Hi all

I'm just starting out with things -- not yet working in a business capacity or charging for jobs -- so I am thinking my best bet for now is to go with a personal articles policy from a place like State Farm just to protect the gear I've bought from theft or accidental damage.

A few months down the line, I imagine I'll be transitioning into business mode by doing a few portrait and engagement shoots for experience, at no charge.

At what point would I be wise to transition into a more commercial line of insurance (commercial insurance being protecting business related gear and liability)? Should I get this before I shoot any clients, regardless if I am charging or not? When I first accept a job for a fee?

Hill & Usher and Tom Pickard sound great, but probably don't apply to me at the moment.

Thanks for any advice!

after your first camera gets stolen...or after you burn down your first ceremony or reception site...

Just kidding.

Get insurance as soon as you start needing it. That's sounds oversimplified...but it's really the right way to approach it. If you are just practicing shooting portraits and events for friends and you haven't got a ton of $ invested in gear (and homeowners or renters insurance might cover the gear anyway)...well...you probably don't need insurance yet. But once you start taking on paid gigs esp. where the site for photography requires insurance...or you fear that you'll need E&O coverage (perish the thought), then it's time to buck-up for insurance protection.

I'm with Dan. Or you can take the perspective of at what point if you're stuff got stolen would you REALLY start kickin yourself for not having it....that's the point.

It's really not that expensive, particularly if you don't have a lot of stuff so it's not worth not getting.

I don't think you need equipment insurance right away (even though I would suggest it), unless you want the peace of mind. But once you start depending on your photography for any sort of income, than commercial equipment insurance becomes a must.

If you're doing any kind of paid shoot you should at least have liability.

It's well worth it once you start carrying your equipment into public places like Dan and Chris mentioned. Honestly I was surprised at how cheap it is for me to insure an office, equipment and liability. I'm doing it through American Family, same as all of my other insurance.

Go ahead with it. It definitely helped relieve so much worry about my equipment as soon as I got it.

I agree with a lot of what's been said... I used to haul my gear everywhere with me - I was too paranoid to leave it in the car when getting a drink at the bar after the wedding! It is just a huge relief to have everything insured.

Also, being a sole proprietorship, it's peace of mind. Our house is jointly in my name and my husband's... if anyone ever decided to sue me I (hopefully) won't lose my home.

Perhaps it comes from being a paranoid former New Yorker, but I seriously sleep better at night. I got mine from Hill & Usher, costs $600 per year for more coverage than I really need. That covers all my camera gear, even memory cards, and all of my computer gear.

HTH!

Hi gang

As always, everyone here is so helpful -- thanks! -- and it sounds like I was thinking along the right lines. For peace of mind, I think I will get equipment insurance now via a Personal Articles Policy through State Farm -- about $55 a year to cover about 4k of gear. This should be fine so long as I am not doing anything business related with the gear. I need to clarify the policy terms with them (they said they will replace it with the same model if anything happens)... but I need to make sure they mean the same model or a model of equivalent value if mine is no longer available.

I can look into commerical gear insurance and liability later on down the line and pursue some of your recommendations.

thanks!

Yeah that is a good idea to get it now. We learned the hard way. Our first digital camera was the Nikon D70 - and our FIRST time using it my husband dropped it on a tiled floor during a photo shoot. I know the D70 isn't that expensive in terms of cameras - especially compared to the pro ones - but still that really sucked.

Luckily we bought it with our American Express Open card, and they totally paid for it! If you only have one business credit card, I highly suggest the amex.