does a photographer need business insurance?

As a professional photographer, you might think that your work is relatively low-risk when it comes to causing injury to others. Depending on the types of projects you undertake, however, there is potential to cause injury to a third party (such as a member of the public) or damage their property. Any claim for compensation that is made against you in such circumstances could result in significant costs for your business.

No matter how careful you are, there is always the possibility that an accident could occur. Whether you are working on location or in a studio, there is always the potential for things to go wrong. It’s not hard to imagine a person tripping over your equipment and injuring themselves, or for other activities associated with the photography session resulting in damage to property; especially when moving objects or setting up a shoot. When working on location and interacting with the public these risks are multiplied. Depending on where you are working and the requirements of the shoot, an accident could result in you being liable for significant costs to compensate for any property damage that you cause or when someone is injured because of your photographic work.

Public liability insurance for photographers may help protect you from the financial costs that you incur when your work activities result in an injury or damage to property. Public liability insurance may pay your legal costs when defending yourself against a claim for damages, as well as paying any compensation ordered by a court (up to a specified limit) if you are found legally liable. Even when you are certain that you are not at fault it can still be expensive to get the best legal representation when defending yourself against a claim for damages.

Depending on the terms of the public liability insurance policy, it may also cover you for mistakes that cause harm to third parties made by your assistants or others that work with you in your photography business. In the worst cases, the costs of a large compensation claim could bankrupt your business or even lead to significant personal losses. While it is not a legal requirement for you to carry public liability insurance as a photographer, it does give significant peace of mind knowing that you are covered should the worst happen.

Public liability insurance provides coverage up to a specified maximum limit. The amount of coverage that you need will depend on various factors including the size of your business, whether you have additional people working with you and the size of the projects that you undertake. In general, you should consider the worst-case scenario that you could face and then buy enough insurance to cover yourself in case it happens.

The best thing to do is consult with one of our insurance brokers and discuss your individual needs. They will be able to provide you with a quote for public liability insurance that considers your individual needs and circumstances based on the type of photography work you do.