How much is insurance for freelance photographers and videographers?

General liability insurance for photography businesses costs an average of $29 per month, or $350 per year. This type of insurance covers accidental property damage and customer injuries.

General liability insurance, also called public liability insurance, also pays for lawsuits related to advertising injuries, such as defamation or copyright infringement. It would cover legal costs if you published a photo of a customer's engagement news on your website without permission, or slandered a competitor on social media.

Below is the average general liability policy for freelance photography and videography businesses that buy from TechInsurance:

Premium: $29 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500

You might need general liability coverage to rent a storefront for a studio, sign a contract, or get a business loan. It shows your landlord and partners that they're protected against financial losses from the most common risks.

The cost of general liability insurance depends on numerous factors, including the type of services you provide, the policy limits and deductible you choose, the type of photography you shoot, and the number of employees you have.

Professional photographers pay an average of $46 per month, or $550 per year, for a business owner's policy.

A business owner's policy bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance at a lower cost than buying these policies separately. You can often include additional coverages as well.

A BOP provides coverage for your business storefront in the event of a fire, storm, or burglary. It also protects against liability claims for bodily injuries and property damage, such as when a client falls during a studio photography session and twists their ankle.

Common add-ons include business interruption insurance (or business income coverage) to cover lost income and operating costs during a temporary closure, and equipment breakdown coverage to help your business recover from the failure of a point-of-sale system or other necessary equipment.

This is the average BOP for photography and videography businesses that buy from TechInsurance:

Premium: $46 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $2 million aggregate
Deductible: $500

Businesses that are eligible for a BOP usually are small in size (fewer than 100 employees) and low risk.

Photographers with higher-risk businesses should consider a commercial package policy (CPP). A CPP is a customizable insurance product that bundles policies such as general liability, property insurance, and cyber coverage.

The cost of a business owner's policy depends on factors such as the value of your property and inventory, your business operations, and whether your studio has a burglar alarm, sprinkler system, or other loss control measures.

On average, photographers pay $34 per month, or $405 per year, for professional liability insurance.

Professional liability insurance covers lawsuits related to professional negligence. For example, it would cover attorney's fees and other legal costs if a wedding photographer accidentally uses the wrong lighting equipment for a shoot, resulting in poor-quality photos.

This policy also covers frivolous lawsuits, such as a client who claims the photographer did not capture their event as specified, even though the photographer provided photographs as agreed in the contract.

You might see professional liability insurance coverage referred to as errors and omissions insurance (E&O) in other industries. Business partners and clients might require you to carry this type of coverage, as it'll cover legal bills that might otherwise affect them.

This is the average professional liability policy for photographers who buy from TechInsurance:

Premium: $34 per month
Policy limits: $1 million per occurrence; $1 million aggregate
Deductible: $1,000

Insurers consider several factors when determining professional liability insurance costs, including the coverage limits and deductible you choose, the size of your photography business, the specific events you photograph, and your claims history.

Photographers spend an average of $56 per month, or $671 annually, on workers' compensation insurance.

Workers' comp pays for medical expenses and disability benefits in the event of an employee injury. For example, if an assistant trips over photography equipment and sustains an injury during a photo shoot, this policy would cover their medical costs and provide partial wages during their recovery.

Workers' compensation policies usually include employer's liability insurance. This type of coverage pays for legal costs if an employee sues their employer over an injury.

State laws often require photographers and videographers to secure workers' comp as soon as they hire their first employee, but that's not always the case. It's required in California and New York for every business with employees, in Florida for every business with four or more employees, and it's optional for most companies in Texas.

Even though workers' comp may not be required for sole proprietors or independent contractors, such as a single-person photography business, it's still recommended. Medical bills are expensive, and most health insurance plans can deny claims for injuries that happen on the job.

The cost of workers' compensation mostly depends on the number of employees you have and the type of work they do. It's often less expensive for businesses in states that have lower healthcare costs.

Small businesses, including photography and videography companies, pay an average of $245 per month, or $2,942 per year, for commercial auto insurance.

If your company-owned vehicle is involved in an accident, this policy would help cover any damages you cause. It would also cover your legal fees if you're sued.

You can buy coverage for other risks as well. For instance, collision insurance pays for repairs if your vehicle is damaged in a collision, while comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle from other sources, such as hail, theft, and vandalism.

Almost every state requires this coverage for businesses that own a vehicle, as personal auto insurance won't cover business driving. To protect personal, rented, and leased vehicles used for work, you'd need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA) instead.

The cost of commercial auto policies can vary considerably. Some of the most important factors are your employees' driving records, the policy's limits and deductible, exclusions, the number of vehicles you own, and the coverage options you choose.

Photographers and videographers pay an average of $43 per month, or $519 per year, for camera equipment coverage, typically called inland marine insurance.

Business equipment used and stored on the business property is typically covered by a commercial property policy. However, if you're a photographer with expensive camera equipment who brings your gear to off-site photo shoots, you'll need inland marine coverage to protect your property while in transit over land or stored off-site.

Inland marine insurance can be purchased as a standalone policy or as an endorsement to commercial property coverage.

Inland marine insurance protects photography equipment from theft, accidents, and collision-related damage. This policy helps cover the repair or replacement costs of camera equipment and other business property during transit and while off-site.

Photographer equipment insurance costs will vary based on a number of factors, including the total value of your camera equipment, where you're traveling, and whether you own or rent your equipment.