Business insurance for photographers

When you’re working with the public or recording precious memories, it’s worth knowing your business is protected in case something goes wrong. That’s why it pays to have the right photographers’ business insurance in place. Here’s what you need to know.

Emily Kindness

Business insurance expert

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Last Updated 22 FEBRUARY 2023

What insurance do photographers need?

If you’re a self-employed photographer, you’ll need the right insurance in place to make sure you’re protected.

Here are the types of business insurance you might want to consider.

Public liability insurance for photographers

Public liability insurance covers you if someone is injured or their property damaged as a result of your work. Whether you’re photographing celebrities, schoolchildren, or weddings, this is a safety net you’ll want in place.

If you cause an accident, you may end up with more than angry clients to deal with. It’s possible you’ll face a hefty bill too. Having public liability insurance in place means you can be confident you’re covered.

Public liability limits start at £1 million. If you need to, you can increase your cover to £2m, £3m, £5m, or even more. Your premium may be slightly higher, but it shouldn’t make too much difference.

Employers’ liability insurance

If you employ staff – even just one person – you’re required by law to have employers’ liability insurance. This can cover employees’ compensation if their work causes them an illness or injury.

Your policy must cover you for at least £5 million, and must come from an authorised insurance provider.

The law also requires you to display a copy of your employer’s liability insurance certificate where your employees can easily read it. If you don’t, you could receive a £1,000 fine from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

It’s worth knowing that you could be fined £2,500 for every day you don't have employers’ liability insurance in place.

Professional indemnity insurance

As a photographer, it’s also worth considering professional indemnity insurance. This can cover your costs if a client thinks you’ve been negligent and makes a legal claim against you. There’s always the possibility something could go wrong, no matter how diligent you are, so knowing you’re protected can be a huge relief.

Does photographer insurance cover my equipment?

Photography business insurance can cover equipment if it’s lost, stolen or damaged. You can include cover for your equipment, both on your premises and when you’re out and about, when you compare with us. You’ll need to give an estimate of how much it would cost to replace your equipment.

How do I work out how much my camera equipment is worth?

Before choosing a policy, create an inventory and add up how much it would cost to replace your cameras and kit, should you need to.

What other insurance do I need to think about?

Some insurance providers offer legal advice, which is something you might want to think about adding to your photographer insurance package.

If you carry your gear around in a van, make sure you’ve got the right van insurance to protect you on the road. Van cover doesn’t usually include the equipment you’re transporting, so it’s worth considering a policy that covers tools as well.

Watch out for exclusions though – for instance, you may not be covered if you leave your kit in the van overnight.

And if you have a studio, make sure your business premises and contents are properly insured, too.

How much is insurance for photographers?

How much you pay for your photography insurance will depend on a number of factors. These include:

Where you work (whether that’s in a studio, on location, or both)
How many people you employ
Your claims history
How much cover you want.

Always be honest – if you’re not truthful, you could find your policy is invalidated when you come to claim.

Getting the right photography insurance

It isn’t hard to find competitive insurance for professional photographers. Compare business insurance with us to find the right deal for you and your photography business.