Why do videographers need insurance?
Videographers often travel with thousands of dollars in cameras, lenses, drones, and other gear—making theft, loss, or damage a constant risk on the job. Videography insurance can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your equipment so you can keep working without a major financial setback.
Find the right coverage
Insureon helps professional videographers find video business insurance policies that meet their unique risks for peace of mind.
Fill out our free application to compare quotes from top carriers and get proof of insurance. Our expert insurance agents will help you every step of the way.
What types of insurance do videographers need?
These policies provide coverage for common risks faced by freelance videographers and videography businesses.
General liability insurance
This insurance covers basic videographer risks, such as third-party claims of property damage or injuries. Bundle with property coverage in a business owner’s policy to save.
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Damaged customer property
- Advertising injuries, such as copyright infringement
Business owner’s policy
A BOP is a cost-effective videographer insurance policy that bundles commercial property insurance and general liability coverage together.
- Customer bodily injury
- Accidental damage to property
- Damaged or stolen cameras
Professional liability insurance
This policy covers expenses if a client sues a videographer over work performance or a delay. It's sometimes called errors & omissions insurance (E&O).
- Missing or incomplete video footage
- Usage of unlicensed music or footage
- Late arrivals or missed video shoots
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers' comp for videography businesses that have employees. It also protects sole proprietors from work injury medical bills that health insurance might deny.
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Legal fees
Commercial auto insurance
This policy covers the cost of accidents involving a vehicle owned by a videography business. Most states require this coverage for business-owned vehicles.
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Bodily injuries from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Equipment insurance
Camera equipment insurance protects your videography tools and business equipment that travels outside of your studio. It covers property losses due to theft, fires, storms, and vandalism.
- Video and drone equipment at a filming location
- Cameras and equipment in transit
- Videography equipment stored off-site
How much does business insurance cost for videographers?
A videographer who works alone will pay less for insurance than a small business with several videographers.
On average, videography professionals who purchase insurance through Insureon pay $29 per month for general liability, $46 per month for a BOP, and $56 per month for workers' comp.
Factors that affect the cost of videographer insurance coverage include:
- Business type, such as television or wedding videographer
- Value of camera equipment and other business property
- Business income and size
- Types of business insurance purchased
- Policy limits, deductibles, and exclusions
- Coverage add-ons, such as additional insureds
State insurance requirements
See your state's requirements for photo/video businesses
How do I get videographer insurance?
It’s easy to get insurance coverage as a videographer if you have your business information on hand. Our insurance application will ask for basic facts about your business, such as revenue and number of employees. You can buy a policy online and get a certificate of insurance (COI) with Insureon in three easy steps:
- Complete a free online application.
- Compare insurance quotes and choose policies.
- Pay for your policy and download a certificate.
Insureon's licensed agents work with top-rated U.S. insurance companies to find coverage that fits your videography business, whether you work independently or hire employees.
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FAQs about business insurance for videographers
Take a look at answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about videography insurance and more.
Does a freelance videographer need insurance?
Yes. Even if you work independently, freelance videographers face many of the same risks as larger production companies—especially if you frequently travel to client locations or film on-site.
Transporting cameras, lighting equipment, and other expensive tools increases the chance of theft, loss, or damage. At the same time, filming at weddings, corporate events, or commercial locations can expose you to liability if someone is injured or property is damaged during a shoot.
Freelancers can also face legal risks during post-production. Using unlicensed music or footage in a client video—even unintentionally—can lead to copyright claims, legal disputes, or costly takedown requests.
Business insurance can help protect freelance videographers from these financial risks by covering equipment, third-party injuries or property damage, and certain professional mistakes that could lead to client disputes.
Do wedding videographers need special insurance?
Wedding videographers don’t necessarily need a completely separate policy, but they do need insurance coverage tailored to the unique risks of filming live events. Wedding videographer insurance typically includes general liability coverage for guest injuries or property damage, along with protection for cameras, drones, and other equipment used on location.
Wedding videography coverage can help cover common risks such as stolen or damaged gear, accidents involving guests or venue property, and legal costs if a client files a lawsuit. Policies can often be customized to include equipment coverage, liability protection, and optional add-ons like drone insurance.
While it’s not always required by law, many wedding venues require videographers to carry general liability insurance before allowing them to film on-site. Having wedding videography insurance can also make you appear more professional and help you book higher-end clients.
Can videographer insurance cover event cancellations?
Standard videographer insurance options typically don’t cover event cancellations. However coverage may be available through short-term policies or special event insurance.
This type of policy is often used for weddings, festivals, and other one-time events, and may help cover financial losses if an event is unexpectedly canceled or postponed due to circumstances such as severe weather or venue issues.
For videographers who regularly film weddings or other scheduled events, event-specific coverage can provide added protection when a cancellation would otherwise result in lost income or unrecoverable expenses.
Can videographer insurance protect against equipment theft?
Many videographer insurance policies include equipment coverage—such as a BOP or video equipment insurance policy—that can help pay to repair or replace cameras, lenses, lighting, and other gear if it’s stolen or damaged. This coverage is especially important for videographers who frequently transport equipment between studios, event venues, and outdoor filming locations.
For freelance videographers or those without a dedicated office or studio, business personal property (BPP) coverage can often be added to a policy to protect owned equipment. This can be a practical option if you primarily store gear at home or don’t operate from a traditional business location.
In many cases, equipment is covered through inland marine Insurance, which protects business property while it’s in transit or used off-site. This type of coverage can help ensure you’re protected if your gear is stolen from a vehicle, damaged during travel, or lost while working on location.
What other types of insurance do videographers need?
Videographers face a variety of risks beyond equipment theft, so several additional types of insurance can help protect their business:
- Commercial property insurance covers your video studio and business personal property—such as lighting, backdrops, computers, furniture, and inventory—if they’re damaged by fire, theft, or certain weather events.
- Business income coverage, also called business interruption insurance, helps replace lost income and cover ongoing expenses (like rent and payroll) if your videography company must temporarily close due to a covered claim.
- Equipment breakdown coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement if essential equipment, such as recording systems or editing computers, breaks down due to mechanical or electrical failure.
- Products-completed operations coverage provides liability protection for work you’ve finished, such as a completed video project, if it causes damage or injury to a client or third party.
- Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) insurance provides liability protection if you or your employees use rented, leased, or personal vehicles for business purposes, such as traveling to video shoots or transporting equipment.
If you use drones for aerial footage, you may also need specialized drone insurance. Standard general liability and equipment policies often exclude drone-related incidents, so separate coverage can help protect against crashes, injuries, or property damage.
Together, these policies help ensure videographers are protected against both property and liability risks that can arise during production or on location.