General liability insurance for photographers and videographers

Whether it’s part of your photography business insurance or film production insurance, general liability insurance coverage protects against common third-party business risks. It can pay for medical bills if a customer is injured at your studio, or if your photography drone crashes and damages someone's property. If you decide to rent a studio, most landlords will require you to carry this policy in order to sign a commercial lease.

This policy provides liability coverage related to:

• Customer injuries
• Customer property damage
• Advertising injuries

If you run a small photography or production studio, you may be able to bundle general liability insurance with commercial property insurance in a business owner’s policy (BOP). A BOP typically costs less than purchasing each policy separately. Businesses that are eligible for BOPs usually:

• Have fewer than 100 employees
• Have a small office or workplace
• Make less than $1 million in annual revenue
• Operate in a low-risk industry, such as photography or videography
• Need less than 12 months of business interruption insurance

General liability insurance can protect your photography or videography company from common third-party business risks, including:

If a model or actor is injured by a lighting stand that tips over during a photo shoot, or a delivery person slips and falls at your studio, you might be held responsible for the bodily injury. If the person sues, you may need to pay for their medical expenses – plus the cost of hiring a lawyer. General liability insurance covers:

• Medical bills
• Attorney's fees
• Judgments or settlements
• Funeral expenses in fatal incidents

Note that this policy does not cover employee injuries. For that, you’ll need workers’ compensation insurance.

Photographers and videographers frequently work on location, which means taking on additional risks. If you accidentally break a client’s business equipment or damage property at a wedding venue, your general liability policy would help cover repairs or replacement costs of the damaged equipment. It can also cover legal bills if someone sues over property damage.

General liability coverage can protect your business from incidents that occur at your office, too. For example, if you accidentally spill coffee on a customer’s laptop, your general liability policy should cover the cost of a replacement computer.

While advertising your company and its services, it’s possible to inadvertently copy another videographer’s slogan or mimic a rival professional photographer's advertising campaign. Accidental advertising injuries are covered by general liability insurance, including:

• Defamation, both libel (written) and slander (spoken)
• Copyright infringement

If you use advertising or promotional materials to attract clients to your photography or videography business, you’ll want to make sure your insurance includes this protection.

While general liability insurance covers many risks inherent to the photo and video industry, it does not provide complete protection. Small business owners looking for photographer insurance should also consider:

Business owner’s policy (BOP): A BOP offers protection against the most common risks in the photo and video industry at a discount. It bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance at a lower rate than purchasing both policies separately. If a client is injured at your office or a thief steals your camera equipment, your BOP can cover the costs.

Professional liability insurance: This policy is critical for photo and video professionals. Also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, it can help pay for lawsuits related to work performance. For example, if a wedding videographer misses the bride and groom’s first kiss, or a photographer accidentally deletes the images from a catalog shoot, professional liability insurance can pay for legal expenses if the client sues.

Workers’ compensation insurance: This policy can pay for medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job. For example, if an assistant photographer twists an ankle while on a shoot, or a grip hurts their back while loading equipment, workers’ comp can pay for their medical bills, as well as disability benefits. Most states require this coverage for businesses with employees.

Commercial auto insurance: Photo and video businesses that own a vehicle typically must carry commercial auto insurance to comply with state laws. This coverage helps you recover from accidents involving your business vehicle.

Inland marine insurance: A standard commercial property policy covers business property at your company location, which is why photo and video professionals often invest in inland marine insurance. This policy provides equipment coverage for your cameras and other business property wherever you take it.

Are you ready to safeguard your photography or videography business with general liability insurance? Complete Insureon’s easy online application to get quotes from top U.S. insurance companies.

You can also speak with a licensed insurance agent to help you find the right insurance for your business needs. Once you find the best, most affordable coverage, you can begin your policy and get a certificate of insurance in less than 24 hours.