Videographers like you work with event organizers, individuals and businesses in recording important events and making video productions for commercial purposes.
You can work without insurance. However, being uninsured will result in problems in the long-run.
Note that the liability coverage of an event organizer’s festival insurance or sports event insurance doesn’t extend to you. That said, you won’t get protection if you accidentally injure others while working.
Protect yourself against the unexpected through videographer insurance. This will protect you from the unexpected costs of liability lawsuits, equipment breakdown or theft, business property damage, and other exposures.
Suppose someone at an event you are working at trips over your light stand and sustains injuries or property damage; This will result in a lawsuit, which necessitates video production liability insurance.
Many types of videographer liability insurance are available. But the most useful are general liability insurance, public liability insurance, and professional liability insurance.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | Full Frame | The Hartford | Progressive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $600,000/$2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | Included | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | Included | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $300,000 | Included | $300,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Can be included | No | Included | Included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Can be included | No | Included | Excluded |
| Equipment breakdown floater included? | No | Yes | Yes | Can be included | Yes | Included | Yes |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Before hiring you, clients might request general liability insurance.
General liability insurance grants coverage for bodily injury claims and property damage claims. Clients will ask you to get this and name them as additional insureds. Here are some situations where you’ll find this videography insurance useful:
You were hired as a videographer for a cycling event. While following the cyclists using a motorbike, the brakes stopped working. As a result, you rammed some of the participants and they got injured
A car company hired you to make a film about their displays. The C-stand was improperly installed. As a result, it toppled over and hit one of the client’s car displays
The general liability policy of professional and freelance videographer insurance packages doesn’t only cover claims for bodily injuries or property damage as it comes with add-ons. Expect to see these included in the policy’s terms:
Tools and equipment coverage
Rented premises liability coverage
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage
Public liability insurance for videographers is meant to protect your business in the event that a member of the public files an injury claim or was to claim you damaged their property. The policy will cover the legal fees accrued in the defense against the claim. In the event that the claim is ruled in favor of the complainant, the policy will cover the compensation or reimbursements.
Note that public liability insurance is rarely sold in the USA. Commercial insurance companies in the US offer this as part of a general liability policy. However, in the UK, you’ll commonly find public liability insurance instead of general liability insurance.
| CoverWallet | NEXT | Thimble (Best) | Hiscox | Full Frame | The Hartford | Progressive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $200,000 | $1,000,000 | $500,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $200,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Yes | Can be included | Yes | Yes | No |
| License defense coverage included? | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $500 | $50/$10,000 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
General liability insurance doesn’t cover exposures that are caused by your negligence, inexperience, or oversights. And so, only having this doesn’t guarantee comprehensive protection.
You need to purchase professional liability insurance that covers the gaps of a general liability policy. Use the table above to compare the professional liability insurance of companies we recommend.
A professional liability policy is the videography business insurance that provides protection if clients file a claim because issues resulted from your services. Below are some situations where you’ll find this useful:
You accidentally deleted the files for a film production project. As a result, you failed to deliver the output on time and the client lost money
You were hired for a party. One of the kids tripped and got electrocuted because you failed to isolate the wiring of a video equipment
A client was unhappy because the video recording you made for them was poorly edited and had poor sound quality. He then filed a claim and accused you of overinflating the cost of your service and faking your portfolio
Video production business insurance packages might allow you to choose between a claims-made professional liability policy and an occurrence based professional liability policy.
The per occurrence professional liability insurance is the better option because it provides coverage during and after its policy duration, so long as the covered peril happens while you’re an active policyholder.
Sexual abuse and molestation coverage might be included in a videographer’s professional liability policy. Another add-on to professional liability insurance is media liability coverage which grants protection if your video production is offensive, has violated intellectual property rights, etc.
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| 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 |
Similar to a photography insurance program, videography insurance program will offer a commercial property policy if you own an office, studio, or any other building that’s used for commercial purposes.
Use the table above to compare the commercial property insurance of companies we recommend.
Commercial property insurance ensures that you survive in case your office or videography studio gets damaged or destroyed because of:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Malicious mischief
Civil commotion
Lightning
Volcanic action
Sinkhole collapse
Aircraft
Impact
Vehicle
Falling objects
When any of the above perils happen, commercial property insurance will give you money equal to the actual cash value or replacement cost of the building.
Of course, this videography business insurance doesn’t only cover your studio or office. Coverage also applies to video cameras, laptops, tripods, lighting, props, microphone, audio cables, and valuable documents. However, note that this is only the case if damage or destruction happened within the premises of your business.
| 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 |
Professional and freelance videographer insurance plans allow you to bundle general liability and commercial property insurance into a business owner’s policy.
So basically, a business owner’s policy is a fusion of general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. By buying this, you get immediate coverage against liability lawsuits and business property damage.
What makes a business owner’s policy great is that it offers a 5%-10% discount. This is something that you wouldn’t experience by buying general liability and commercial property insurance as stand-alone policies.
Note that a business owner’s policy isn’t available all the time. Your business profile will determine your eligibility for this coverage. Use the table above to compare the business owner’s policy of companies we recommend.
| NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | Full Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $5,000/$25,000 | $5,000/$75,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $5,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | No | No |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 | $0 |
Videography equipment can be as expensive as filmmaking equipment. You will incur significant financial losses if your video cameras, laptop, drones, and other devices get lost or damaged.
Video production equipment insurance allows you to cover equipment repair or replacement expenses without incurring financial losses. Use the table above to compare the features of this insurance, as underwritten by the best companies
The coverage of this videography business insurance applies when video cameras, drones, laptops, and other devices get damaged or lost due to:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Operator error
Impact
Electrical shorts
Electrical surge
Mechanical breakdown
There are some salient points you need to remember about this coverage. First, this insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear. Second, tools and equipment under financing might not be covered. Third, depending on which insurance company you work with, video equipment insurance might cover borrowed or hired equipment.
You use a cargo van or any other similar vehicle to transport equipment and personnel to different project sites. And so, it’s crucial for you to get commercial auto insurance. Commercial auto insurance has the following functions:
Auto liability coverage-Auto liability coverage in commercial auto insurance will cover medical expenses and reimbursements if your videography business’s vehicle causes an accident. Also, this will cover administrative costs, settlements, compensatory payments, and other legal expenses if concerned third parties decide to take things to court
Physical damage coverage-Physical damage coverage has two types; collision and comprehensive. Comprehensive physical damage coverage will cover your videography vehicle’s parts repair or replacement if it got damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. On the other hand, collision physical damage coverage will cover parts repair or replacement if your videography business’s vehicle incurred damage after colliding with a car or object
MedPay/personal injury protection - MedPay/personal injury protection covers the driver and passengers of your videography business’s vehicle. MedPay covers funeral and medical expenses. On the other hand, personal injury protection covers funeral expenses, medical expenses, after-hospital visits, rehabilitation, lost income compensation, etc.
Work-related injuries can happen while you’re working with employees to capture videos. Of course, other injuries are simply unavoidable as they’re a result of day to day tasks.
Work-related injuries continue to be one of the most costly exposures when running a business. And so, be smart and invest in workers compensation insurance.
Workers compensation insurance initially covers full-time and part-time employees. However, insurance companies allow you to name yourself as an insured.
So how does this insurance work? When you or an employee sustains a work-related injury or disease, workers compensation will kick in and cover these costs:
EMT service
Medical treatment
Hospitalization
Medication
Rehabilitation and retraining
Lost wages
Funeral expenses and allowance to dependents in case of death
Understand that authorities will impose stiff fines and penalties if your part-time and full-time employees are not covered by workers compensation insurance. If you’re working with independent contractors, interns, or volunteers, then you can skip getting this coverage.
It’s very problematic if the raw footage and other important files for an output get wiped. In such a scenario, cyber liability insurance can help.
Cyber liability insurance comes with an electronic data loss coverage. This will cover the extra expenses for recovering data that got lost because of data breach or human error.
Aside from covering data loss, cyber liability insurance can also help if your computer gets hacked because of a cyber attack or cyber security issue. Things commonly covered are:
Public relations expenses
Attorney fees and other legal costs
Professional services for containing the breach
Lost revenues
| Thimble | Full Frame | |
|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $600,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $5,000 | $100,000 |
| Coverage duration | Up to one month | 1-3 days |
One day videographer insurance is a short-term general liability policy that lasts for a minimum of 24 hours. This is the best insurance for videographers that only work as side hustlers.
Of course, you can extend the coverage up to several weeks if needed. Note that the features of one day videographer insurance vary depending on which insurance company it came from. That said, use the table above to compare the features of this coverage from companies we recommend.
Your client’s wedding insurance won’t provide coverage for the unexpected costs and financial losses if an accident happens during the wedding because of your fault.
Wedding videographer insurance is a specialty insurance plan made for videographers that solely work on wedding events.
This insurance package grants coverage for three days or one year depending on your choice. Policies included are general liability, tools and equipment, cyber liability, and professional liability insurance.
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General liability insurance | $22 | $264 | $0-$500 |
| Professional liability insurance | $32 | $384 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $30 | $360 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $50 | $600 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | $60 | $720 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $75 | $900 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Cyber liability insurance | $73 | $876 | $500-$1,000 |
| Video equipment insurance | Cost usually added to general liability insurance | Cost usually added to general liability insurance | $500 |
The average videographer insurance cost is $22 per month or $264 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. This assumes that you’re a videographer with 5 employees and make $500,000 or less per year. Costs vary depending on several factors, such as duration of coverage, claims history, business history, location, number of employees, annual revenue, and annual payroll.
You can get a further idea about the cost of premiums by taking a look at this table that shows how much the best videographer insurance companies charge for a $1 million general liability policy:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT | $15 | $180 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for videographers |
| CoverWallet | $17 | $204 | Videographer insurance quotes comparison online |
| Thimble | $20 | $240 | Videographer insurance by the hours, days, weeks, or months |
| Hiscox | $25.41 | $304.92 | Videographer insurance with worldwide coverage |
| Hill & Usher | $31 | $372 | Highly tailored insurance for videography studios |
| Progressive | $54 | $648 | Customizable videographer insurance |
| Full Frame | $59 | $708 | Freelance videographers |
| The Hartford | $62 | $744 | Business owner’s policy for videographers |
Don't forget to compare quotes online. Comparing quotes is one of the best ways to find the best coverage and avoid getting scammed. Start by clicking the "Get Quotes" button on this page.
Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!
When looking for a videographer insurance company to work with, you want to look out for insurers whose policy can protect your videography business against costly claims, equipment mishaps, and more. Don't let unplanned events damage your reputation or get in the way of your videography business. Here are the best videographer insurance companies to consider working with. Read to know their pros, cons, and monthly pricing for a $1 million general liability coverage.
Best overall
Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post
Fastest general liability insurance for videographers
Great customer service and reputation
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Outstanding value for money
Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount
Couldn’t find any
NEXT’s videography insurance offers commercial auto, general liability, workers compensation, and commercial property insurance. You have the option of bundling two or more policies into a business owner’s policy for a 10% discount. Choose NEXT because it provides a live certificate of insurance you can send as a text message, email, or social media post.
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for videographers
Average cost: $15 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Provides four coverage options
Stable rates
Get insured and pay premiums online
Streamlined online policy management
Policy cancellation takes a long time to process
Coverwallet will ensure you through its insurance for video production services. This is a tailored insurance coverage offering four coverage options-general liability only, general liability and commercial property insurance, business owner’s policy with workers comp, and a custom plan.
Don’t forget that CoverWallet is ready to help you find the best coverage. Use this company’s online quotes comparison platform to see the offers and pricing of other companies providing tailored coverage for videographers.
Best for: Videographer insurance quotes comparison online
Average cost: $17 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Affordable pricing with policies starting at $17 per month
Ease of use with quotes being processed online in less than 60 seconds
Coverage amounts of between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
You can purchase coverage by the hour, weeks, days, or months
You can’t reach customer service by calling
Founded only in 2016, Thimble, known in the past as Verifly, is the newest kid on the block. Their videographer policy is underwritten by Markel Insurance Company and Global Aerospace Inc., both of which hold good AM Best ratings.
The videographer insurance policy from Thimble is good because of the insurer's level of flexibility. You do not have to pay for a year of coverage as you can purchase an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly policy. Thimble offers:
General liability
Professional liability
Additional covers including drone insurance
Note that with these policies, you are able to add extra insureds, like the venue administrator, for free. Additionally, you will get waivers of subrogation when you purchase the cover without any additional costs.
Best for: Videographer insurance by the hours, days, weeks, or months
Average cost: $20 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Worldwide coverage
14-day money-back guarantee
Automatic policy renewal
You need to call an agent to avail other business insurance policies
Hiscox’s videographer insurance offers a business owner’s policy and cyber liability insurance online. Hiscox’s business owner’s policy offers a general liability coverage with a $300,000-$1 million per occurrence limit and $600,000-$2 million aggregate limit.
The commercial property coverage of the business owner’s policy provides a minimum $25,000 for the building and its contents.
As for Hiscox’s cyber liability insurance, this has a $250,000 per occurrence limit and a $250,000-$1 million aggregate limit.
Best for: Videographer insurance with worldwide coverage
Average cost: $25.41 per month
Our rating: 9/10
The standard policy can be a million or higher
Free, customizable quotes are available online
Comprehensive insurance policies are available
Not as digital-friendly
Policies are underwritten by a third-party
No one-day videography policies
While Hill & Usher is a full-service insurance agency, its policies are underwritten by third-party insurers, including Zurich, Travelers, Firemen's Fund, and The Hartford. Still, their specialty photography insurance plan, Package Choice, is one to beat.
This package offers various coverage options depending on a number of factors, including whether the videographer has their own private studio or not. They work with you to ensure that your policy best meets your business needs.
Best for: Highly tailored insurance for videography studios
Average cost: $31 per month
Our rating: 8/10
A pool of coverage options
Longstanding insurer with more than a century of experience
Each client is assigned an agent from the point of a quote request
No one-day videography policy on offer
The Hartford was established in 1810 and has built a solid reputation offering a number of insurance products for vehicles, homes, and businesses.
The Hartford is the most traditional insurer on this list. Its employee coverage stands out as it combines worker's compensation and employer’s liability. If you are a small business looking for an insurer you can grow with, The Hartford is a safe option.
It is noteworthy that The Hartford offers a Business Owner's policy as part of their photography insurance offering. Further, you get a cover to cushion you in the event that your income is interrupted.
Best for: Business owner’s policy for videographers
Average cost: $62 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Extensive experience and a strong reputation
Online quotes are processed in a few minutes
Multiple coverage options offered
Processing a quote is tedious as you've got to give a considerable amount of personal and business information
One-day videography insurance is not offered
Progressive has been in operation since 1937, during which time they have diversified their insurance product pool to include photography and videography insurance. Once you contact Progressive, you are provided with an agent who'll work with you to customize your photography business insurance. The insurer boasts an A++ rating and has a robust financial standing. Thus, you can rest assured that claims and reimbursements will be paid on time.
Best for: Customizable videographer insurance
Average cost: $54 per month
Our rating: 8/10
Option of one-day insurance policies or yearly plan
Tailor-made to meet your videography business
24/7 access to your policy documents
Iowa, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are excluded from coverage
A newer company without much of a reputation
Full Frame Insurance offers photographers and videographers policy plans for as low as $59. These policies are underwritten by a partner, Veracity Insurance Solution. You do not have the option of tailoring your coverage to meet your specific business needs. Still, you have the option of multiple add-ons. Policies you can get from this company are general liability, professional liability, cyber liability, equipment insurance, and more.
Best for: Freelance videographers
Average cost: $59 per month
Our rating: 7/10
Use anyone except Employers. Period. They are non-transparent and shameful. After I complained long enough to warrant a call from a supervisor, the supervisor called back from a PRIVATE NUMBER (no caller ID), left a message that they are not reversing their decision (without any communication with me), and failed to leave a phone number for me to call back. She was hiding! They also fact find via email and phone calls, which is terrific for speed and communication. However, after setting a precedence of email or phone calls, they send time sensitive information via email, without any heads up... they are hoping you miss it and forfeit via expiration. Evil policies. Go elsewhere.
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
Not all those who wander are lost.
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