Insurance; yes it sounds dull but as photography can be one of the more expensive hobbies and professions, it’s a no brainer that we ‘should’ insure equipment against all eventualities. Yet so little of us bother. That is why we will explore; why you need insurance, what to look for when choosing an insurance company, how you can reduce the cost of your premiums and ten top tips with some suggested pointers of where to find photography dedicated insurers.
To insure or not to insure? That is the Question.
Just like every other insurance system; insurance for photographers is there to protect you and your equipment. The case for having insurance is simple: can you afford to replace your camera and accessories should an accident happen?
And that’s not all. In this day and age it’s not just your equipment that’s at stake. For example professionals are at risk when dissatisfied clients make potentially finance-crippling and reputation-damaging claims. Indemnity insurance is intended to protect your businesses from claims of negligence, breach of duty of care, infringement of intellectual property, loss of data and client dishonesty.
Insurance firms can provide cover for mobile or studio based photographers, and can also protect the photographer’s financial interests if they are in dispute with a client over work they have done, or where there is an allegation the photographer has failed to uphold their duty of care or been negligent. What is more in an age of the ‘blame claim’, photographers are at risk of being sued as should their tripod or other equipment accidently cause someone to trip over and injure themselves – public liability insurance is there to protect you if a claim is made and you may even want to cover yourself in case an accident happens to you whilst photographing.
Shopping advice
There are four main steps a photographer should follow when choosing an insurance policy.
1. Level up - Decide what level of insurance you want: amateur, semi-pro, professional. It’s worth noting that if you are an amateur photographer who isn't making money from photography, you may be able to cover your equipment using an existing home’s content insurance policy. Check with your policy holder to be sure.
2. Calculation stations
Calculate the total cost of the equipment you want to be replaced. Also consider whether you want to insure the gear for its replacement value or on a new-for-old basis. Although it’s tempting to try and get yourself a good deal, it always pays to be completely honest in your proposal and don’t leave anything out in the hope that your premiums will be lower as this could mean you lose out in the long run.
3. Let the research begin
This is where the internet becomes your new best friend; search engines and even comparison sites will churn up endless lists of dedicated brokers and may even compare prices offering you the ‘best deal’. When you have a handful of desirable quotes matching the specifics you have outlined in steps 1 and 2, check that all your demands are met and isolate any elements of cover that are not necessary, for example most amateurs won’t need indemnity insurance so don’t be afraid to ask for amendments to be made to reduce the cost.
Furthermore amateur photographers may not want to take out worldwide cover, as it could be cheaper just to opt for simple travel insurance as and when holidays arise. Alternatively professional photographers working abroad may find it cheaper and easier to hire insured gear on location and remove the expense and hassle of insuring and transporting their own kit, again this mean worldwide cover can be removed from your policy.
4. Check the small print
As with most insurance policies, photographers may need to agree to paying an excess to lower the policy price and it is an important consideration to make. The main thing to decide is – is the excess amount reasonable in relation to what the insurance company will be paying out? Also identify in the small print what the claims process is and how long you could be waiting for the payout. If for example you are running a business your concerns over replacing kit as quickly as possible will be paramount.
