4 useful types of protection that professional photographers should consider
In December 2021, Nikon released their latest piece of must-have kit – the flagship Z9 camera. While a little late to the pro mirrorless party, it definitely made a scene – boasting 120fps burst shooting and up to two and a half hours of 8k video recording.
As you might imagine, these impressive specifications meant that the Z9 also came with a fairly hefty price tag of more than £5,000. While you would definitely be getting your money’s worth buying one, you’ll probably want to take care of it too!
If your equipment would be expensive to replace if it got damaged, having protection in place to cover the cost of repairs or a replacement can be a major weight off your mind.
Of course, there’s much more to your business than just your kit. That’s why it can be helpful to seek protection for other aspects of your job too. If you want more peace of mind, read on to find out four of the most useful types of cover professional photographers should consider.
1. Public Liability Insurance
Whether you’re capturing a moment at a wedding or taking blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shots of wildlife, you’re probably going to spend a fair amount of your time in public spaces. Of course, while there are some things that you can’t capture just in a studio, taking once in a lifetime shots in the outside world can come with some risks too.
For example, if you accidentally damage someone’s property or, in a worst-case scenario, cause an injury then you could be liable.
If you want to avoid running into any unexpected issues, having Public Liability Insurance in place can help, as it can help to cover the cost of compensation or legal fees. Without it, an accident could put your business’s financial viability at risk and cause you a considerable amount of stress.
While it isn’t a legal requirement to have this cover in place before you start a shoot, it can still be highly useful. No matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen, which is why putting protection in place can help you to rest easy.
2. Commercial Property Insurance
Like many professionals, you probably have a studio or premises that you work from. If you do, it may be useful to consider Commercial Property Insurance, as this will help you to meet the cost of any unforeseen damage.
Given how hard you’ve worked to build your business over the years, establishing a clientele and finding a space that’s right for you, the last thing you need is for something unexpected to happen.
For example, imagine if your premises were damaged by fire or flood. Not only would you need to get the damage repaired, but it could cause serious delays to whatever project you’re working on. If this happens, you may miss important deadlines, which could affect your relationship with your clients.
Guarding your studio against the risk of damage by fire or flood isn’t just about protecting the bricks and mortar, it’s about maintaining the professional relationships you worked so hard to build.
This is why having Commercial Property Insurance can give you greater peace of mind, as it will enable you to focus on your job, knowing you can overcome any obstacles.
3. Professional Indemnity Insurance
It’s a fact of life that sometimes, despite all of your best efforts, things don’t always go according to plan. This can be particularly true in such a subjective field like photography, as even if you pour your heart and soul into a shoot, there’s always a risk that the client won’t like it.
In a worst-case scenario, you could find yourself in the unfortunate position of defending your professional reputation. This is where Professional Indemnity Insurance can really help.
This type of cover can help to cover the costs of fighting a legal battle to defend your name, offering the funds you need to protect your reputation.
While you’ll hopefully never find yourself in this situation, knowing that you’re protected against the possibility can be a huge weight off your mind, enabling you to focus on the job at hand.
4. Cyber and Data Insurance
While you may still occasionally choose to use it, the days when professional photographers shot purely on celluloid film are long gone. Instead, you almost certainly rely on digital cameras for much of your work.
While this can offer many advantages over using traditional film, it can have some drawbacks too. For example, if your business fell victim to a cyberattack then you could lose thousands of pounds worth of important data.
According to figures from Statista, the average cost of a cybersecurity breach for small- and medium-sized businesses in 2021 was £3,930. This can be a considerable amount, particularly if you’re still establishing your business in the industry.
Having Cyber and Data Insurance can cover the cost of any business interruption caused by a security breach, giving you greater peace of mind that you’ll be able to overcome this setback.
Get in touch
If you want to know more about what types of protection might be right for your business, we can help. Email creative@eggarforrester.com or use our contact form to request a callback from our team.
