Default Theft and liability insurance for wedding photographers - PPA?

haring · February 3, 2011

Did you hear about the Liability and Theft insurance offered through Professional Photographer of America (PPA)?
Can you recommend it? I would like to have theft and liability.
Would I participate in the insurance program automatically once I become a member or I have to pay for it extra? I am a little bit confused? Please advise!

Thanks! Priscilla

JimKarczewski · February 7, 2011

Not sure about the Theft part. But if you are a portrait or wedding photographer they have the Indemnity Trust you MUST pay extra for. It covers you when clients file action against you. If they take you to court (PPA lawyers can't work something out) you aren't liable for damages....

Travel · February 8, 2011

I had a friend who was taken to court in regards to wedding photography. They did not defend him. It is not such a good deal. Too limited. Join PP of A if your goal is to become a Master Photographer other wise just get their magazine and join a good local group.

JimKarczewski · February 8, 2011

Travel wrote: »

I had a friend who was taken to court in regards to wedding photography. They did not defend him. It is not such a good deal. Too limited. Join PP of A if your goal is to become a Master Photographer other wise just get their magazine and join a good local group.

Uh.. then your friend didn't contact the legal department at PPA. I've been in touch with them several times and every time they helped the situation IMMENSELY. Unfortunately I had to deal with them a lot as I was involved in an auto accident on the way home from a wedding. So things were very slow afterwards and PPA helped IMMENSELY

dawssvt · February 8, 2011

I have Hill and Usher and love them.

Kinkajou · February 9, 2011

I'm also looking into liability insurance for photographers... any other recommendations or things to keep in mind while looking around?

Shima · February 17, 2011

dawssvt wrote: »

I have Hill and Usher and love them.

So I got a quote from them but it was just under 800 dollars... seems kind of high.... so getting a few more quotes from other places now to compare. Granted I do have more gear than last time I got insurance, but still this more than double what I used to pay State Farm.

haring · February 18, 2011

Travel wrote: »

I had a friend who was taken to court in regards to wedding photography. They did not defend him. It is not such a good deal. Too limited. Join PP of A if your goal is to become a Master Photographer other wise just get their magazine and join a good local group.

I see. Good to know.

haring · February 18, 2011

Shima wrote: »

So I got a quote from them but it was just under 800 dollars... seems kind of high.... so getting a few more quotes from other places now to compare. Granted I do have more gear than last time I got insurance, but still this more than double what I used to pay State Farm.

$800 seems to be high for me, too. Let us know if you find a "lower" alternative..

ChatKat · February 18, 2011

3%
The standard rate for a listed articles policy that covers gear that is taken out of your place of business is 3% of it's replacement value. so $20,000 worth of gear would be $600 just to cover the equipment.

haring · February 18, 2011

ChatKat wrote: »

The standard rate for a listed articles policy that covers gear that is taken out of your place of business is 3% of it's replacement value. so $20,000 worth of gear would be $600 just to cover the equipment.

I see. Now it makes sense. thanks!

Ed911 · February 20, 2011

I use a rider attached to my home owners insurance...covers theft, accidents, like dropping in a lake...full replacement value, including computers...and I think I'm paying around $150.00 a year for $15,000 coverage. Computers and stuff like that have to go on a separate rider...but it's around the same price and included in the above as a package...

So, check out your home owners ins.

Mark Dickinson · October 21, 2011

Ed watch provisions and useage while conducting business out of your home. Might waive your right to collect if it is for commercial or business use.

Shima · October 21, 2011

haring wrote: »

$800 seems to be high for me, too. Let us know if you find a "lower" alternative..

I ended up going with State Farm again.

NeilL · October 21, 2011

There is a thread @ DG of about 6mo ago that looked exhaustively at insurance. A few horror stories emerged, in particular in relation to the disallowing of some claims under home owners-house contents insurance policies on the issue that the items were associated with earning income eg photos for sale on a website, and were actually being used at the time of the claim event as distinct from being kept on the property stated in the policy, or in transit to and from there.

Insurers will always decide in their favour to the extent they can, and they will base their claim assessment on their interpretation of the policy wording. Even though gear might be specifically listed and have specific coverage under home owners-house contents policies, the extent of that coverage, eg to claims events in which the gear is actually being used which are associated with earning money, needs to be confirmed by the wording of the policy.

In Australia photographers' insurance needs are only adequately met by profession specific policies. I can recommend AIS Insurance. Expect to pay AU$500 - 1000pa.

Neil

MomaZunk · October 21, 2011

Here is a thread I posted a few months back that may be helpful.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=194096

NeilL · October 21, 2011

Shima wrote: »

I ended up going with State Farm again.

State Farm was mentioned several times in the earlier thread I referred to above. From memory I think the experience with them was not universally positive.

Neil

Shima · October 21, 2011

NeilL wrote: »

State Farm was mentioned several times in the earlier thread I referred to above. From memory I think the experience with them was not universally positive.

Neil

I've used them for years with no problems. I only considered changing when I had moved states last year, but in the end they were still the best option for me.

NeilL · October 21, 2011

Shima wrote: »

I've used them for years with no problems. I only considered changing when I had moved states last year, but in the end they were still the best option for me.

All good, but please check if you are covered while actually using your gear and for gear which is used to generate income/earnings.

Some people have described that they got one answer from the agent but when it came to a claim a completely opposite answer from the claims dept.

Seems you have to take the initiative and do the cross checking yourself. As I said there are some horror stories, eg gear stolen, claim disallowed because insuree had website on which offering photos potentially for sale, therefore gear was used for business and not covered under home policy. True!

Neil

smurfy · October 21, 2011

For anyone who's already a member at the full pro level, the PPA includes equipment insurance now if you opt in. I think it's up to 15K in equipment. It only started in the last couple of weeks.

Mark Dickinson · October 22, 2011

Smurfy,

That is right, you get the insurance plus the trust access for unhappy clients. I read over the policy and its just like any other. first deductible is 500, second 750, and 1000.00 per consecutive 12 month periods

http://ppa.locktonaffinity.com/compare.htm

http://www.ppa.com/pdfs/qaindemnwebinar.pdf

http://ppa.locktonaffinity.com/Professional_Photographers_of_America_General_Liability_Applicant_Notice.pdf

Take a look at their exclusions:

CG2100
Exclusion – All Hazards in Connection with Designated Premises
The proposed insurance will not apply to “bodily injury”, “property damage” , “personal and advertising injury”, arising out of activities or photographic assignments involving any of the following extreme sporting events or activities:
1)
• Aircraft including balloons Sky Diving Hang Gliding Parachuting Scuba Diving or Snorkeling Scuba Diving or Snorkeling Mountain Climbing Whitewater Rafting Surfing Spelunking
2) Bungee Jumping
• Motorized sporting events including tractor/truck pulls and racing
• Rodeos Horseback Riding Steer Riding or Wrestling Rock Climbing Skateboarding Skiing or Snowboarding Bicycle Jumping Pugilistic or martial arts sporting events such as wrestling, boxing, kick boxing or karate

Shima · October 22, 2011

NeilL wrote: »

All good, but please check if you are covered while actually using your gear and for gear which is used to generate income/earnings.

Some people have described that they got one answer from the agent but when it came to a claim a completely opposite answer from the claims dept.

Seems you have to take the initiative and do the cross checking yourself. As I said there are some horror stories, eg gear stolen, claim disallowed because insuree had website on which offering photos potentially for sale, therefore gear was used for business and not covered under home policy. True!

Neil

Yes, I don't have a homeowners policy for my gear, I have a business policy + a personal articles policy on top of that. The agent I work with out here in CA has a handful of photography clients so I'm not his only one.

Ed911 · October 24, 2011

Mark Dickinson wrote: »

Ed watch provisions and useage while conducting business out of your home. Might waive your right to collect if it is for commercial or business use.

I have since spoke to my agent...and you are correct. I was told that I needed to upgrade to a commercial rider...and am doing that.

Good catch.

NeilL · November 2, 2011

kalkevee wrote: »

 Nice questions, I also learn many things from this interview.

Welcome to DGrin kalkevee!!<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/clap.gif" border="0" alt="" >thumb

Yes, it's a great place to hang out! Plenty of help, plenty of different opinions, plenty of interest in each others photos. So post yours soon!

Neil

Default Theft and liability insurance for wedding photographers - PPA?

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