Insurance For Photographers
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Why do Photographers need to Consider Insurance?
Photography is an exciting and rewarding career for many creatives in Australia. As a photographer, you help others capture important moments, express ideas, and promote their business or products. There’s great flexibility in the jobs you take and the clients you choose to work with.
But let’s be candid—this freedom and creativity also come with risk. Photographers typically work with the public, whether you’re shooting in a studio or on location. Insurance could help you manage potential risks so your small business isn’t left exposed to dangers.
There are many types of photographer’s insurance you might consider as a creative professional. Different policies can help you manage a selection of potentially expensive claims that could be brought against you.
Insurance for photographers may also help boost your professional reputation. Clients might be more likely to hire you for their event or project, knowing that you are serious about protecting your small business and your customers.
Did you Know?
If you lease a photography studio, you may need a Public Liability insurance policy. Commercial landlords often require tenants to have a minimum level of coverage to rent office, studio, or warehouse space. You may be asked to show proof of your insurance to sign a lease.
What Insurance Do Photographers Need?
Photographers consider many types of insurance to help deal with common one-the-job risks and exposures. Popular policy types include:
Public Liability Insurance
Photographers often find that Public Liability is an essential policy type for their small businesses.
Public Liability insurance covers compensation costs and legal fees if a customer, supplier, or member of the public claims that your alleged negligent business activity caused them injury or damage to their property.
Snapping photos may seem like a safe occupation, but there may be hidden dangers that could leave your business exposed. Photographers work in a variety of locations, both inside and outdoors. Tripping hazards and bright lights create the potential for a third party—such as a client, model, delivery person, or other members of the public—to be seriously injured.
As a photographer, you’re also on the move as you search for the best angles and lighting to get a perfect shot. You could accidentally damage someone else’s belongings as you move around, and your Public Liability policy would help cover the cost of fixing the situation.
What is Covered?
Public Liability insurance typically covers legal fees and compensation related to:
- Third-party claims of bodily injury
- Third-party claims of property damage
What is Not Covered?
Public Liability insurance does not cover:
- Employee injury (including injuries sustained by you as the business owner)
- Damage to your own business or personal property
Professional Indemnity Insurance*
Many professional service providers take out Professional Liability insurance to protect their small businesses, photographers included.
Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is designed to respond to claims for losses that result from actual or alleged negligent acts or wrongdoing in the delivery of your professional service or advice. PI Insurance will also assist with the legal costs associated with responding to or managing claims which are covered by the policy.
Photographers may not give advice like accountants or real estate agents, for example, but a client could be unhappy with your work and file a claim that Professional Indemnity insurance might cover. A client may simply be disappointed in the photos you take for them and might sue because you didn’t meet their expectations. However, failing to meet a deadline, accidentally defaming someone, or loss of documentation could also lead to a PI claim.
What is Covered?
Professional Indemnity Insurance typically covers non-intentional professional wrongdoing, such as:
- Giving a client misleading or negligent advice
- Breaching your professional duty
- Breaching a client’s confidentiality or privacy
- Defamation, libel or slander
- Loss of or damage to documents
- Intellectual property infringement
- Missed deadlines
What is Not Covered?
Your Professional Indemnity policy will likely not cover:
- Intentional misconduct or damage
- Acts of fraud and dishonesty
- Contractual liabilities
- Accidental injury and property damage
- Professional fees refunds
- Known claims and circumstances that occurred before the period of insurance
Portable Equipment insurance*
As a photographer, you may consider protecting your camera and other equipment you need to do your job.
Portable Equipment insurance (also referred to as General Property insurance) covers you for loss and damage to items of portable equipment associated with your business. These can include tools of trade and items of stock.
What’s a photographer without their camera? If yours were stolen or damaged, it could cause a big disruption to your business. Portable Equipment insurance could help you replace your camera, as well as other important tools you need to get the job done. These might include:
- Lenses
- Tripod
- Lights
- Light metre
- Laptop
- Smartphone
Portable Equipment insurance could help you quickly replace the gear you need to work. Without it, you might end up scrambling to find the funds to buy new, expensive equipment. Instead of finding this money in your budget or taking on credit card debt, you can rest easy knowing that your insurance policy has you covered.
What is Covered?
Portable Equipment insurance typically covers:
- Damage caused by fire, storm, water, explosion, or impact
- Accidental and malicious damage
- Damaged caused by a vehicle collision or overturning
- Theft occurring after forcible entry to locked buildings or locked vehicles
- Theft of equipment that is securely attached with locks or padlocks to a vehicle
What is Not Covered?
A Portable Equipment policy does not cover:
- Normal wear and tear, including conditions that gradually develop
- Cracking, marring, scratching, or breaking of glass, fragile items, or surfaces
- Rust, oxidation, mildew, mould, dry rot, contamination or pollution
- Damage caused by moths, insects, or vermin
- Heating, drying, cleaning, or altering insured item
- Faulty work or materials
- Employee theft
- Unexplained shortages in your inventory
Things to Think About When Choosing Photographer’s Insurance
As a photographer, you may consider different types of insurance to protect your small business. Many factors might go into your decision making, such as:
- Do clients, models, or other members of the public visit your office or studio?
- Do you work in unfamiliar locations, like a client’s workplace or home, event venues, or outside?
- Does your business rely on portable equipment, like your camera or other photography equipment?
- Would replacing or repairing equipment place financial stress on your business?
- Are you able to secure your portable equipment when it’s not in use (both in your studio and vehicle)?
Getting the Right Insurance for Photographers
With Public Liability Australia, you can find photographer’s insurance that fits the unique needs of your small business. There are many cover options to choose from, including Public Liability insurance, Portable Equipment coverage, and more.
No two photography businesses are the same, which is why we offer a variety of insurance policies to help you manage the risks that you face when while behind the camera.
Protecting your business is simple and easy. You’re just a few clicks or a phone call away from comparing multiple quotes from leading insurers across Australia.
* This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording.
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