6 Best Photography Insurance Companies 2024
Photographers can capture a moment forever, and the best photography insurance lets you focus on your craft without worrying about liability or what happens if your equipment gets damaged. The best insurance for photographers is affordable, can be purchased quickly, makes it easy to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) to a venue where you are working, and is responsive when you have a question.
Using our proprietary rubric, we reviewed leading insurers to find the six best photography insurance companies for your business.
- The Hartford: Best overall photography insurance provider
- Simply Business: Best for saving money by comparing quotes
- Next Insurance: Best for cheapest photography insurance
- Thimble: Best for freelance photographers
- Full Frame: Best for quick coverage
- Hiscox: Best for global coverage
Best Insurance for Photographers Compared
The Hartford: Best Photography Insurance Provider
Pros
- You can quickly get online quotes.
- Drone insurance is available.
- It offers 24/7 claims service.
Cons
- Same-day coverage is not available.
- You may have to call to finish the quote or be referred to another provider.
Standout Features
- It has a wide range of coverage for solopreneurs, professional studios, and event photographers.
- It has highly customizable coverage add-ons to fit your business, like drone liability insurance.
- It offers the convenience of a great digital experience for policy management and quick COIs.
- Home-based business insurance and equipment insurance are some of the options for photographers
Financial Stability: Founded over 200 years ago, The Hartford has maintained a solid financial reputation. AM Best rated The Hartford an A+ (Superior).
For photographers, The Hartford offers several highly customizable options, including drone coverage and off-premise equipment insurance. From its online experience to in-house claims, it consistently shows it has put 200 years of experience into customer service.
However, coverage is usually unavailable on the same day, and you may have to call to purchase the policy. It also has no mobile application for business owners. So, if that is something you are interested in, check out Next Insurance.
We received a quote for $485 annually for a business owner’s policy (BOP). This was for a home-based business. The BOP had $10,000 in property coverage for the camera equipment, with a deductible of $1,000. It also carried liability limits of $1 million per occurrence and a $2 million aggregate. The liability contained product and completed operations.
The quote had customizable limits, with liability as low as $500,000 and as high as $2 million per occurrence. You can add drone liability coverage for $137.
The Hartford has several different coverages that can fit any type of professional photographer, including off-premise business equipment coverage. This coverage is to help you with lost income if your equipment is damaged at a special event and you lose the income from it because of the damaged equipment.
The Hartford ranked third in J.D. Power’s 2023 US Independent Agent Satisfaction Study, which means that independent agents have great experience working with the company.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) monitors complaints filed with state-level departments of insurance. Complaints filed against The Hartford are lower than the national average.
Customer reviews support the findings of the above agencies; customers can publish experiences of a claim with The Hartford on its website.[1] There are nearly 900 reviews for general liability claims, and customers have given The Hartford an average score of 4.8 out of 5.
Simply Business: Best for Saving Money by Comparing Quotes
Pros
- You can quickly compare quotes.
- You can purchase same-day coverage.
- You can find out information on partner carriers.
Cons
- It has minimal account maintenance.
- Claims filing process.
- Commercial property insurance may not be available online.
Standout Features
- It tailors coverage in real time to get the coverage you need while saving money.
- A quick and simple online quote process lets you compare quotes from top providers (we received four quotes while researching this article).
- It provides immediate access to important policy information after purchasing a policy.
- It works with top-rated carriers, letting you compare quotes within minutes of starting.
Financial Stability: While Simply Business works with top-rated carriers to provide quick insurance solutions, it is owned by Travelers. AM Best’s rating of Travelers is A++ (Superior).
Simply Business is an online business insurance brokerage that allows customers to compare quotes from top insurance providers and purchase policies. Within minutes, you can get a quote and purchase a policy without speaking to anyone. Comparing rates from different carriers and assessing which coverage is available for what price is an excellent way for a photographer to find the right policy.
As a broker, Simply Business is the only listed provider in this guide that lets you compare prices in real-time from different providers. However, it doesn’t service the policy. This means you can request changes to your policy through it, but if you have a claim, the carrier will handle it.
If you prefer working with one company from the start to the end of your policy term, check out Hiscox. It is a provider that works with brokers, but you can purchase a policy directly through it, and it will be the sole point of contact.
We received four quotes for general liability insurance. Each one carried the same limit: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, along with additional coverages that are part of general liability, like damage to premises rented to you and product and completed operations liability.
- $200 annually from Harborway Insurance
- $299 annually from RLI
- $347 annually from Hiscox
- $350 annually from Accredited
Two of the quotes, RLI and Hiscox, indicated additional coverage was available. For Harborway, professional liability was available for an extra $48. RLI had $5,000 for tools and equipment included with the general liability policy.
You can also get quotes for other types of insurance, including workers’ comp and cyber liability.
Simply Business is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. It offers online account maintenance, where you can access your policy documents and request a COI. It also has the information you need to file a claim.
Customer reviews are overall positive. There are over 1,100 reviews on Trustpilot,[2] with 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Unfortunately, it is not open on the weekend. If you want to speak with a licensed agent or someone to assist you, its hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET.
Next Insurance: Best for Cheapest Photography Insurance
Pros
- You can purchase insurance online easily.
- You can save up to 25% on your premium.
- It provides licensed agents to advise you.
Cons
- It does not maintain a 24/7 claims call center.
- Coverage options are not as extensive as a larger carrier.
Standout Features
- It has a user-friendly app for 24/7 access to policy, filing a claim, and creating a COI.
- The cost of workers’ comp for 80% of its customers is $59 a month or less.
- For 72% of its customers, the average cost to insure equipment is $28 or less a month.
- It offers affordable insurance—90% of customers pay under $17 monthly for a photographer’s policy.
Financial Stability: Despite being founded in 2015, Next Insurance has already established its financial position. Next Insurance’s AM Best rating is A- (Excellent).
A relatively new company, Next Insurance is a digital, direct-to-consumer, dedicated small business insurance company. It has created an easy-to-use quoting process. Within minutes, you can get a quote and purchase a policy. Or, if you have insurance, within seconds, you can create and share a COI whenever a venue requests proof of insurance. This factor makes it a great option for photographers who regularly work with event venues.
Because Next Insurance is still a new provider, it doesn’t have as robust of coverage options as a more established provider like The Hartford. While it offers the basics, if you are interested in more options for your business, then check out The Hartford.
We received a quote for a general liability insurance policy that costs $200 annually. If paying monthly, the first and last months were due at purchase, and then you’d owe 10 payments of $16.67. Because it is a direct-to-consumer provider, its prices are usually lower. Customers can save up to 25% when purchasing insurance directly from Next.
Unfortunately, it did not give us any options to insure our camera equipment. However, it does offer commercial property insurance.
Despite its newness, Next is establishing itself with exceptional convenience. Online, you can manage your policy, get an instant certificate of insurance (COI), and file a claim. There is an app (for iOS and Android), which functions like a 24/7 call center.
Through the app, you can create and share a COI anywhere. This makes it ideal for photographers who shoot at regular events and need to either include an additional insured or show proof of insurance.
Customers are happy with their experience of having Next Insurance as their provider. Complaints are lower than expected, according to the NAIC, and on its website,[3] there are currently over 3,500 reviews from customers, most of them very positive.
Thimble: Best for Freelance Photographers
Pros
- You can purchase short-term coverage instantly.
- It offers customizable liability limits.
- It offers highly affordable policies.
Cons
- It has no in-house claims team.
- It has no 24/7 call center for claims.
- It is very difficult to reach a person during regular business hours.
Standout Features
- Its app lets you manage policies and claims and even purchase insurance.
- Short-term liability insurance is available for special events by the hour, day, or month.
- Create and share an instant COI through the app in 60 seconds.
- Get a quote and purchase a policy for same-day coverage in minutes.
Financial Stability: Most Thimble policies are written through Markel or National Specialty Insurance Company (NSIC). Markel’s AM Best rating and NSIC’s AM Best rating are both an A (Excellent).
Thimble Insurance gives users the option to purchase insurance by the hour, by the day, or for an extended time. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find another provider that offers short-term coverage with that level of flexibility. This makes Thimble ideal for a freelance photographer or a photographer with a day job. For example, if you work special events seasonally, you can purchase a policy for one month.
The company is only available during weekdays and does not handle its claims, although its app can function in many ways, including as a 24/7 call center. If you would like a provider that is available 24/7 and handles its own claims, then The Hartford would be the best option.
We received quotes for liability, property, and equipment. The general liability carried $1 million in total coverage, and it had $25,000 in equipment and property coverage with a $500 deductible. It costs $480 annually.
The liability and property had multiple options to adjust the limits to fit your business. For example, you can select a liability limit of $300,000, $500,00, or $1 million.
Thimble offers a free app for iOS and Android. You can get a quote, purchase a policy, manage the policy, and file a claim online or via the app.
This provider is a managing general agent (MGA), so it does not fall under the NAIC for complaints. Because it works with a number of providers, it is hard to pinpoint which carrier you may end up working directly with. However, Thimble has about 1,700 reviews on Trustpilot,[4] with 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Full Frame: Best for Quick Coverage
Pros
- It offers insurance for photographers or videographers.
- It has an easy-to-use system.
- It provides quick-and-easy quote.
Cons
- It does not handle claims.
- It has no 24/7 call center.
- The available coverage is limited to the specific program.
Standout Features
- Get a quote and purchase a policy in 10 minutes or less.
- Policy is affordable and was created specifically for photographers.
- Through the online account, create a COI or manage your policy, payments, and claims.
- It offers a straightforward way to build coverage based on your needs, including for your photography equipment and professional liability.
Financial Stability: These policies are underwritten by Fortegra. AM Best’s rating of Fortegra is A- (Excellent).
Sometimes, you want a simple and quick way to purchase insurance. Offering policy packages starting as low as $59 annually for event insurance or $129 annually for liability, Full Frame is the best provider for quick photography insurance.
Unfortunately, it does not handle its claims, and while you have 24/7 access to your policy documents, it has no 24/7 call center. An alternative is Next Insurance. While it is similar to Full Frame in terms of coverage and cost, it provides an app that works like a 24/7 call center to manage the policy and claims and will handle the claims in-house.
If you just need short-term event insurance, it offers three-day event liability insurance that starts at $59. It comes with a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
We received a quote for an annual policy that costs $271. This covered general liability and camera equipment. The gear limit provided was $5,000 per item and $30,000 aggregate. It had multiple levels of coverage for gear—as low as $1,000 per item and $5,000 total coverage to as high as $15,000 per item and $75,000 total equipment coverage.
The liability for the quote had an aggregate liability limit of $2 million.
For $30, you can add unlimited additional insureds to any of the policies.
Using Full Frame is convenient. You can get a quote in under 10 minutes, purchase the policy, and manage your documents—all online. If you have a claim, you can email or call. While there is no 24/7 call center, you can call and speak with non-commissioned licensed agents.
If you need to provide proof of insurance, COIs are available instantly.
Hiscox: Best for Global Coverage
Pros
- It has no fees for the monthly payment plan.
- It has an in-house claims department.
- You can purchase policy online.
Cons
- BOP is unavailable in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia.
- It has no dedicated 24/7 customer service line.
- Online, the limits are lower than if you call for a quote.
Standout Features
- Simplified quote system makes it easy to buy insurance online quickly.
- BOP for photographers is designed for small businesses with 10 or fewer employees.
- Global coverage is automatically included for photographers traveling to shoots.
- It offers photography insurance.
- It offers a simplified policy for photographers with general liability and add-ons like equipment or professional liability.
Financial Stability: Hiscox has the strong financial position you want to make sure your claims are paid. Hiscox’s AM Best rating is A (Excellent).
Most insurance companies limit coverage to a specific territory, usually the US and its territories. But if you have Hiscox, the coverage is global, meaning that if a loss happens for your business outside of the US, Hiscox will still cover it. This makes it a great option for any type of professional photographer who travels—just ensure you are in the US, a US territory, or Canada when you file the claim.
However, it does not provide any mobile apps for its policyholders and lacks a 24/7 call center. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get a quote online for a limit higher than anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000. If you need higher limits or want greater accessibility from a carrier, The Hartford is an alternative.
We received two quotes. One was for professional liability and cost $400 annually. It had a total limit of $1 million with a deductible of $500.
The other quote was for a BOP that costs $612 annually. Alternatively, you could pay the first and last month’s premium and then 10 monthly payments. The BOP had a general liability limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and it carried $25,000 in property coverage with a $1,000 deductible. There is no upcharge for paying monthly.
Another advantage is that Hiscox usually offers same-day coverage on its policies.
It also recognizes the reduced risks that come with a home-based business and factors that into its pricing by offering a potential discount for any home-based photographers.
You can get a quote and purchase photography insurance online. It has online account management, including instant COI, changes to your policy, and loss runs. You will need to call and speak with one of its licensed agents for some changes.
While historically, Hiscox has had higher-than-average complaints, the level has been dropping steadily, and it now has average-level complaints. Like some of the other carriers, it publishes user reviews directly on its website.[5] There are just over 1,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
How We Evaluated the Best Photography Insurance Companies
We determined the best insurance for photographers with our in-house proprietary evaluation system. In evaluating, we focused on the customer’s needs. We paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder with a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Photography insurance is a combination of policies to protect your business and equipment. You will want first-party coverage (property) for your equipment and—if you own a studio—furniture and the business itself. You will also want liability for any claims against your business.
Photography insurance costs can vary, ranging from $200 to $1,020 a year for liability. Inland marine, which is for your equipment, can range from $200 to $2,500 annually, while professional liability runs anywhere from $400 to $1,500 per year.
Liability insurance can provide coverage if someone is injured due to your work. Professional liability can help if, while developing pictures, you damage the only available copies of an event. Property insurance assists you if your equipment is stolen or broken by a named peril.
Photographers will want to consider property and liability insurance. From there, it will depend on the type of business and what fits your needs the most. A broker like Simply Business is a good option for finding the best insurance for photographers as this broker can help you determine the right coverages for your business needs; you can learn more through our review of Simply Business.
Bottom Line
As a photographer, you are often invited to special moments in people’s lives. Your clients will want to know that you have the right insurance if something goes wrong. The Hartford is our best overall provider of photography insurance and can provide the coverage you need. Get a quick online quote for business insurance for photographers today.
Visit The Hartford for a Quote
User review references:
[1]The Hartford
[2]Trustpilot | Simply Business
[3]Next Insurance
[4]Trustpilot | Thimble
[5]Hiscox
