Why some pros could need photographer professional insurance
Even with the best equipment money can buy, and plenty of training, a photographer can sometimes end up not doing the best job for a client. It may not even be within their control – an assistant or employee may make a slip up, or the weather may simply affect how an assignment is lit and end up producing a set of poor quality pictures. But should a client complain and ask for a re-shoot or worse still, take legal action to recover costs and any losses as a result, a photographer could face a legal challenge and a solicitor’s bill for their services. Photographer professional insurance takes away much of this concern, by ensuring you get financial assistance for legal advice should you ever be accused of making a mistake.
A professional insurance policy which includes a professional indemnity element will simply pay for the cost of your legal defence if you face a challenge from an unhappy client or member of the public. It effectively ensures you are not left out of pocket, or even financially on the ropes, after a legal incident.
The normal official term is that it will cover you if you are accused of making a mistake, omission, or committing an act of negligence in your regular business. All of these things could result in a legal challenge and a complainant may even be awarded compensation by a court. Do not worry, a photographer professional insurance policy which includes professional indemnity would even cover the cost of compensation should it be awarded against you.
This is why many consultants and creative companies offering their services on a consultancy basis take out cover. It makes sure that someone does not have to worry about the company getting deep into the red if they have to defend a legal claim. Of course, an insurance company will pay out indefinitely and the ceiling will have to be agreed when you take out the policy. Large photography agencies employing dozens of employees may typically want a greater level of protection than a lone freelance, for example.
You can even arrange for a policy to include an element of overrun cover, protecting you for a period after you cease trading or change jobs. This ensures you are still protected against any retrospective claims which suddenly arrive. You can even get cover which protects against past claims which arrive after you buy the policy but which relate to something which happened a long time ago.
Photographer professional insurance may also cover against the likes of claims you have infringed someone’s copyright or confidence, particularly useful if you have ever worried about someone claiming you have altered or stolen their images, which may seem unlikely but can happen after a mistake. It even protects against things like defamation, and the loss of a client’s pictures or documents.
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