Photography Business Insurance

Getting insurance for your photography business is essential.

Photography businesses need to be protected against claims involving events that could occur and cause them financial losses, such as breach of contract disputes and copyright infringements allegations.

You will also want to protect your business property — such as your cameras, lighting, and any staging equipment — from potential damage or theft.

We’ll help you find the most personalized and affordable coverage for your unique business.

Recommended: Next Insurance is dedicated to matching small businesses with the right policy at the best price.

Best Insurance for a Photography Business

General liability insurance is — generally speaking — the most important insurance policy for photography businesses.

Some of the risks general liability insurance covers are:

Bodily injury
Property damage
Medical payments
Legal defense and judgment
Personal and advertising injury

Having said that, it is important to understand that each business (and its risks) are unique, and so you may be required to acquire additional coverage in order to be adequately protected. We recommend considering the following policies as a commercial photographer:

Business property: This type of policy will cover the cost of replacing your photography equipment if it is damaged (e.g., cameras, memory cards, stands, editing computer and software, etc.).
Business income: This will reimburse you for some of your lost income if you end up having to temporarily close down your business due to a covered loss (e.g., wind damage, fire, etc.).
Intellectual property coverage: This will protect you from liability that arises as a result of breaching another business’s intellectual property rights (e.g., copyright infringement, etc.).

When picking an insurance provider for your photography business, you will be able to choose between the following two options:

Online insurers: These use AI in order to offer personalized quotes online without an insurance agent; due to the lower overhead involved, they can commonly be more affordable than more conventional options.
Traditional brick-and-mortar insurers: This category includes traditional insurers that have been operating for over one century. You will need to talk to an insurance agent in order to get started.

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Cost of General Liability Insurance

On average, professional photographers in America spend between $300 - $600 per year for $1 million in general liability coverage.

Compare the average cost of general liability insurance for a photography business to other professional industries using the graph below.

Several factors will determine the price of your policy. These include your:

Location
Deductible
Number of employees
Per-occurrence limit
General aggregate limit

You may be able to acquire general liability insurance at a discounted rate by purchasing it as part of a business owner’s policy (BOP) rather than as a standalone policy.

A BOP is a more comprehensive solution that includes multiple forms of coverage, such as business interruption and property insurance.

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Common Situations That General Liability Insurance May Cover for a Photography Business

Example 1: During a meeting in a client’s home to discuss an upcoming photo shoot, you walk through the living room, trip, and fall into her entertainment center. Your fall breaks a large television and some other equipment. General liability insurance would pay to replace her damaged property.

Example 2: One of your assistants accidentally knocks a client to the ground during a shoot. The client suffers a concussion and decides to sue your business. The general liability insurance you carry will pay for your legal defense fees. It will also cover payouts or settlements if they are required to resolve the case.

Example 3: A local photographer has sent you a letter to inform you that you are being sued for slander. Although you are not certain how or when you might have slandered the competitor, you know that you need to hire an attorney to defend yourself. Your general liability insurance policy will pay for your legal fees as well as the cost of a settlement if you need to settle the case out of court.

Other Types of Coverage Photography Businesses Need

While general liability is the most important type of insurance to have, there are several other forms of coverage you should be aware of. Below are some of the most common types of coverage:

Professional Liability Insurance

While you strive to deliver the highest level of service to your clients, there’s always a chance someone might decide you made a mistake that caused them harm. If a client sues your business for negligence, professional liability insurance would cover your legal fees and any required settlement.

Commercial Property Insurance

You made a major investment in the photography equipment, supplies, furnishings, hardware, software, and real estate needed to establish your business. In the event of a fire, theft, or natural disaster, commercial property insurance would cover the cost of repairing or replacing your business-related property.

Commercial Auto Insurance

If you have a car, truck, or van that you use primarily for business, your state most likely requires you to carry commercial auto insurance. With a commercial auto policy, you can get help with repair or replacement costs if you are involved in an accident. If you cause the accident, the policy will help pay for damages to other vehicles as well, along with medical treatment for anyone injured.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

If you have employees, chances are your state requires you to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp provides protection for your employees if they are injured performing job-related duties. If they are hurt on the job, they can get medical treatment through your policy. The policy will also help to cover lost wages if they are unable to work while they recover from their injuries.

Home-Based Business Insurance

If you run your business from your home, you may need this insurance to safeguard your equipment and the space in your home devoted to your business. A typical homeowners insurance policy may not cover business-related items or client injuries on your property if you don’t disclose you use your home for business purposes. You can typically purchase this coverage as part of a business owners policy (BOP).

Additional Steps To Protect Your Business

Although it’s easy (and essential) to invest in business insurance, it shouldn’t be your only defense.

Here are several things you can do to better protect your photography business:

Use legally robust contracts and other business documents. (We offer free templates for some of the most common legal forms.)
Set up an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets. (Visit our step-by-step guides to learn how to form an LLC or corporation in your state.)
Stay up to date with business licensing.
Maintain your corporate veil.

Photography Business Insurance FAQ

Yes, absolutely. You will need to first get a quote from an online business insurance provider like Next Insurance. Next allows you to then purchase a policy immediately and your coverage will be active within 48 hours.

A typical business owner’s policy includes general liability, business interruption, and commercial property insurance. However, BOPs are often customizable, so your agent may recommend adding professional liability, commercial auto, or other types of coverage to your package depending on your company’s needs.

"Business insurance" is a generic term used to describe many different types of coverage a business may need. General liability insurance, on the other hand, is a specific type of coverage that business owners need to protect their assets.

Yes, you should get insurance before even starting your business.

Even though this is not a legal requirement, getting business insurance before you get started is generally recommended because it is not possible to know when — if ever — any liability will arise. In theory, it could be as soon as you interact with your first client.

Not necessarily. Certain exceptions may be written directly into your photography business insurance policy, and some perils may be entirely uninsurable.

Yes, an LLC is meant to create a legal barrier between your business and your personal assets and credit. If you haven’t formed an LLC yet, use our Form an LLC guide to get started.

An LLC doesn’t protect your business assets from lawsuits and liability– that’s where business insurance comes in. Business insurance helps protect your business from liability and risk.