Protecting our equipment....

NanaMo

Greetings all!

At this time I am looking into insurance for my equipment and would love input from y'all out there :scratch.

I do have the name of an agency Hill & Usher who insure wedding photographers. Since that is not my focus I would appreciate any help ....what kind, how much, things to be aware of, things to be sure to research etc etc.....so I sound like I know what I am talking about before I call them wink:rofl

Thanks in advance,

Maureen

ChatKat

Different kinds of policies
There are several kinds of policiies. If you are a homeowner, you can have a personal articles policy and list your gear and have it covered at a cost of 2-3% of the gears cost. Or you can get a stand alone personal articles policy. If you sell any images you cannot get a personal articles policy.

You need a profesional policy if you use you camera in any way where you sell your images. You can buy a policy that covers the equipt only - just like the personal articles policy. You can insure for a flat value or you can list your equipment. You can buy a package policy that will cover you for liability also which includes things like injuring someone with your gear or negligence.

I have my stuff covered by Marsh, Seabury - through my membership at PPA (Professional Photographers of America). Hill and Usher writes a policy as well that is respected by many of the pro's

Scott_Quier

I'm one of those "wedding photographers" and I've insured through Hill & Usher. I might suggest you give them a call and talk to them about your liabilities. My impression, from talking to them, is that they don't take the approach of "one size fits all" to their insurance.

I also found that they were very easy to deal with.

Disclaimer: The only relationship between me and them is that I'm a satisfied customer - so far.:D

NanaMo

ChatKat wrote:

There are several kinds of policiies. If you are a homeowner, you can have a personal articles policy and list your gear and have it covered at a cost of 2-3% of the gears cost. Or you can get a stand alone personal articles policy. If you sell any images you cannot get a personal articles policy.

You need a profesional policy if you use you camera in any way where you sell your images. You can buy a policy that covers the equipt only - just like the personal articles policy. You can insure for a flat value or you can list your equipment. You can buy a package policy that will cover you for liability also which includes things like injuring someone with your gear or negligence.

I have my stuff covered by Marsh, Seabury - through my membership at PPA (Professional Photographers of America). Hill and Usher writes a policy as well that is respected by many of the pro's

Thank you so much! Lots of valuable information. I will look into both to see which fits better.


Maureen

NanaMo

Scott_Quier wrote:

I'm one of those "wedding photographers" and I've insured through Hill & Usher. I might suggest you give them a call and talk to them about your liabilities. My impression, from talking to them, is that they don't take the approach of "one size fits all" to their insurance.

I also found that they were very easy to deal with.

Disclaimer: The only relationship between me and them is that I'm a satisfied customer - so far.:D

Thanks Scott!!

Since I am not one of those 'wedding photographers' it is nice to see that "one size does not fit all" and they will customize something for me. We will be traveling to China in a few weeks and I want to protect gear. (Mark III et al)
This is the 3rd time I have heard their name......must mean something!!

Maureen

Art Scott

A mistake I made once and never again......with the homeowners policy or any other......MAKE SURE YOUR EQUIPTMENT IS INSURED FOR REPLACEMENT VALUE........DO NOT ALLOW ANY AGENT TALK YOU INTO CHEAPER INURANCE THAT ONLY PAYS A DEPRECIATED VALUE, that really hurt me once.......and also make usre it covers every little or big accident that could possibly happen to your equipment from theft to some idiot pouring coke all over it.......it is amazing what can happen when you are out with your equipment.......

claudermilk

Art makes a good point. I am setting up a rider on my homeowner's insurance--for replacement value (they want either receipts or some kind of reputable pointer to what it could cost to replace--and they are happy with me printing B&H or KEH product pages for that ).

sirsloop

Art Scott wrote:

A mistake I made once and never again......with the homeowners policy or any other......MAKE SURE YOUR EQUIPTMENT IS INSURED FOR REPLACEMENT VALUE........DO NOT ALLOW ANY AGENT TALK YOU INTO CHEAPER INURANCE THAT ONLY PAYS A DEPRECIATED VALUE, that really hurt me once.......and also make usre it covers every little or big accident that could possibly happen to your equipment from theft to some idiot pouring coke all over it.......it is amazing what can happen when you are out with your equipment.......

lol... they look up what your camera costs to buy today (not what you paid for it)... then give you 25% of that

NanaMo

Thanks Art, Chris and sirsloop! Wow....that was some education Art...the tough way...sorry you had to learn like that...bet we all have some stories like that....

Found out the same about putting a rider on my home policy....they even asked if I planned to sell pictures and said I would have to have a commercial policy. There is so much great info on Dgrin that I knew posting my question would produce some great suggestions.

Think I will contact Hill & Usher as many have suggested...I am now down to the wire on getting it done before traveling.

Thanks all and keep shooting!!

Maureen

swintonphoto

I use State Farm - and have never had any problems.