Business Insurance Cost for Photographers: A Comprehensive Guide

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As a photographer, you know how quickly your equipment can be damaged or lost, and the financial burden that comes with it. Business insurance can help mitigate these risks, but the cost can be a significant expense.

The cost of business insurance for photographers varies depending on the type of coverage you choose, with liability insurance being a crucial component. Liability insurance can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 per year.

To give you a better idea of what to expect, consider this: a basic business insurance policy for a photographer can start at around $300 per year. This cost can increase depending on the value of your equipment and the number of clients you work with.

Ultimately, investing in business insurance is a wise decision for photographers, as it can protect your livelihood and financial stability.

See what others are reading: Does Business Insurance Cover Equipment

Understanding Business Insurance Costs

Photographer insurance can cost as little as $16.67 per month, but the exact price will vary depending on your specific circumstances and needs.

Back view of unrecognizable professional photographer taking photo of anonymous model in modern light studio
Credit: pexels.com, Back view of unrecognizable professional photographer taking photo of anonymous model in modern light studio

You'll need to provide accurate information about your business to get the right coverage, which will ensure your claims are covered and processed quickly. This includes factors like the kind of work you do, where you work, and how many employees you have.

The price of photography business insurance can vary significantly, but it's generally relatively low-risk compared to other industries like construction.

How Much Cost?

The cost of business insurance can vary depending on several factors, including the type of work you do and the number of employees you have.

Photographer insurance can cost as little as $16.67 per month, but the exact price will vary depending on your specific circumstances.

The price of photography business insurance can vary significantly, but in general, photographers and videographers who bundle general liability and business property insurance coverage pay a median cost of $521 per year, or about $43 per month.

Photography equipment insurance can be purchased separately, and the cost will depend on the type of work you do, your claims history, and other factors.

Crop anonymous male photographer in casual wear with accessories standing with professional photo camera
Credit: pexels.com, Crop anonymous male photographer in casual wear with accessories standing with professional photo camera

If you have a lot of gear, you'll need to choose the right level of photography equipment insurance, which can range from laptops and cameras to lenses and tripods.

Photographer insurance typically costs about $216 a year, but the price varies depending on your location, the size of your team, and any special equipment you carry.

You can also buy short-term coverage, sometimes called event policies, that last 1-3 days, which can cost around $50 for the time period.

The cost of photographer insurance pales in comparison to the cost of an incident for which you don't have coverage, which can be tens of thousands of dollars or more to resolve.

What Is?

Photography business insurance is a type of policy that shields photographers and videographers from financial liability.

Photography sets can quickly turn chaotic, and accidents can happen, which is why photographer insurance can help pay for expenses like medical bills and equipment repairs.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Event Photography Insurance

Photographer Taking a Picture of a Man on a Skateboard Grinding
Credit: pexels.com, Photographer Taking a Picture of a Man on a Skateboard Grinding

Whether you run a full-time photography business or shoot on the side, photographer insurance can save you stress and money.

A photographer's insurance policy can include a bundle of popular business insurance types, such as liability insurance, equipment insurance, and business interruption insurance.

Photographer insurance can help cover expenses that would otherwise set back your business, including legal fees and medical bills.

Investing in photographer insurance can make sense, especially if you're running a photography business or shooting professionally.

If this caught your attention, see: Photographer Business Insurance

Coverage and Pricing Options

Coverage and pricing options for photographer insurance can be customized to fit your needs. You pay only for the coverage you want, making it more affordable.

Typical coverage options for photographer business owners include general liability, workers' compensation, and commercial property. These coverages can help protect you from financial losses due to bodily injury, workplace accidents, or damage to your property.

You can choose from Basic, Pro, and Pro+ packages, each offering a different level of coverage. After answering a few basic questions with our online instant quote, you can review your options and select the amount of coverage you want.

Crop anonymous female photographer wearing casual clothes looking through pictures in professional photo camera against white wall in light room
Credit: pexels.com, Crop anonymous female photographer wearing casual clothes looking through pictures in professional photo camera against white wall in light room

Coverage and discount availability may vary depending on your state and individual circumstances. Not all applicants may qualify for insurance, and individual rates and savings can differ.

Here are the typical coverages included in a photographer insurance package:

  • General liability
  • Workers' compensation
  • Commercial property

Policy documents will govern your coverage and any applicable discounts or savings.

Workers' Compensation and Liability

As a photographer, you're likely aware that accidents can happen on set, and having workers' compensation and liability insurance can be a lifesaver. This type of insurance helps protect you and your business from financial losses in case an employee is injured on the job.

Workers' compensation insurance typically requires you to pay a premium based on your business's payroll, with the average cost ranging from 1% to 3% of your payroll. For example, if your annual payroll is $50,000, your workers' compensation premium could be around $500 to $1,500 per year.

Liability insurance, on the other hand, protects you from lawsuits and financial losses if a client or third party is injured or damaged due to your negligence.

A different take: Job Injury Insurance

Workers' Compensation Costs

Unique reflection photo capturing a photographer through sunglasses. Vibrant and artistic concept.
Credit: pexels.com, Unique reflection photo capturing a photographer through sunglasses. Vibrant and artistic concept.

Workers' compensation insurance costs can vary depending on several factors, but for photographers, the median cost is $55 per month.

The amount you can expect to pay for workers' comp depends on how many employees you have, your payroll, how your employees are classified, and your industry.

In some states, employer liability insurance can be purchased as a stop-gap coverage, but it's usually included in workers' comp policies in most states.

Photographers can expect to pay between $100,000 to $1 million for a policy, depending on the coverage and benefits.

Workers' compensation helps to cover work-related employee injury, regardless of liability, and can pay for medical bills and lost wages.

Employer liability insurance provides additional protection for instances where an employee decides to sue for a workplace injury, on top of medical payments already provided by workers' comp.

General Liability

General liability insurance is crucial for photographers, especially when on-site or hosting clients in their studio. It helps pay for damages or injuries caused to clients or their property.

A woman photographer captures a serene sunset by a lakeside in Golčův Jeníkov, Czechia.
Credit: pexels.com, A woman photographer captures a serene sunset by a lakeside in Golčův Jeníkov, Czechia.

Photographers bring a lot of equipment to a shoot, increasing the risk of injury to clients. Clients can trip over lighting chords or fall off a prop stand.

General liability is essential for real estate photographers, as it covers damages to clients' properties. If you scratch the floors of a luxury property, general liability pays for the damages.

General liability also covers personal and advertising injury, including libel, slander, or copyright infringement. This means you can get help with legal fees if a client's images are used without their consent.

General liability is third-party insurance, which means you need additional coverage for damages to your own property and employees.

Professional Liability

Professional liability insurance is a must-have for photographers, as it covers the cost of legal fees and settlements if a client claims you made a mistake.

Art is subjective, so clients won't always be happy with your work, and professional liability can also step in if a couple claims you forgot to capture the best angle on their wedding day.

Man Taking a Photograph
Credit: pexels.com, Man Taking a Photograph

Listing shot types in your contracts is a good idea, so there's no confusion about what to expect as a final product.

Insurance providers might promote professional liability under other names, such as an "indemnification trust" for members to cover data loss, missed shots, or unsatisfied clients.

This type of insurance pays for legal fees and data recovery, which can be a lifesaver if your computer crashes or a memory card backfires.

Commercial Property and Equipment

As a photographer, you're likely to have a significant investment in your equipment, and you'll want to protect it from damage or loss. The cost of commercial property insurance for photographers can vary, but it's based on NEXT active customers data obtained over the previous 12 months.

Monthly Commercial Property insurance costs for photographers can range significantly, making it essential to get a quote specific to your business. These data are based on cost data of equal to or over 51% of NEXT active customers in the U.S. who purchased each respective type of insurance policy.

Photographer insurance policies can include tools and equipment insurance, which protects your precious camera equipment when you’re on the go. This type of insurance takes the pressure off if you travel with thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

Commercial Property Costs

From above of crop adult male business owner thinking on problem while working on netbook in office
Credit: pexels.com, From above of crop adult male business owner thinking on problem while working on netbook in office

Commercial property costs can vary significantly depending on your location. The cost of insurance can also depend on the size of your business and the number of people you employ.

Photography business insurance costs can range from $43 per month, which is the median cost of bundled general liability and business property insurance coverage through Insureon.

In the US, the cost data for commercial property insurance costs for photographers is based on NEXT active customers data obtained over the previous 12 months. The price range is based on cost data of equal to or over 51% of NEXT active customers in the U.S. who purchased each respective type of insurance policy.

Photographers and videographers with a BOP through Insureon paid a median cost of $521 per year, which is a relatively low-risk profession compared to more dangerous industries.

These data were updated in January 2025, so it's essential to shop around for a few quotes from different insurers to make sure you're buying the best plan for your unique needs.

Tools and Equipment

Grayscale Photography of Person Holding Black Dslr Camera
Credit: pexels.com, Grayscale Photography of Person Holding Black Dslr Camera

Photographer insurance policies can include tools and equipment insurance, which protects your camera equipment when you're on the go. This type of insurance is also sometimes called business equipment insurance or inland marine insurance.

If you travel with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, tools and equipment insurance takes the pressure off. You can also consider "unmanned aircraft" coverage if you're a drone photographer.

Membership in professional organizations like PPA can come with perks like educational resources and networking opportunities, but you'll also have to pay membership fees. Luckily, membership fees can be worth it for the benefits you receive.

The cost of photography equipment coverage will depend on several factors, including the type of work you do and your claims history.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a $1 million dollar business insurance policy cost?

A $1 million business insurance policy costs approximately $69 per month or $824 per year, but costs may vary depending on your business specifics. Get a personalized quote to understand your exact costs.

Teri Little

Writer

Teri Little is a seasoned writer with a passion for delivering insightful and engaging content to readers worldwide. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Teri has established herself as a trusted voice in the realm of financial markets news. Her articles have been featured in various publications, offering readers a unique perspective on market trends, economic analysis, and industry insights.

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