Typing photography insurance into Google can be a minefield. It’s often confusing for photographers, too much hard sell and not enough information. Here at InFocus we’ve put together a quick fire guide on the key policies you will need to be aware of.  This will give you an idea of what policies are available and what might be the best option for you personally. This may differ depending on the type of photographer you are and what stage of your career you’re at. 

You need cover for a mistake you have made

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes mistakes occur and although they might seem unfair sometimes, it’s ultimately your responsibility, legally and morally, to deal with this. Professional Indemnity insurance will be your best friend here as it covers your legal liability to a client who brings a claim for professional negligence or breach of a professional duty of care.

You need protection for your equipment

It’s common for new photographers to just use their home insurance to cover them when it comes to theft or damage of equipment. However, many are not told about the pitfalls and gaps in cover. Our Photographic and technical equipment cover protects you against accidental damage or theft anywhere in the world whilst being used for business or personal purposes. It’s covered in your car too.

You need cover for injury to people you employ (including casual or temporary people)

If you employ someone you are legally required to have employers liability insurance. If something happens to one of them while they are carrying out your work activities it’s your responsibility to be covered for this.  In the end, it will be you footing the bill should something happen to them.

You’ve damaged something which isn’t yours while on a shoot

You’re on a photography shoot and you step backwards and stand on something belonging to your client. We’ve all had that heart-stopping moment and unfortunately there’s little we can do about it. As a result, it’s important you have public and products liability insurance – this will cover you not only for damage to other people’s property but also if they are injured.

You’ve had an accident or fallen ill and can’t fulfil the job

You’ve fallen over and broken your arm three days before you are due to shoot a big wedding. As a result you are no longer able to perform your professional duties. It doesn’t happen often but can be a serious issue if it does and you’re not covered. Personal accident insurance ensures you are covered if a situation like this does arise.

You’ve had a crisis which is escalating and you’re worried it will ruin your reputation

At some point in a photographer’s career, it’s inevitable they are going to be faced with a crisis situation. They are unpleasant but if resolved properly they don’t have to be detrimental to your business. If negative events are left unmanaged, they can often lead to adverse or negative attention toward your business and in some cases can escalate through the media. Crisis containment cover ensures you receive the best possible advice and help in the event of such a situation.   

Or course there are more areas of photography insurance, we’ve just covered the main ones here. If you’re still confused about what type of insurance you might need please don’t hesitate to give a member of the InFocus team a call. We offer a mix and match option across all 11 of our policy areas to make it as easy as possible for you to create an insurance policy which fits your needs perfectly.