decide to get covered with two or more insurance. In addition, NEXT issues a COI for photographers instantly online, allowing them to provide proof of insurance quickly.
Average cost: $17 per month
CoverWallet tailored photo business insurance offers general liability coverage, professional liability, commercial property, and other business insurance policies. CoverWallet allows you to add additional insureds for free and cancel a policy anytime.
Average cost: $25 per month
Thimble is fairly new in the insurance landscape, having only been established in 2016. Third-party insurance agencies, including Global Aerospace, Inc., and Markel Insurance Company, underwrite Thimble’s insurance policies.
Their photography insurance policies allow you to add extra insureds at no cost.
Average cost: $37 per month
State Farm, founded in 1922, has its headquarters in Bloomington. According to its annual report, the company works with 97 million customers, handles 24,000 claims, and has paid $7 billion for catastrophic losses. With an A++ financial strength rating, State Farm assures it has your back.
Average cost: State Farm doesn’t state an average pricing for its photographer insurance
Average cost: $39 per month
Our rating: 6/10
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
9.4 / 10
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
2.8 / 10
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
2.8 / 10
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
0 / 10
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
10 / 10
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
10 / 10
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
7.7 / 10
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
9.4 / 10
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
10 / 10
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
0.6 / 10
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
10 / 10
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
10 / 10
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
10 / 10
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
10 / 10
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
10 / 10
Best insurance ever
10 / 10
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
10 / 10
Great experience
6 / 10
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
0 / 10
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
10 / 10
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
10 / 10
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
10 / 10
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
10 / 10
Love their business insurance solutions for freelancers! Great app!
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