A Cautionary Tale for Photographers

Do you have insurance? Do you need insurance? Is this something that you've thought about and then just not gone ahead and purchased? Photography is a hobby, so I'll be covered with my home insurance should anything go wrong. Is there something in the small print that won't cover your equipment at home or overseas?

If you are a professional photographer, you will have insurance that covers your equipment, public liability, and anything else written into the insurance for your particular business operations. But should you have it if it's simply your hobby?

Setting the Scene

On a recent outing with the Nikon Z 7II to do some long exposures, I also took my Fuji X-T5, which, to be honest, was a last-minute decision. I simply took it to capture the surrounding landscapes. The X-T5 is normally attached to my camera bag strap at my chest for easy access while out hiking. 

Along the way, I photographed a couple of spots on my way to the waterfall using the X-T5, mainly for reference and to look back on for future compositions. While heading down toward my final location, I spotted a burn which was in full flow and thought to myself, "While I'm here I'll grab a couple of long exposures on the X-T5." I set up the camera on the unextended tripod a couple of feet away from the burn and fired off a few shots as I watched the light move across the small hills above, contemplating blending them together for the final image.

After about five minutes I was done, so I turned to get my camera bag which was to the side of me. In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of my tripod and camera taking a headfirst dive into the burn. In under a second, I was in the burn fishing them both out, which is probably the fastest I've ever dived into water. I was drenched, but more importantly, so were the camera and my Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 lens. Sure, it's not the fire depicted in the header image, but water is just as damaging.

I had been shooting on my knees for the last five minutes or so with no movement and a very light wind at times, so how could this have happened? But that is really not the question in this case. The fact of the matter is that it did happen. The only equipment survivors of this were the Smallrig L-Bracket, a Neweer variable ND, the tripod, and my SD card, which I grabbed straight away and left to dry for a few days.

Yes, as you can guess, I was upset, but I would have been even more upset if I didn't have insurance, as the camera and lens were the only two photographic purchases I had made in the past year. That I suppose doesn't even matter either, it's the fact that I had insurance that made the whole episode bearable.

Insurance

Minor drama aside, this kind of thing could happen to anybody and probably has happened to you in some form with your equipment, so we've all been there. But have we all been insured? My own insurance company was excellent in their handling of the whole episode, and I had my new camera in just over a week.

My insurance covers me for this type of incident, and I'm glad I took the time to invest in it. Each piece of equipment is listed, and any new piece is added when I purchase it. Does this affect the premium? Well, yes in some cases, but each time I call and work out the finer points of what and where.

Teaching photography at college is my main income, so my policy states that my equipment is not covered when in my main place of work, the college, but is covered outside of this and in foreign countries. This may seem odd to those who have insurance presently, but as policies for your equipment are mainly written for you, this was fair, as it also kept my premiums down. I also just use the college cameras, which keeps my gear safe.

What Insurance Provides

With so many photographic insurance companies out there, how do you choose? Get quotes from them all and compare the policies. See what you are covered for and where the limits are relative to your specific needs. Budget can also be a big factor in choosing the right provider. If this is a factor, read all your quotes again and give your preferred provider a call, as they may be able to guide you in what would be best for you, and perhaps at a lower rate. Speak to providers who are experienced serving photographers, as they ultimately will give you the best advice.

Things to Consider When Seeking Quotes and What Should Be Covered

There are other considerations to be made besides the list below, but as I'm aiming this article at mainly hobbyists so that your peace of mind is kept should anything go wrong (which I hope never does):

• Theft and Loss: How is this covered?
• Damage: What type of damage?
• Coverage on and off-site: Are there any restrictions?
• Depreciation: Old for new?
• Public Liability: Does your photography involve working even part-time with the public?
• Venue Requirements: Some venues will not permit you to photograph without coverage.
• Insurance Excess: How much will you contribute towards replacement?

Always read the fine print. Yes, it can be tedious, but in the end, it's worth it, so you know where you stand. Here in the UK, some home insurance companies will cover electronic devices including cameras up to a certain value with your home policy. If you are relying on this as your main insurance, I'd recommend checking the value amount and ensuring your photographic equipment is covered, because you may find that in some cases it is not.

Conclusion

Would I recommend insurance for your equipment even as a hobbyist? The answer is a resounding yes, as you never know what could happen. Sure, looking at the negative side is no way to think, but that assurance that you are covered is definitely worth it. Your equipment costs a lot of money to replace, so why wouldn't you have it insured?