Insurance for Weddings

[dpanicc1]

Okay, let's just suppose one were to enter into the world of wedding photography. I've read recommendations here, on other sites and in books that insurance is a must. A couple of questions:

#1: Something goes wrong and you can't fulfill your obligation and full refunds don't satisfy the customer....

#2: Uncle Bob gets drunk and falls into your tripod knocking the camera assembly to the ground destroying the lens, camera and flash....

Are these types of scenerios covered? Can anyone recommend reputable insurers?

Thanks

[Johnnynf]

I just mentioned this over on the EOS forum, so I hope you aren't getting this twice. I think I can recommend an insurer to help you with secenario #2 that you mention. I just got all my equipment insured by State Farm Insurance under one of their "Personal Articles Policy". Their rates are very reasonable. I got $4000 worth of camera equipment insured, and although it may be different in your area, I am paying $1.12 per $100 insured (that is a per year price of course). So for my $4000, that works out to about $45 a year or about $3.75 per month. I do know that the rate goes up if you "make money" off of your photography...so you might pay a bit more that what I stated. I think I remember the agent saying that if you use your equipment for business, the rate goes up to around $1.60 per $100 insured...but still very reasonable. If you live in the US, check them out.

As for scenario #1, I really have no idea...good liability insurance is what you need I am guessing. Maybe State Farm does that too...I don't know. It never hurts to ask!

Good luck!!

[stopbath]

I'm not up on the legal part of it, but I think for number one, your best insurance is multiple bodies, multiple flash units, extra cables, et al. In short, cover yourself that if anything fails (lens, body, flash unit, cable, yourself) you have something else to use (incase of yourself, your assistant can take over, or you may have some other photographers you can call in to replace you.)

With back up, a dropped lens may mean you can't get the optimum shot, but you can still recover by using another lens. Perhaps a 50 instead of the 80...

Each time you recover from a potential disaster by having the extras, you've still made money instead of losing, and the client may never know anything was amiss... Well, in the case of you calling in another photographer to cover for you when you are ill, I suppose they would get the money instead...

[dpanicc1]

Johnnynf , thanks for your feedback. I made a call locally and found I can get liability and gear coverage for a reasonable price, but I think I can do a little better if I shop.

I had hoped that this thread would have generated more responses but I guess specifics on insurance for weddings is something most wedding photographers don't carry.

Thanks again,
Dan