Photography and videography business insurance in North Carolina

Three core coverages for NC photographers

A proper photographer or videographer business insurance program typically includes three components that work together.

• 1.Equipment coverage (inland marine): Covers cameras, lenses, lighting, audio gear, and other equipment against theft, accidental damage, and loss, on location, in transit, and at home. Scheduled (itemized) or blanket coverage options.
• 2.General liability (GL): Covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to third parties while working. A client trips over your tripod. A reflector falls and damages a venue's wall. Many venues require GL before you can shoot there.
• 3.Errors and omissions (E&O): Covers professional liability claims, missed shots, corrupted or lost files, double-bookings, failure to deliver what was contracted. Legal defense and settlements included.

The homeowner's policy gap

Most photographers and videographers who work from home store their gear at home and assume their homeowner's policy covers it. It typically doesn't, or not adequately. Home policies have sublimits on business equipment (often $2,500 or less), and many explicitly exclude property used for business purposes. If you bring a camera to a wedding and it's stolen, your home policy likely won't pay.

Scheduled personal property on a home policy is sometimes used to cover individual high-value camera bodies or lenses, but it does not provide GL or E&O coverage and does not cover the full scope of a working photographer's kit.

Drone coverage for NC photographers

If you fly a drone commercially, you need separate coverage. Standard photography policies often exclude or sublimit drone operations. Drone liability and hull coverage can be added as an endorsement or as a standalone policy. FAA Part 107 certification is required for commercial drone operations and some carriers require it as a condition of coverage.

Second shooters and assistants

If you hire second shooters or assistants as independent contractors, verify that your GL policy extends to work done on your behalf. Some policies require that subcontractors carry their own insurance. If an assistant injures someone on a shoot you directed, the liability question can become complicated quickly.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value on equipment

When insuring camera gear, the settlement basis matters. Actual cash value pays what the depreciated item is worth today. Replacement cost pays what it costs to replace with a comparable new item. For expensive camera bodies and lenses, replacement cost coverage is worth the premium difference.

Cooper's take

Frequently asked questions