STICKY:  Are you insured?

I handle personal property claims for and insurance company that rhymes with Skate Parm. I assure you, you don't want to rely on your Renters/Homeowners policy for equipment coverage - ESPECIALLY if you have EVER been paid for a shoot - business personal property limits will apply.

Get a Personal Articles Policy (they are VERY cheap, no deductible, and much much much much broader coverage). Be sure to add the optional Professional Use Endorsement if you have ever or suspect you may ever be paid for a shoot. Otherwise you will have $0 of coverage if filing a claim.

Let this be a warning and let it motivate you! If you are properly insured, you will thank yourself (and me) in the future!

Oh and the insurance company that rhymes with Skate Parm interprets policy language in your favor - can't say the same for any other insurer.

Gotta have insurance! Just one of those evils but will save you a huge headache later. More and more require it to be working anyways, just good practice.

rondiggity wrote in post #16432171
Gotta have insurance! Just one of those evils but will save you a huge headache later. More and more require it to be working anyways, just good practice.

Yep. My equipment is covered and I have a $1 million liability coverage.

Btw, how many 600s do you have?

tmckitterick wrote in post #16407314
Oh and the insurance company that rhymes with Skate Parm interprets policy language in your favor - can't say the same for any other insurer.

Yep! My Farmers agent told me I'd be covered. His bad advice cost me $1500. It also cost him a customer. Now I have business and personal lines from someone who gives much better advice!

GenEOS wrote in post #386096
If your equipment is used in a business, most homeowners poilicies won't cover it at all.
Liability insurance is a good thing if you and your equipment is in a place it could cause bodily harm to someone.
Most sporting arena's won't let you up in the cat-walks or attach lighting unless you are insured to a specific amount.
Insurance is always a good idea. Better safe than sorry. It only takes one incident to ruin you finacially.
But, you have to get what you can afford. You can go broke buying insurance.....

I think this is almost two threads, liability insurance to protect the photographer and equipment insurance to replace broken/stolen gear....

Yes, call the insurance company about using the equipment to make a little money if it's a personal article policy. My policy was okay with me making money as long as less than 50% of the use is to make money.

So after almost a decade of this thread being around? what is the best consensus for insurance providers in the photography arena?

I have disclosed to my homeowners insurance that I possess more than $10,000 worth of stuff, which covers me from a flood/fire etc.

but is PPA really the only gig in town for professional liability insurance?

jmikolich wrote in post #16946532
...I have disclosed to my homeowners insurance that I possess more than $10,000 worth of stuff, which covers me from a flood/fire etc...

What did they say?

Methodical wrote in post #16963106
What did they say?

They said "Sure thats fine, give us more money"

jmikolich wrote in post #16963202
They said "Sure thats fine, give us more money"

You'd be better off with a stand alone policy than a rider on your homeowner's policy. It's probably cheaper than the additional cost they charged you, too.

Methodical wrote in post #16964914
You'd be better off with a stand alone policy than a rider on your homeowner's policy. It's probably cheaper than the additional cost they charged you, too.

Thats what I'm hoping to do, but before I blindly hand PPA money, I was hoping someone over the course of this thread has weighed other options (for USA based photogs)

jmikolich wrote in post #16965385
Thats what I'm hoping to do, but before I blindly hand PPA money, I was hoping someone over the course of this thread has weighed other options (for USA based photogs)

Unfortunately, I don't know of any other types of policies. I think those photography membership clubs (don't recall the name) may offer some type of insurance - not sure though. Have you found any other options out there?

Anyone using these guys?
http://www.prophotogra​phersinsurance.com/

Have you ever had to file a claim with them? Would love to hear some feedback about them. The quote I got from them seems to be about 30% cheaper than Package Choice by Hill & Usher for similar coverage.

And of course I would also appreciate it if please share other potential sources for buying cheaper, yet reliable, business insurance that would offer liability and gear coverage at replacement cost.

Tahnks

cambyses wrote in post #16971714
Anyone using these guys?
http://www.prophotogra​phersinsurance.com/

Have you ever had to file a claim with them? Would love to hear some feedback about them. The quote I got from them seems to be about 30% cheaper than Package Choice by Hill & Usher for similar coverage.

And of course I would also appreciate it if please share other potential sources for buying cheaper, yet reliable, business insurance that would offer liability and gear coverage at replacement cost.

Tahnks

Are the policies an apples to apples in comparison?

Methodical wrote in post #16976681
Are the policies an apples to apples in comparison?

Well, that is part of the problem. Basically, I have the following concerns about them:

(a) they don't seem to ask for a schedule of equipment and only ask for a total amount of gear.
(b) they don't seem to provide a few page summary of their coverage and exceptions, and have only sent me a 159-page sample policy. I really don't like having to read 159 pages to figure out what is included and what is not, and to be able to do a high-level apples-to-apples comparison.
(c) I have already found one exception that I don't like, and that is "theft from an unlocked car". Not that I will ever leave gear in an unlocked car but I see that kind of an exception a bit strange and as a possible indication of them finding excuses and giving me a hard time in possible future claims.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could share any feedback on these guys.

Also, so far, I have received quotes from Hill & Usher, TCP, Taylor and Taylor, and RV Nuccio (mentioned above). I would greatly appreciate it if anyone shares any other possible insurance company that I should check out. FYI, I am based in southern CA.

Thanks...

Anyone?

For those of you who are using Hill & Usher (Package Choice), what has been your experience with filing claims? I have heard of at least one instance of someone being denied a renewal allegedly because he had filed one claim of $2000 for a stolen laptop. I am just wondering how common this may be, and how reliable Hill & Usher is if/when you actually need to file a claim.

Thanks...