Photographer insurance

Public liability and professional indemnity insurance offers comprehensive protection against the cost of defending you against allegations of professional negligence (such as failing to provide an acceptable level of photography to a client) and if unsuccessful, the cost of damages awarded against you.

In addition, it covers the cost of defending your business (including damages awarded against you if unsuccessful) if someone is injured, or their property damaged, which arises from you going about your business. Examples of claims include:

• You carry out a wedding shoot for a client but the memory card corrupts and you lose all the photos. The client brings a claim against you for the cost of a reshoot.
• You carry out a shoot for a commercial client but you fail to capture key elements the client requested. They take legal action against you for the cost of a replacement photographer and shoot.
• A wedding guest trips over your tripod, injures themselves and ruins an expensive dress. They make a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation and send you an invoice for the cost of replacing the dress.
• A client trips over a cable at a shoot and injures themselves. They make a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation.
• A venue alleges that your tripod has scratched an expensive floor and sends you an invoice for the costs to repair it.

This cover is vital for photographers of all styles, and many venues or clients will require you to have cover in place before letting you start work. Limits range from £1m to £5m.

Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement if your business has employees. It covers your business against claims for injury or illness suffered by employees arising from their employment.

An example of a claim would be:

While on location, your assistant slips and breaks their ankle. They make a personal injury claim against you seeking compensation
Cover for £10m.

Commercial legal expenses insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided for the legal costs and expenses of defending actions for disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.

Directors and officers insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided in respect of the legal costs and expenses of defending actions for disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. If your photography business is a limited company, you may want to consider this cover. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.

Office insurance covers your office buildings, office contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises. You can also choose to cover your camera equipment under our business equipment section; you'll have the option to insure your vital equipment, including laptops, mobile phones and expensive design software on a worldwide basis. If your photography business is a full time job, we can insure your business against loss of income and/or additional trading expenses following events, such as a flood or fire at your home, that cause interruption to your work.

Occupational personal accident insurance provides a weekly payment if you are unable to work due to temporary total disablement (subject to a 14 day deferment period).

In the event of loss of limbs, sight, speech, hearing, permanent total disablement or death, a lump sum would be paid out.

If you were injured in the course of your work as a photographer, and would struggle to maintain an income if you were unable to work following the accident, you should consider having occupational personal accident insurance to help ease the financial burden.

Cyber insurance pays the costs of restoring data and equipment, informing clients, meeting ransom demands and loss of your net profit following a cyber attack. It also pays your legal defence costs and damages you are legally liable to pay to other parties. If you hold confidential information about your clients (including their photographs and backups) on computers and other internet connected devices, you should give consideration to this cover.