^{Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash}

I, like most, learned the hard way that I needed photography insurance. Then, I again learned the hard way, I probably should have read up on photography insurance tips when I finally did purchase photography insurance because my plan didn’t cover everything I needed it to.

While every insurance company is going to tell you they provide the best photography insurance, that doesn’t matter if they don’t provide the type of insurance you need.  

If you’re shopping for photography insurance, be sure to check out the tips below before you commit to coverage.

Examine Your Business Before Meeting With Any Insurance Reps 

 ^{photo by PavelIvanov via iStock} 

Are you a boudoir photographer? How much liability insurance do you need for that? How about rented property insurance, if you’re hosting your models in a studio?

^{Photo by Smart on Unsplash} 

Are you a travel photographer? How likely is it that an airline may lose your equipment at some point in your career? How often are you hiking risky trails or visiting unsafe parts of the world? Could you need more medical insurance than the average photographer? Does your photography insurance cover that?

Since there are so many types of photography insurance, let alone so many companies that offer it, you need to begin your photography insurance search by examining your individual business.

Here are some types of photography insurance to consider:

• International coverage
• Medical insurance
• Rented property coverage
• Liability insurance
• Gear insurance
• Additional insured persons, for larger businesses

Know Your Budget

^{Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash} 

I get it, spreadsheets are no fun. But, out of all of these photography insurance tips, this one is perhaps the most crucial.

You need to examine your budget from two directions: how much can you afford to pay for your policy each month, and how much can you afford to replace all of your equipment. 

You will definitely have a deductible when you inevitably need to use your photography insurance for the first time. How much of a deductible could you hypothetically afford and how much of a deductible would put you out of business?

You do not want such a high deductible that you can’t afford it anyways, because then what’s the point in having paid for insurance all these years? 

Develop a budget and stick to it. Then, as you shop around, look for photography insurance companies that offer affordable coverages at your price point. 

Shop Around and Attend “Informational Interviews”

^{Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash} 

You need to ascertain as much information about photography insurance as you can before choosing the right photography insurance company for you. If a local company is offering informational interviews, then by all means, go visit and see what you can learn. 

Another way to do this information is to conduct it at home online. You can read articles on the best photography insurance for your photography niche. You can also meet with other photographers in your area who run similar businesses to the one you own. 

This is a good way to find out what types of photography insurance you should be focusing on, but it’s also a phenomenal way to find out what companies you shouldn’t go with. If another photographer in your area is unhappy with their insurance provider, they talk about it, loudly. 

Keep all of Your Insurance Information Organized, With Copies

^{Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash} 

You need a list of every single piece of photography equipment you’ve ever purchased, with receipts, serial numbers, and photos when possible. 

You then need to replicate that list and keep it in a variety of places. I keep mine in Google Drive, and shared it with my partner. I also keep a hard copy in my safe. 

Doing all of this not-so-fun labor up front will save your bacon if something happens to your gear down the line.

Get Professional Guidance

 ^{photo by skynesher via iStock} 

Taking all these things into consideration, it’s important to select a photography insurance company that will work with you, help you to better understand the coverages you need, and do so with the utmost professionalism. For that, I recommend Full Frame Insurance. 

I’ve worked with Full Frame for a while now, and to say that I’ve been impressed with their customer service is an understatement.

 

If you have a problem, a need, or question, the fine people at Full Frame are at your beck and call.

What’s more, they offer scalable policy options so you can customize the coverage you need at affordable prices.

Here’s an example: camera equipment coverage of $1,000 per item and $5,000 aggregate is just $55 when it’s added to a general liability policy. 

Speaking of general liability policies, those are affordable as well.

On the one hand, you can get short-term liability insurance if you only have periodic photo shoots. Then, as you get more and more business, you can invest in an annual plan to cover you throughout the year. 

In either case, you’ll find that these plans are affordable - starting at $59 for the short-term policy and $99 for the annual policy.

For that price, you get all sorts of protections against claims, like bodily injury and damage to property. 

Perhaps best of all, Full Frame has a no quote process and you can buy your policy online 24/7. For me, that makes Full Frame Insurance the best of all worlds - excellent customer service, affordability, and ease of use.

When shopping for coverage, you simply cannot beat what Full Frame Insurance has to offer!

Learn More:

• Navigating the World of Photography Insurance with Full Frame 
• What You Need to Get Started in Wedding Photography