It was great to see everyone back in the NEC for last year’s Photography Show!  Sharing our stand with The Societies of Photographers, we really enjoyed chatting to image makers of every kind.  And it’s a great opportunity for us to keep our fingers on the pulse of the industry so that we can better understand the risks you face and make sure we’re designing your insurance protection and risk advice to meet your changing needs.

Talking to you at the show, lots of photographers told us lockdown was a great opportunity to rethink their photography business and priorities.  A few things we picked up from you gave us food for thought, and might resonate with you:

You said:

1. Lockdown gave us time to refocus and look at new directions

For some, it’s been a welcome break from the stress of weddings – forcing them to rely less on events, and creating an opportunity to move instead into outdoor family portraits, food photography and nature photography. Do keep us posted on your innovations and shifts in creative focus so we can help you manage your risk and make sure your insurance cover is fit for its new purpose.

2. It’s all about nature and wildlife photography!

With Covid-19 restricting creative activity, there’s been a burgeoning interest in wildlife photography – with all the Youtube channels and podcasts to support it. Wildlife photography can involve some of the most expensive equipment – that £14,000 lens you need for the perfect long-distance shot, the tripod you need to hold it, telescopes and binoculars to set up the shot. We see a large number of photography insurance claims arising from lenses being dropped in rivers and lakes, tripods blowing over in the wind, cameras dropped over cliffs – even cows causing damage!  Being on the move, we also see a lot of kit bags driven over in car parks. So do make sure you keep us updated on the gear you’re buying – that way we can get you back up and running quickly if anything goes wrong.  You also need to make sure you have the landowner’s permission to be there!

3. We built our own studio

Many photographers have started to operate from their own studios, shifting the focus from “on location” work. Having your own studio gives you more control over your work in unpredictable times, especially if it’s on your own property.  Garden studios are very popular – but if you’re having people visit your premises, it’s important to remember your public liability insurance. And if the new studio is timber-framed or wooden construction, just make your insurer is aware your equipment is being stored in this type of building.

4. Travel looks very different these days…

If you’re shooting overseas, it’s important to get the right travel insurance – read the Covid-19 clauses very carefully.  Make sure your policy covers your equipment when working abroad, there’s nothing more stressful than having equipment stolen when outside of the UK and not being able to fulfil your contract…

5. Weddings are back on!

…but if you’re a new entrant to the market, you may find the industry is still dealing with backlog, with venues booked out from last year’s postponements.  And with the lack of wedding fairs, you’re reliant on recommendations and social media to build your client base – so it may take a while before you can really gather momentum.  Having said that, weddings are well and truly back in play, with weekday events and back-to-back bookings at many venues.  It’s hard to please everyone, especially on such a big day, so professional indemnity insurance is a must – to give you financial protection against disgruntled clients and for mistakes.

If you’d like to talk through your risks and insurance arrangements, just get in touch and our team will be happy to assist you!