Insurance...

[ChristopherCoy]

I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread, as insurance was something that I was, or have been thinking about. Now I realize that my very small amount of equipment isn't exactly the most expensive stuff on the market, but what little money I've spent on it thus far doesn't exactly come easy. So if it was to fall off the back or a truck or something like that, I couldn't exactly run out and replace it.

SOOOOO.....

How would I find insurance, or what kind of insurance do I need to look into without being a member of the PPA just yet? Or does the PPA have benefits for beginners?

[Teddington]

Chris, if you have a homeowners or renter's policy, you probably have some coverage for things like theft, fire, etc. You probably won't be covered if you drop it ... or drop it in a lake or stream. Your agent could write you a Special Floater or Personal Articles Floater that would provide a separate limit of insurance and coverage for more ways to damage your stuff, probably with a lower deductible. Or, you could Google photography equipment insurance and find agents who specialize in this type of coverage. Some would say it's a good idea to insure your photography stuff with a different agent, company and policy so a loss of camera stuff doesn't affect your rates or coverage on your HO or Renter's policy.

I'm neither a PRO or a member of PPA so I can't speak for benefits to members. If you are a serious beginner that's looking to grow into something more, there may be education opportunities and other benefits besides the insurance that make it worth joining. From what I read, you won't save enough on insurance to offset the cost of PPA.

[arcproducts]

Chris - -- i am not professional, and as such i have my equipment insured as a personal articles add on to our homeowners insurance. I think I have about $6-7,000 of coverage for like $7 a month. It covers anything that happens to it. I had to provide proof of purchase, serial numbers etc., and then periodically update it with add ons and deletions as i may sell equipment. The choice you need to make if you are able to go that route (meaning non-pro) is to decide how far down the food chain do you insure your stuff. Meaning, do you want to insure a $20 gadget (as we know a whole camera bag full of gadgets can add up if the entire bag were stolen) or just insure the bigger items like camera body, lenses, flash units, remotes etc......

so good luck checking this out with your agent if you qualify.

i am glad i did........... although I was ONE lens too late, as I took a fall while coming down some steps on the San Antonio river walk , and totalled a $350 lens..... good thing the D200 survived as I had just purchased it a few month before. So after that incident I got my stuff insured.

[janetg]

many photogs go with a company called hill and usher - they are underwritten by the hartford - i have the standard business type liability and 25k of equipment coverage for about 700 per year and provides replacement value on equipment

[ShaneKislack]

Shoot, equipment insurance isn't near as important as liability in my book. I'm with Tom Pickford and have my equipment and $2Mil liability for a little over $700/year.

[ChristopherCoy]

Speaking of insurance... I have my camera bag sitting on the counter and just went to open the drawer. The drawer caught the shoulder strap, and nearly flung my bag across the concrete floor.

Think I can get a policy on a Saturday? LOL

[johnastovall]

Give this a read.

[Teddington]

Folks, if you insure your equipment, check to see if you can add Misc Equipment coverage under your floater. It allows you to add insurance for non-specified items on a per item/aggregate limit. If you do this, make sure your your individual item limit is equal to your most expensive "misc" item and your aggregate limit is equal to the total value of all items or that there is no coinsurance requirement. For example, a limit of $250/item and $2500 total. Any item over the individual limit and not specifically scheduled won't be covered.

[koppiwrite]

I added a "business in the home" package to my current policy with my homeowner's and cars. It includes equipment and business liability and is about $25 a month.

[w9ctm]

This is an interesting thread. If everyone could at least advise what compnay is carrying your insurance, that would help those that have yet to insure their equipment.

[ShaneKislack]

Tom Pickford in Cali.

[koppiwrite]

State Farm (norwood richardson is the agent), they carry my business, home owner's and car insurance.

[MT Stringer]

I got my insurance through State Farm. They already have my auto and home policies. 10K was $110/year. I've bought and sold some pieces so now it will be close to 15K. I'm waiting to get the bill because I just re-upped last week. I gave them the pics and copies of the invoices with serial numbers included.

I was worried of something happening either to my equipment here at home, or possible break-in to my vehicle while in on the field shooting.
Mike

[semperaggie]

I was quoted $320 through PPA for $2 mil of liability and I think another $80 for equipment (but I don't have that much yet)

[Debbi]

I have a home business floater thru Farm Bureau. 8K in equipment for $110 a year - no deductible, no individual item limit, any reason and I have it in writing that any claim will NOT go against my home owner's policy. Most home owner's/renter's policy holders have this available if you ask.