Get Your Free Quote
The truth is, every business, large and small, should carry General Liability Insurance. Including photography businesses. It doesn't matter if you have a studio, are an independent contracted photographer, work from a home studio, or shoot soley on location, you should carry a General Liability policy.
General Liability for a photography business, or any business, is a lot like the liability policy you carry on your auto. It helps pay for damage causeed to other people and property.
Much like your auto liability policy, General Liability for business, often abbreviated as "GL" and sometimes called Commercial General Liability insurance or "CGL", helps cover expenses related to injury or damage to other people and property. Unlike your auto liability policy, it will also help cover claims due to copyright violations and lawsuits. There is a reason most states require all drivers to carry an auto liability insurance policy. General Liability insurance for photographers is an important policy to have.
What is covered uner a general liability policy can vary. Work with your broker or insurance agent to make sure your policy covers your specific business needs.
A photographers general liability policy will typically cover:
As important as a general liability policy is to have, it doesn't cover everything your photography business needs. Here are some examples of what a GL policy does not typically cover:
Quite simply, to stay in business. No one ever expects an accident to happen, that's why it's called an "accident" and not a "planned". Unfortunately, one accident, mistake, overlooked clause in a contract, or simply human error can cause a business to cease operations.
Example: You are shooting a wedding on location. Your gear out and set up. While setting up a shot, someone trips over a camera bag and falls hard onto the tile floor, breaking their wrist. Maybe it's the groomsmen who had a little libation before the ceremony. Even if your bag was set aside and you warned everyone, you could still be liable for their medical expenses. If this person relies on their hands for their job (and who doesn't?), you could also be liable for lost income.
The right general liability policy will help cover claims like this.
As we've mentioned above, if you run your photography business from your home you still need to carry a GL policy. Most homeowners insurance exclude any claims related to a home based business, Depending on how you run your business, you may need an additional “Home-Based Business Insurance” policy. Especially if you run a studio from your home.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, talk to one of our photography insurance specialists about an additional home-based business policy.
Again, much like the auto insurance comparison, the cost of a GL policy depends on several factors. Some of the things that can affect your premium include:
A $1 Million business liability policy starts at a few hundred dollars a year. HowMuch.net estimates photography and video business insurance to be about $275 annually.
Talk to a broker or agent to not only get an accurate cost, but to ensure you get the right type and coverage amount.
Unlike your auto liability insurance, businesses are not required to carry a general liability policy. However it is ill-advised to not have a GL policy. As we have already mentioned, one simple mistake can cost you your business.
However, depending on your photography business operations, you may be required to carry other types of insurance. For example, if you have employees most states will require you carry a workers compensation insurance policy. Unemployment and disability insurance may also be required. Talk to your licensed agent or broker to find out what insurance policies are required in your state for your business.
Sometimes you may be required to provide proof of your liability insurance. These certificates, or "certs", are a "proof-of-purchase" for your liability policy. Some jobs, particularly ones that involve large crowds or high value property, may require you to provide a cert before you can be hired. These certificates will provide the amount of coverage and your expiration date of your policy. Contact your provider to get a copy of your certificate. They are usually available online.
Yes. In fact the cost of all your business insurance policy premiums, including general liability, can be deducted from your taxes.
A general liability policy is included as part of a BOP (Business Owners Policy). BOPs cover the basic business needs and are a good place to start, especially for small businesses. BOPs bundle several policies, making the buying process easier, providing one simple payment.
Fill out the form on this page and a specialist will contact you, ask a few questions, and will set you up with an agent ready to answer all your questions, and will help get you the right policy.