Business insurance for photographers
Last updated: January 1
A business insurance policy may be customized to help cover a photography business. Common coverages in a business owners policy (BOP), combined with optional specialized coverages, may help protect a photographer's income, assets and equipment such as cameras, lenses and computers.
As an independent photographer, you're a trusted professional at key customer events. Whether you're photographing a family wedding or working as a freelancer for a media outlet, your clients rely on you to document important occasions and safeguard often-irreplaceable images. An important part of protecting your clients' photos — as well as your company's assets and reputation — is choosing the right business insurance for your photography company.
A well thought-out combination of insurance coverages may help protect your business in case of an unexpected event like theft, an accident or a fire. Here are a few coverages to research when insuring your photography business.
What insurance coverages are available to photographers?
A business insurance policy typically includes three types of coverage: business property coverage, general liability coverage and business interruption coverage.
Buisness property coverage:
You've invested heavily in your photography business, from specialized cameras and lenses to the computer you use to edit and store images. If any of these key pieces of equipment were damaged or stolen, your business could be seriously affected. The property coverage in a business owners policy may help pay to replace or repair your technical equipment and studio furnishings like desks, tables and file cabinets if they're damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. Common covered perils include vandalism, fire, and wind storms — read your policy to see which specific perils your insurance covers. Business property coverage may also help pay to repair damage to your studio building or office's physical structure, up to the coverage limits stated in your policy.
General liability coverage:
If a piece of your lighting equipment fell and injured someone, this coverage may help pay for their medical costs and your legal expenses, if you're sued. If your camera and tripod toppled against an expensive stained-glass window during a wedding, liability coverage may also help pay to repair or replace the claimant's window. The maximum amount your insurance company will pay for property damage, another person's medical expenses or your legal fees depends on the coverage limits you select when you purchase coverage.
Business interruption coverage:
Could your photography business survive if a fire destroyed your photography studio? Business interruption coverage may help replace your lost business income after you suffer a major covered loss, such as damage from a fire.
In addition, you may also want to look into these optional coverages for your photography business:
- Professional liability coverage:
This coverage may help pay for damages if you're sued over professional mistakes you make during your work (sometimes called Errors & Omissions, or E&O, insurance). - Data compromise coverage:
If you store private customer data on your business computer, this coverage may help protect your business after a data breach. It may help pay for notification and credit monitoring services for affected individuals, as well as legal costs if you're sued over the incident. - Employment practices liability coverage:
If a current or past photographer's assistant were to sue you for discrimination or wrongful termination, for example, this coverage may help pay for your legal costs and any damages for which you're held liable, according to the Insurance Risk Management Institute (IRMI).
For details on how to choose the right insurance coverages for your photography business, contact an experienced business insurance agent.