Event Photography
Event photography Insurance
Part of the new breed of photography genres, event photography has been around for a while, the digital revolution has pushed this format right to the front.
So much in fact that there are a number of professional photographers and videographers specialising in event photography as well as having their own recognised society; Event Photographers Society. There is now also a specialist publication for this genre in the Event Photo Magazine.
Event Photography has also seen the rise of one of the more successful franchises in the UK, DE Photo who now boast over 40 photographers working under their banner.
The digital revolution not only meant that event photographers could now take an infinite number of pictures; they could also download them on location and display them, as well as being able to print them off immediately at the event location.
The introduction of printers able to print onto a number of surfaces also means that not only can event photographers provide that photo of little Timmy scoring the winning goal in the local 5 a side football tournament, you can now buy it as a mouse mat - continued >
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on a mug, poster size or as a jigsaw! With the increase in technology so has come the demand forthose involved in event photography to ensure that their insurance more than ever is ticking all the boxes.
As with wedding photographers, kit needs to be insured away from the main premises and if any work is being undertaken abroad, covered for being used outside the UK. (Don't forget Travel Insurance) But it’s not just the photography equipment for an event photographer to think about. Generally there are a number of monitors, computers, laptops, printers and anciliaries such as dongles travelling with you that need to be covered.
Event photographers may have items deemed to be exhibition kit such as display boards, banners/flags to promote themselves; a stock of frames, magnets etc for printing onto as well as potential machinery items such as generators. All these need to be insured as collectively, they aren’t going to be cheap to replace.
The major item to check with insurance for event photographers though is any clauses that may restrict the cover, especially as the event photographer tends to be away from the home more than most.
If you are travelling to an event and stopping in a hotel overnight, or even travelling back late at night, you need to know that if you leave any kit in your vehicle (locked and out of sight) that it’s covered. Things to look out for are exclusions that won’t cover kit between two certain times as an example 9pm – 6am is one that is quite often used.
Camera Equipment in vehicles
What if you’re photographing a corporate function or similar event that runs past 9pm? Does that mean any kit left in a car isn’t covered?
Other things to be aware of include raised excess charges should you have any kit stolen from an unattended vehicle. You may think that the excess is just what you were told it was, but if you, during the course of making a claim discover that the small print increases your excess to a percentage of the total loss, you won’t be happy.
Know your excess
Nothing worse than losing a considerable amount of kit to only find your excess that you thought was circa £200 is now considerably more. That extra ££££'s you’re now having to find could have been better off being used to pay for a policy that doesn’t have such a clause.
Knowing your limits
Also, ensure that you regularly check you are not taking out more kit than you are insured for. And also keep a check on the kit that you are buying. At the start of your policy you could have been taking out up to £5000 worth of computers, printers and peripherals. But then you bought two large monitors as well as a high speed processor and extra external hard drives plus a new printer. Have you rang your insurance broker to make sure your sum insured is updated?
If you’re getting rid of kit to accommodate it, then chances are the swing in the total sum insured may not be that great and so not be costly to you in the event of a claim. However, if this is kit you’re adding on to your existing and taking it all out, you must inform your broker, that’s what you pay him for. hide
Public Liability Insurance for event photographers
As a form of photography that is executed in the presence of the public, this cover is a must for those involved in event photography.Protection against injuring anyone or damaging someone else’s property bearing in mind the work you are undertaking is one you must ensure you have. Don’t be the event photographer that ends up in the national papers being sued for causing injury or destroying someone else’s property and not having insurance.
Public Liability insurance for event photographers isnt expensive and could be the one thing that saves you in your worst hour of need.
Employers Liability Insurance for event photographers
With more and more events being added to the remit of an event photographer (prom do’s, corporate events, charity days etc) so the need for a successful event photographer to spread themselves develops.This generally entails the employment of staff either on a full time, part time, casual or one off basis. Paid or working for free, you will need to be covered under Employers Liability as they will be working under your direction.
Cost for this cover is very small considering the exposure a business potentially has when employing people and provides a statutory minimum limit of £5m although the standard provided by almost all insurers is £10m.
Trade without it and you could find that all you have worked for gone in the blink of an eye if someone who may have only been working one day for you for £40 had an accident and sued you because you didn’t have the cover. Can you afford to not have it if you do use any sort of help?
People often ask what other covers an event photographer should have. Professional Indemnity isn’t one that is generally necessary because if the photos aren’t there or of a poor quality so they can’t be sold, that is the photographer loss. They will just have to go out and get more while the event is still on.
However, if they are being booked to photograph a one off corporate event there may be the need for it. It is something that should be discussed us.
Want to know more about Insurance for Event Photographers; or the Cliik range of products, you can contact us or just cliik below for a quote.