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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 |
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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 |
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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
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