How Much Does Photographer Insurance Cost? 2025 Rates

U.S. photographers can expect to pay $420 annually for comprehensive business insurance, averaging $35 per month. The primary cost drivers are your location, coverage limits, type of photography services offered, number of employees, and equipment value.

How Much Does Photographer Insurance Cost?

Every photography business has its own unique risks and insurance needs, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all premium. A photographer shooting portraits in a home studio will pay far less than a team covering large-scale events or commercial productions with expensive gear and employees.

The type of photography you specialize in, your equipment value, how often you travel, and even your business location can all influence your premiums.

For example, photographers working in cities with higher rates of lawsuits or theft may pay more for liability or equipment coverage. Similarly, a wedding photographer using drones and traveling frequently will likely face higher premiums than a product photographer working exclusively in a controlled studio environment.

Average Photographer Insurance Costs For Coverage Types

When it comes to protecting your photography business, different types of insurance cover different risks. Understanding the average cost, coverage details, and what influences pricing for each policy type can help you build a more effective insurance plan.

Here’s a closer look at the major coverages most photography businesses need.

• General liability insurance: $35 per month
• Business owner’s policy: $42 per month
• Workers’ compensation insurance: $52 per month
• Commercial auto insurance: $144 per month
• Equipment insurance: $46 per month

Equipment Insurance

Photography relies heavily on gear, so many photographers start by protecting their equipment. The average cost of equipment insurance for a photography business is about $46 per month.

This coverage helps pay for repair or replacement if cameras, lenses, lighting kits, drones, or accessories are stolen, damaged, or destroyed. It is useful for photographers who travel for sessions, shoot on location, or keep gear in vehicles or portable cases.

For example, if your main camera body gets knocked over during a wedding shoot or gear is stolen from your car, equipment insurance helps cover the loss so your business is not interrupted.

The cost of this insurance depends on the total value of your gear and the type of photography you specialize in, such as wedding, commercial, sports, or studio work.

Here are average annual premiums across 10 states:

Note: Estimates reflect typical annual equipment/inland-marine premiums for photography operations; actual premiums will vary with equipment value, location, coverage limits, and underwriting factors.

General Liability Insurance

The average cost of general liability insurance for photographers is about $35 per month.

This insurance helps protect against third-party injuries, property damage, and advertising-related claims. It is important for photographers who work in studios, client homes, event venues, or public spaces.

For example, if a guest at a corporate shoot trips over a tripod or a backdrop stand scratches a venue floor, this coverage can help pay for medical costs, repairs, or legal expenses.

Most photographers carry policy limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.

Costs vary depending on how often you work around the public, whether clients visit your studio, whether you shoot events with large crowds, and if you need additional insured certificates for venues.

Average annual premiums by state:

Note: Estimates reflect typical annual general liability premiums for photography operations; actual premiums will vary with location, services offered, claims history, size, and coverage limits.

Commercial Auto Insurance

Many photographers use vehicles to transport lights, props, gear, and backdrops. The average cost of commercial auto insurance for a photography business is about $144 per month.

This coverage helps pay for repairs, liability claims, or damage if a business-used vehicle is involved in a collision, vandalized, or stolen.

For example, if you are driving to a destination shoot and get into an accident, this policy can help pay for vehicle repairs and third-party injury costs.

Premiums depend on the number and type of vehicles, how frequently they are driven for business, driver history, mileage, and whether you add hired and non-owned auto coverage for assistants who use personal cars.

Average annual costs across states:

Note: Estimates reflect typical annual commercial auto premiums for photography operations based on market-average agency pricing; actual premiums will vary with fleet size, vehicle use, driving records, coverage limits, and underwriting factors.

Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)

Photographers who want bundled protection often choose a Business Owner’s Policy, which averages about $42 per month.

A BOP combines general liability coverage with property insurance, protecting both clients and your business assets. It can cover camera storage rooms, computers, props, furniture, and rented studio space.

For example, if an electrical problem causes smoke damage in your studio and ruins lighting gear and backdrops, a BOP can help pay for repairs and replacements.

Typical liability limits are $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, with separate property coverage based on insured value.

Pricing depends on your equipment value, whether you operate a physical studio, and whether clients or models visit your workspace.

State-by-state average annual premiums:

Note: Estimates reflect typical annual BOP premiums for photography operations based on market-average agency pricing; actual premiums will vary with location, revenue, inventory, services offered, and underwriting factors

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

If your photography business has employees, you will likely need workers’ compensation insurance. The average cost is around $52 per month.

This coverage pays for medical care, lost wages, and rehabilitation if an employee is injured while working. This may apply to assistants, editors, lighting techs, or staging crew.

For example, if a staff member twists their knee while carrying equipment or gets hurt setting up a backdrop, workers’ comp helps cover treatment and income replacement.

Premiums are determined by payroll size, job roles, safety practices, and claim history.

Average annual premiums by state:

Note: Estimates reflect typical annual workers’ compensation premiums for small photography operations across different states; actual premiums will vary with payroll size, employee classifications, safety practices, claims history, and state rules

Photography Business Insurance Costs By Provider

Photography business insurance costs will vary greatly depending on the insurance carrier. Use the table below to find average costs across different providers.

Note: Typical annual premiums for photography businesses generally fall in the low hundreds to mid‑four hundreds, depending on coverage and risk factors

What Factors Impact Your Photographer Business Insurance Costs?

Photography business insurance premiums are carefully set by underwriters based on your overall risk level. Things like the type of photography you do, where your business is located, how valuable your equipment is, and your history of past insurance claims all play a role in determining your coverage cost.

Type Of Photography You Do

The kind of photography you specialize in plays a big role in your insurance cost. Some areas, like weddings, events, or drone photography, carry more risk because they involve larger crowds, expensive venues, or aerial shots. On the other hand, portrait or product photography done in a controlled studio environment usually comes with less risk, leading to lower premiums.

Value Of Your Photography Equipment

Insurance costs go up as the value of your photography gear increases. If you own high-end cameras, lenses, drones, lighting setups, or editing equipment, valued at over $15,000 your policy needs to cover all of that in case of damage or theft especially if you are transporting all of your equipment to and from off-site locations.

In effect, the more expensive the tools you use, the more it costs to protect them.

Location + Travel (Offsite vs. Onsite Photography)

Where you run your photography business affects what you pay. Businesses in larger cities or areas with higher crime rates often face higher insurance premiums. This is because the chance of equipment theft, property damage, or legal claims is greater in those locations compared to smaller towns or rural areas.

Similarly, if you offer services for off-site locations like weddings or corporate events, that extends the level of insurance you need, such as increased commercial auto insurance or equipment insurance.

How Often You Travel For Work

Photographers who travel often, especially those who shoot at different locations or out of state, are exposed to more risks. Whether it’s transporting gear, staying in hotels, or flying with equipment, there’s more chance something could go wrong. This can make your insurance more expensive, especially if your gear needs to be covered in transit.

Experience/Portfolio

As a photographer, your experience matters, not just when it comes to get new clients. If you have a membership with photography associations or you have contracts for annual photography events, this can help your business stand out as financially and professional secure, as compared to a new photography with no business history.

Annual Revenue

The amount of money your business brings in each year can influence your insurance price. Higher revenue usually means more clients, more jobs, and more exposure to potential claims. Insurance providers often see bigger earnings as a sign of increased risk and adjust your premiums accordingly.