Whether you operate a business that employs multiple photographers or you’re a one-person operation, if you work in the field of photography, you’ll already understand the importance of having insurance in place. From cameras and lenses to lighting solutions, rigs and tripods, investing in the tools of your trade as a photographer is an expensive business. 

Making sure that you can replace your equipment new for old if accidental damage occurs is essential if you’re to retain your investment and be back up and running swiftly. As a photographer, you are an essential part of your work, so ensuring you are personally insured in case of an injury that means you’re unable to earn is also critical. 

We offer a wide range of specialist insurance designed to meet the specific requirements of both amateur and professional photographers, and we understand that your income depends on your kit being in good working order.  But any profession that involves working with people needs insurance to protect them from the financial impact of claims brought by third parties – both clients and the general public.

For the contractual side of your work with clients, professional indemnity insurance is important, but perhaps the most wide-ranging risk is your liability to the public – for the safety of clients and members of the population at large.

In the following sections, we’ll explore this form of photography insurance and illustrate just how critical it can be to protect your livelihood when you’re out and about on a shoot.

What exactly is public liability insurance?

Whether you find yourself out roaming rural locations capturing outstanding natural beauty or indoors in your rented studio employing your craft to create family portraiture, the possibility that something might go wrong is always present. While such circumstances are unfortunate and most professional photographers do their utmost to avoid them occurring, potential problems can put your photography business at considerable risk.

The good news is that you can prepare for these worst-case scenarios by putting measures in place before they arise. Predicting the unpredictable is no easy feat, so instead of taking such a chance, public liability insurance was developed for peace of mind.

Put simply, photographers’ public liability insurance was created to cover the cost of any claims made against you by members of the public, due to incidents that happen in connection with your photography business (or amateur) activities. A public liability insurance policy can cover the costs of legal action and compensation claims made against you or your business in the event of damage to third-party property or bodily injury to a member of the public.

Such a policy ensures that photographers are effectively shielded from most types of potential risk that can occur when they are out working among the public, or in an area used by the public.

Why is public liability insurance so important for photographers?

If you are out working as a professional photographer or simply taking pictures for your own use in your free time, perhaps the last thing you would imagine is something going awry. Remember, if you’re taking pictures in a public place or near members of the public, there is always a potential risk of accident and injury.

A person might trip over your tripod and fall, resulting in a serious injury, or you might step back into someone while you’re trying to get a shot and knock them into something. It might not be a member of the public you cause harm to, but their belongings. What if your equipment is unsecured and falls on their property causing irreparable damage? What if that property is particularly valuable?

If any of these unfortunate events take place, you can potentially be held accountable for any harm or damage you cause. Standard insurance will not normally cover you for such an eventuality and you could face significant financial penalties.

Photographers’ public liability insurance policies are developed to offer a measure of protection against the consequences and financial fall-out that comes from legal claims of any property damage or personal injuries issued by third parties. Public liability insurance ensures that, should a member of the public be hurt indirectly by your photography activity, you will have access automatically to an agreed amount that will protect you and your business from ensuing legal costs.

Specialists in photographers’ insurance

With more than 15 years of experience serving photographers with specialised insurance, we here at Aaduki are well-placed to provide policies for UK creative professionals to cover both themselves and their businesses, and the equipment they rely on.

We understand that every photographer is an individual with their own needs and way of working. To match these specific requirements, we take a tailored approach to providing cover, and craft policies that only include the elements you need, including equipment, employers’ liability, international cover, and public liability. Contact our dedicated team today to discuss your needs and receive a free quotation.