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What Photographers Need to Know About Business Insurance

The photography industry is an exciting one with no two days ever the same. Whether you work in a studio or you’re out and about shooting on location, photography is a profession that comes with risks.  

Let’s explore some of the key risks that you may face as a photographer and how business insurance can protect your business. 

Why do photographers need to consider insurance? 

Working with clients,  visiting spots for photoshoots and carrying expensive equipment is all in a days work as a photographer.  

A claim could have a significant impact on your business not only financially but to your reputation as wellThere’s also the personal time it takes to defend a claim -an added worry you can live without. 

What types of insurances photographers need to consider? 

Public Liability insurance* 

One of the most common forms of insurance is Public Liability. Sometimes referred to as General Liability insurance, it’s designed to protect you and your business against claims by providing compensation for property damage and personal injury or death in circumstances that are not covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). 

Public Liability insurance also covers any legal costs that you may incur while defending yourself. 

Professional Indemnity insurance* 

No matter how much care you may take as a photographer, a client can claim that you were negligent in the delivery of your professional services. All it takes is for a dissatisfied client to be unhappy with your product or an accusation that you have copied someone else’s work for a claim to occur. 

Professional Indemnity insurance (PI) is designed to protect you and your employees by providing cover against such claims, including your legal defence costs. Having the appropriate Professional Indemnity cover gives you peace of mind, knowing you can confidently go about your work and protect your reputation should the worst happen. 

Business Insurance* 

Take the time to think about all the equipment you need to get the job done professionally, your camera, lens, flashes, tripod. The list goes on. Your tools of trade allow you to perform your creative profession as a photographer and without them it’s hard to take on any jobs.  

Even if you operate from a studio, if something were to happen to your tools of trade , the impact upon your business could be devastating.  

Business Insurance is designed to safeguard your contents, stock and other assets against unexpected events like fire, storm, theft and accidental damage.  

Portable Equipment cover and Property insurance (Contents) are two of the main types of cover to consider when looking to protect your photographic equipment.  

Portable Electronic Equipment

Hauling your photography equipment from location to location creates the potential for loss or damage to occur. Something no photographer wants to experience. 

Portable electronic equipment insurance covers portable computer equipment and cell phones anywhere in the world for loss or damage. (for events such as fire, theft by forcible entry, explosion or storm), subject to policy sub-limits 

Property (Contents)* 

Property insurance provides coverage for loss or damage to your business contents, stock and equipment caused by fire and other perils. 

The policy may provide cover for:

  • Glass 
  • Money 
  • Theft 
  • Transit 
  • Equipment breakdown 
  • Seasonal stock increase 
  • Stolen keys 
  • Optional cover for natural disasters, including earthquake* 

Cyber Liability insurance* 

You rely on the digital world to upload, edit and share your photography with your clients. Protecting your precious data from the threat of a cyber-attack is something to consider. 

Cyber Liability Insurance protects your business against the expense and legal costs arising from data breaches which may occur after being hacked or from the theft or loss of client information. 

A real-life claim example 

A crew were on a film shoot, they had packed up and gathered their gear together for collection by helicopter while they hiked to the mountain top. The helicopter was going to collect the gear and then the crew from the mountain top. The helicopter arrived at the site with the pilot discovering  native Kea birds had significantly damaged the photography gear. Contents from the bags, some of which contained a drone and camera kit, were sprawled out in the open. Some of the equipment could never be retrieved.  The claim for the lost gear settled for $5,769 under the insureds Portable Electronic Equipment policy.  

Find out more  

Getting your business insurance sorted has never been easier. At BizCover, we deliver stress-free quotes straight to your inbox in minutes. Jump online to find your business insurance today.  

*As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording.  The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.

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