Does a Real Estate Photographer Need Business Insurance?
April 9th, 2010
A reader recently asked the question, “is it recommended or mandatory to have insurance? ” And he pointed out that he couldn’t find the answer on here on the blog.
This is an over sight on my part. I have a section in my book The Business of Real Estate Photography on insurance but I need to address the subject here too.
The answer is “yes, real estate photographers should carry general business liability insurance.” It is generally good business practice to have you and your employees covered by insurance that will cover any thing you may damage in a property you are shooting.
Along with general business liability insurance you need to have your equipment insured. You should be able to get a general business insurance policy that covers your business for liability and for loss of your equipment for somewhere between $500 to $1,200 a year depending on the details and extent of your coverage.
Here are some contacts for business insurance brokers that specialize in coverage for Photographers:
- T.C. Pickard & Co.
- Hill & Usher through National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP)
- Hoffberger Insurance Group
- RV Nuccio & Associates
Check out what works best for you, you’ll be glad you did.
6 Responses to “Does a Real Estate Photographer Need Business Insurance?”
Scott Hargis April 10th, 2010 at 6:59 am #
+1 for TC Pickard!
Clark Dugger April 10th, 2010 at 10:37 pm #
I’d like to point out that if you are alone on a shoot at someone’s property, you will need extra coverage. In other words, if you’re shooting “unsupervised,” your basic photographer policy will not cover you.
grape imaging April 11th, 2010 at 9:42 pm #
Clark, Why is that?
Jerry April 12th, 2010 at 5:46 am #
Professional Photographers of America and National Press Photographers Association also offer insurance for photographers at group rates.
Russell April 12th, 2010 at 8:41 am #
We have a policy from Professional Photographers of America, covers all our gear anywhere in the world. I do travel with gear and there are not many companies who will cover cameras & gear out of the USA, plus all our office desks, equipment, computers and most important for liability. Marsh is the insurance company from PPA, goods reduced rates too.
I have tried both Hill & Usher and Hoffberger [who issues photo insurance from Travelers] for a normal policy, both are more than double what Mash from the PPA charges, quote based upon March 2010.
Anyone looking for RC Aircraft insurance, the only place is Hill & Usher in the USA, as no one seems to have a policy for us that fly RC Helicopters for a business. The policy is expensive but necessary. The other normal photography policy they were more than double that of PPA. Quote from one week ago, March 2010.
The three more companies whom, now over a month and can not seem to get a policy, my local Farmers agent, Allstate & the commercial side of Mercury where I have my car insurance, all can not get an underwriter for RC or Photography.
Rusty @ MLS Photo Pros dot com
Charlotte Rosato September 14th, 2011 at 7:58 am #
A real estate office told me that I must be bonded and insured to do work for them. I haven’t heard of bonding being necessary for photographers and I’m wondering if anyone else has run across this. Any information on this would be very helpful. Thanks much, Charlotte