Videographers and photographers offer a critical service to their clients. They can capture a finite moment, such as a wedding, birthday, or other important event, and immortalize it forever.
Videographers do this with video recordings that show the energy in movement, often with music—and this is how everything from family memories to commercials and music videos are made. Photographers, of course, do this with pictures that embody emotional moments using framing and still images.
These artists render events as tangible assets for their clients. Like any important job, videographers and photographers must protect their income and equipment. Whether the artist is freelance or part of a larger established company, they’ll need insurance to succeed.
However, understanding the types of insurance coverage that can benefit videographers and photographers—and whether those labels are protected under the same umbrella—can be unclear.
Here is what you need to know about insurance for this industry, including the differences between videographer and photographer insurance and what is typically included in a policy.
What Do Videographers & Photographers Need To Insure?
Videography and photography are art forms with opposing approaches to representing time and movement, but they work toward similar goals. Insurance for videographers and photographers is, therefore, similar in many ways. However, the specific roles of each profession necessitate certain coverage options that may only apply to one or the other.
General liability insurance is the essential groundwork for almost all businesses. The coverage from general liability insurance is broad; it provides financial protection from bodily injuries, property damage, copyright infringement, and more.
Protection against liability for property damage is crucial for videographers and photographers, as their job will take them to unpredictable places with dozens or even hundreds of people. If they are at fault for damage, general liability insurance can help pay for repairs.
In addition to general liability insurance, video, and photo artists should invest in professional liability insurance, which protects against legal issues if clients have a problem with the products they receive. For videographers and photographers, issues with copyright infringement, negligence, and more are the most common uses.
The final basic component of a sensible coverage plan for photographers and videographers is equipment coverage. This may be covered as part of a larger equipment breakdown policy or included in inland marine or another type of protection.
Photographers and videographers carry important and expensive equipment that they use while on the job. Equipment coverage protects property when it is out on business. A photographer’s camera equipment is especially vulnerable to theft or damage at large events like weddings or in public.
The Scale Of The Operation & The Required Coverage
What differentiates coverage plans between these two sectors is not necessarily video versus photo. Instead, it is a large business versus a small business. Some coverage plans will be crucial (if not mandatory for permits) for large businesses that employ dozens of artists, but they may be largely useless for freelancers who work independently.
For instance, worker’s compensation insurance is often legally required for any company that employs three or more workers. However, for freelancers who own their businesses, worker’s comp insurance is unnecessary. Generally, it is more likely for videographers to work with larger teams who can handle multiple aspects of production.
The Differences In Pricing Between States
While there is some difference in required insurance coverage plans between states, the above information should hold true in general. The real difference between states is the cost of these insurance plans. Because the cost of living varies by location, the cost of insurance will naturally change to match.
For example, contrast the costs of insurance in Michigan versus California. The national median cost for worker’s comp, the most expensive insurance on average of those listed above, is around $1,000 per year. In Michigan, the state’s median cost is $200 below this figure, but in California, it is $200 above.
Insure Videographers & Photographers With a Trustworthy Insurer
Both videographers and photographers perform crucial work in the entertainment industry, and they both need and deserve comprehensive insurance coverage that addresses their unique needs.
While the two are similar, each type of professional must seek insurance that caters to their specific business’s risks by protecting their equipment, shielding them from liability (both physical and intellectual), and equipping them for success.
The experts at MFE Insurance partner with industry professionals to offer comprehensive videographer insurance and photographer insurance. Contact us to discuss the risks your enterprise faces and learn how we can help you cover them.