Author Topic: Insurance? (Read 8985 times)

Graffoto · « **on:** December 28, 2009, 22:21 »

For those of us that from time to time do location shoots; do you carry liability insurance?
If so, who is your carrier and are you happy with them?

elvinstar · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2009, 22:58 »

I hadn't thought about it before, but I will be making a call to my insurance agent tomorrow morning. Thanks for the push in the right direction!

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2009, 17:51 »

Hi All,

Here is the best by far insurance coverage for Photographers and very reasonable. They have been involved in the professional photography business for years. Here is the link www.tcpinsurance.com/ Look into E&O ( Errors and Omissions ) insurance added to your package. We have a one million dollar coverage for our location shoots just in case of injury or damages. Actually it might be 2 mil. I will have to check with my wife, the boss : )

Best,
Jonathan

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2009, 19:31 »

Anyone know a reasonable UK based insurer?

UncleGene · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2009, 19:53 »

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on December 29, 2009, 17:51

Here is the best by far insurance coverage for Photographers and very reasonable. They have been involved in the professional photography business for years. Here is the link www.tcpinsurance.com/ Look into E&O ( Errors and Omissions ) insurance added to your package. We have a one million dollar coverage for our location shoots just in case of injury or damages. Actually it might be 2 mil. I will have to check with my wife, the boss : )

Are you sure E&O is right one? According to TCP site, E&O "Protects you against losses from copyright infringement, trademark, trade name, title, slogan, false advertising, idea misappropriation, invasion of privacy or publicity right, or defamation arising out of any photographic or digital visual imagery services"

PixelBitch · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2009, 21:36 »

I have a liability policy with the Hartford...here in California you can't get a permit to shoot without the liability cover...and in a country where lawsuits are prevalent you'd be insane not to have it.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2009, 00:26 »

Hi Uncle Gene,

Yes, that is an important area to have yourself covered that is not covered as in depth as the addition of errors and omissions. It is a big standard in the Stock insurance business for years. I don't know a stock shooter that is serious that does not include that as an extra to their already in depth coverage. And it doesn't cost much.
It is a last ditch to get out of jail free so to speak, if everything else is not working. If a model wants to sue you for a copyright infringement or a number of things just look at all the areas you covered in your explanation. I know insurance is hard to pay for but it can mean the difference between home cooking and living on the streets. I also would advise all of you to not be sole proprietors, another big danger sign for your future.

Thanks for the question,
Jonathan

Anyka · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2009, 01:12 »

I only have insurance for liability cases during shoots, but not for copyright infringement problems. Why? Simply because I cannot find such a policy here in Belgium (and neither can my insurance broker). It does exist for other professions, like architects, but not for photographers.
I have been seriously thinking about taking a foreign insurance, but what in case of a "legal case" if you live in Belgium, have a UK policy, and a USA company sues you for copyright infringement

mantonino · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2009, 01:48 »

hill usher

FD · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2009, 02:57 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 30, 2009, 01:12

Simply because I cannot find such a policy here in Belgium (and neither can my insurance broker).

I'm sure the ordinary liability insurance will pull out the plug when something happens during a shoot. They always revert to the fine print, like "this is not a normal activity of an ordinary person". The same with travel insurances: in the fine print is stated that cameras, laptops and electronics are not covered. What the heck then? I'm going for years without any insurance at all and if something happens, I'll just go to jail. They are totally full in Belgium with 70% of you-know and sentences under 3 years are not even executed any more. Use your common sense when doing a shoot and nothing will happen.

Anyka · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2009, 05:18 »

My Belgian liability insurance also covers problems during a shoot : I explicitly went for 2 policies : one for personal stupidities (knocking over a crystal vase in a museum), and one for professional accidents (a model trips over a cable in my studio).
I'm not worried about these accidents : I only work with Belgian models - they don't sue so fast as in the US.
Copyright infringement is another thing, and I haven't found a solution yet.

FD · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2009, 15:36 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 30, 2009, 05:18

I'm not worried about these accidents : I only work with Belgian models - they don't sue so fast as in the US.

For my current 2 months in Belgium, I just refused shoots they asked me for, since I can't afford a 200 euro insurance for some 0.35$ downloads. If my Filipino models die, they would cost me just 750$, the reason why nobody has serious car insurance. About injuries: hospital costs can be more expensive, that's why you get the advice to kill the people you injured. And this is NOT a sick joke.

Quote from: Anyka on December 30, 2009, 05:18

Copyright infringement is another thing, and I haven't found a solution yet.

You could ask the guy than runs marquisemodels.eu. He's a friend and he told me they were insured for that. But he's not in the least interested in microstock when he saw what it pays. They're doing assignments exclusively and their models are 2-300 euro/day.

Anyka · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2009, 16:11 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on December 30, 2009, 15:36

You could ask the guy than runs marquisemodels.eu. He's a friend and he told me they were insured for that. But he's not in the least interested in microstock when he saw what it pays. They're doing assignments exclusively and their models are 2-300 euro/day.

Thanks for the tip. I'll contact that agency. If I tell them I got their website as a tip by FD-amateur, will they know who you are? (if not, could you send me your real name?).

Konstantin Sutyagin · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2009, 18:25 »

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on December 29, 2009, 17:51

Hi All,

Here is the best by far insurance coverage for Photographers and very reasonable. They have been involved in the professional photography business for years. Here is the link www.tcpinsurance.com/ Look into E&O ( Errors and Omissions ) insurance added to your package. We have a one million dollar coverage for our location shoots just in case of injury or damages. Actually it might be 2 mil. I will have to check with my wife, the boss : )

Best,
Jonathan

Jonathan, it would be interesting to know if the liability insurance ever came in handy to defend from a lawsuit during you career in stock? How many times?

FD · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2009, 19:14 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 30, 2009, 16:11

Thanks for the tip. I'll contact that agency. If I tell them I got their website as a tip by FD-amateur, will they know who you are? (if not, could you send me your real name?).

The boss is Leon and I'm Hugo. ;-) He knows me quite well.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2009, 22:50 »

Hi Konstantin,

No, not for over twenty years just like my auto insurance, but I wouldn't drive without coverage. I would actually hope that I never have to use it. That would mean we had a pretty bad day. I think insurance is kind of like that across the board. You hope you don't need it till you do. I have way to much at stake not to have full coverage, especially for the cost in comparison to my income and business holdings. I also do not particularly like sitting in a lawyers office talking about a court case, that I have experienced.

Cheers,
Jonathan

P.S. I just wanted to add that I do know several that have been sued by clients, agencies, models, locations so it does happen in this industry. I know one shooter that has been stung several times but he has been in the biz a long time. The longer you are in and the more content you produce the greater the chances for trouble down the road.

Konstantin Sutyagin · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2009, 01:09 »

Thank you, Jonathan. I fully understand the absolute need for insurance when the numbers are big. Although for small volume shooters the motivation might be less clear. It seems from your example that the probability does not exceed that of winning a lottery.

Anyka · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2009, 02:05 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on December 30, 2009, 19:14

The boss is Leon and I'm Hugo. ;-) He knows me quite well.

Thanks, I just sent him a mail - I'll keep you informed!

FD · « **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2009, 07:39 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 31, 2009, 02:05

Thanks, I just sent him a mail - I'll keep you informed!

I think we should handle this in private, so I sent you a PM.

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Author Topic: Insurance? (Read 8985 times)

Graffoto

elvinstar

Jonathan Ross

ShadySue

UncleGene

PixelBitch

Jonathan Ross

Anyka

mantonino

FD

Anyka

FD

Anyka

Konstantin Sutyagin

FD

Jonathan Ross

Konstantin Sutyagin

Anyka

FD

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