6 Best Photography Insurance Companies 2023

We received a quote for $485 annually for a business owner’s policy (BOP). This was for a home-based business. The BOP had $10,000 in property coverage for the camera equipment with a deductible of $1,000. It also carried liability limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The liability contained product and completed operations.

The quote had customizable limits with liability as low as $500,000 and as high as $2 million per occurrence. You can add drone liability coverage for $137.

The Hartford has several different coverages that can fit any type of professional photographer, including off-premise business equipment coverage. This coverage is to help you with lost income if your equipment is damaged at a special event and you lose the income from it because of the damaged equipment.

With its great digital experience, working with The Hartford comes with convenience. Online, you can get a quote, sometimes purchase a policy, manage the policy, and file a claim. Its website is easy to use—whether you need to file a claim or contact the provider, you can find what you need within a few clicks.

The Hartford ranked third in J.D. Power’s 2022 United States Independent Agent Satisfaction Study. This means independent agents have great experience working with the company.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) monitors complaints filed with state-level departments of insurance. Complaints filed against The Hartford are lower than the national average.

We received a quote for a liability policy general liability that costs $200 annually. If paying monthly, the first and last months were due at purchase, and then you’d owe 10 payments of $16.67. This price is in line with its published costs. According to Next, 99% of its policyholders pay $17 or less a month for photography liability insurance.

Because it is a direct-to-consumer provider, its prices are usually lower. Customers can save up to 25% when purchasing insurance directly from Next.

Unfortunately, it did not give us any option to insure our camera equipment. However, it does offer commercial property insurance. According to Next, 63% of its photographer customers pay $27 or less monthly for property insurance.

Despite its newness, Next is establishing itself with exceptional convenience. Online, you can manage your policy, get an instant certificate of insurance (COI), and file a claim. There is an app (for iOS and Android), which functions like a 24/7 call center.

Through the app, you can create and share a COI anywhere. This makes it ideal for photographers who shoot at regular events and need to either include an additional insured or show proof of insurance.

We received four quotes for general liability insurance. Each one carried the same limit: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, along with additional coverages that are part of general liability, like damage to premises rented to you and product completed operations liability:

• $200 annually from Harborway Insurance
• $299 annually from RLI
• $347 annually from Hiscox
• $350 annually from Accredited

Two of the quotes, RLI and Hiscox, indicated additional coverage was available. For Harborway, professional liability was available for an extra $48. RLI had $5,000 for tools and equipment included with the general liability policy.

You can also get quotes for other types of insurance, including workers’ comp and cyber liability.

Simply Business is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It offers online account maintenance where you can access your policy documents and request a COI. It also has the information you need to file a claim.

Customer reviews overall are positive for it. There are more than 800 reviews on Trustpilot, with 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Unfortunately, it is not open on the weekend. If you want to speak with a licensed agent or someone to assist you, its hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

We received quotes for liability, property, and equipment the next day. The general liability carried $1 million in total coverage, and it had $25,000 in equipment and property coverage with a $500 deductible. It costs $480 annually.

The liability and property had multiple options to adjust the limits to fit your business. For example, you can select a liability limit of $300,000, $500,00, or $1 million.

Thimble is an insurtech with an iOS and Android app. You can get a quote, purchase a policy, manage the policy, and file a claim online or via the app.

This provider is a managing general agent (MGA), so it does not fall under the NAIC for complaints. However, Thimble has about 1,400 reviews on Trustpilot, with 4.6 out of 5 stars.

If you just need short-term event insurance, it offers three-day event liability insurance that starts at $59. It comes with a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.

We received a quote for an annual policy that costs $271. This covered general liability and camera equipment. The gear limit provided was $5,000 per item and $30,000 aggregate. It had multiple levels of coverage for gear—as low as $1,000 per item and $5,000 total coverage to as high as $15,000 per item and $75,000 total equipment coverage.

The liability for the quote had an aggregate liability limit of $2 million.

For $30, you can add unlimited additional insureds to any of the policies.

Using Full Frame is convenient. You can get a quote in under 10 minutes, purchase the policy, and manage your documents—all online. If you have a claim, you can email or call. While there is no 24/7 call center, you can call and speak with non-commissioned licensed agents.

If you need to provide proof of insurance, COIs are available instantly.

We received two quotes. One was for professional liability and cost $400 annually. It had a total limit of $1 million with a deductible of $500.

The other quote was for a business owner’s policy (BOP) and cost $612 annually. Alternatively, you could pay the first and last month’s premium and then 10 monthly payments. The BOP had a general liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and the BOP carried $25,000 in property coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Hiscox has payment options, from paying in full or an upfront payment and 10 monthly payments. There is no upcharge for paying monthly.

Another advantage is that Hiscox usually offers same-day coverage on its policies.

It also recognizes the reduced risks that come with a home-based business and factors that into its pricing by offering a potential discount for any home-based photographers.

You can get a quote and purchase a photography policy online. It has online account management, including instant COI, changes to your policy, and loss runs. You will need to call and speak with one of its licensed agents for some changes.

It even offers global coverage in its policies, which is unusual. The only catch is you will need to ensure you are in the US, a US territory, or Canada when you file the claim.

While historically, Hiscox has had higher-than-average complaints, the level has been dropping steadily, and it now has average-level complaints.

Photography insurance is a combination of policies to protect your business and equipment. You will want first-party coverage (property) for your equipment and—if you own a studio—furniture and the business itself. You will also want liability for any claims against your business.

Photography insurance costs can vary, ranging from $200 to $800 annually for liability. Inland marine, for your equipment, can range from $200 to $2,500. Professional liability is $400 to $800.

Liability insurance can provide coverage if someone is injured due to your work. Professional liability can help if, while developing pictures, you damage the only available copies of an event. Property insurance assists you if your equipment is stolen or broken by a named peril.

Photographers will want to consider property and liability insurance. From there, it will depend on the type of business and what fits your needs the most. A broker like Simply Business is a good option here as the broker can help you determine the right coverages for your business needs.