The Ultimate Guide to Insurance for Your Film or Photography Shoot
Insurance can be a bit of a maze, especially when you're working in the creative industries. Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, or any other creative professional, having the right coverage ensures you're protected if things go wrong. In this blog post, we'll break down what insurance is, why you need it, and the most common types of coverage you’ll need for your shoots.
What is Insurance and Why Do You Need It?
At its core, insurance is about securing your peace of mind. You pay an insurance premium to protect yourself and your business against financial loss. Whether it’s damage to your equipment, a third-party injury on set, or something going wrong with the shoot, insurance ensures you don’t have to bear the full financial burden.
Common Types of Insurance You Need on Your Shoot
If you're gearing up for a film shoot, photo shoot, or any production work, there are three major types of insurance you’ll need to consider:
Public Liability Insurance (PL)
Employers Liability Insurance (EL)
Hired-in Equipment Insurance
Public Liability Insurance (PL)
What is it?
Public Liability Insurance is crucial if you’re working with the public or in public spaces. It protects you if a third party gets injured or if property is damaged because of your activities.
For example, if someone trips over a cable on your set or a piece of equipment damages someone else's property, this insurance will cover the compensation claims and legal fees.
Why is it important?
In the UK, many councils and location owners will require you to have PL Insurance before allowing you to shoot on their premises. The coverage can range from £2 million to £10 million depending on your needs and the size of the shoot.
Employers Liability Insurance (EL)
What is it?
Employers Liability Insurance is mandatory if you have anyone working for you. This includes employees, freelancers, or even volunteers. If someone working under your instruction gets injured or falls ill due to their work, they can make a claim against you.
Why is it important?
It’s legally required under the Employers’ Liability Act of 1969 and covers you against claims for injury or illness caused at work. It protects both you and your team and gives you legal peace of mind when managing your crew.
Hired-in Equipment Insurance
What is it?
If you’re renting or borrowing equipment for your shoot, you’ll want to have this type of insurance. It protects against accidental damage, theft, or loss of equipment you don’t own. Whether it's camera gear, lighting equipment, or props, this insurance ensures you won’t be stuck with a hefty repair or replacement bill if something goes wrong.
Why is it important?
When you enter a hire agreement with an equipment company, you're usually responsible for the gear from the moment you pick it up until you return it. Hired-in Equipment Insurance covers you for this period, ensuring that you’re not left financially vulnerable if something happens to the equipment.
Other Types of Insurance You Should Consider
Aside from the essentials like PL, EL, and equipment insurance, there are several other types of insurance that can protect you and your production team.
Multimedia Insurance
This covers your media (footage, photos, etc.) in case it's lost or damaged during production. It also helps cover the cost to recreate lost footage, so your production doesn’t come to a halt.Producer’s Indemnity Insurance
This is important if something unexpected happens (e.g., an actor gets sick or a location gets destroyed). It covers delays, abandonment costs, and additional expenses that arise from these situations.Errors and Omissions Insurance
This protects you from legal issues if there’s a mistake made during the production that leads to a lawsuit.Contract Dispute Insurance
If you face a legal dispute over contracts or agreements, this insurance can cover legal fees and expenses.Stunt Insurance
If your shoot involves stunts, it’s essential to have coverage for the added risk involved.Cybersecurity Insurance
In today’s digital world, your data and media files are at risk. This type of insurance protects you against data breaches, hacking, or digital losses.
Cost of Insurance: What You Need to Consider
The cost of insurance will depend on several factors, and it's important to understand how they play a role in determining the final price of your policy.
Factors Influencing the Cost:
Production Budget: The larger your overall production budget, the more you’ll likely pay for insurance coverage. A higher budget typically means more valuable equipment and a higher risk of incidents.
Shooting Days: The number of days you’re shooting can affect the cost. This includes pre-production and post-production time. If you’re shooting for two days, but also factoring in the planning and wrap-up time, the overall cost may increase.
Type of Coverage: The more types of insurance you add to your policy, the more you’ll pay. For example, if you need PL, EL, and Hired-in Equipment Insurance, the cost will be higher than just basic liability coverage.
The Scope of Coverage: The specific covers you choose, like travel insurance, multimedia insurance, and producer's indemnity, will also play a role in pricing.
Annual Policies
For production companies or studios that regularly work on multiple projects throughout the year, you can also opt for annual insurance policies. These policies cover all or most of your productions for an entire year, which means you won’t need to take out a new policy each time you start a new project.
Why is this cost-effective?
Annual policies can be more cost-effective for companies that have a steady flow of work. Since the coverage spans the entire year, you’re not paying separate premiums for each individual production, which can be more affordable in the long run. It’s also less hassle than having to set up a new policy for each shoot, making it a great option for studios and production companies with ongoing needs.
Real-World Example: On one of our recent shoots, we opted for a comprehensive insurance package. We had Public Liability, Employers Liability, and Hired-in Equipment Insurance, as well as additional coverage for Travel and Producer’s Indemnity Insurance. For a two-day shoot, the cost of this insurance came to approximately £363. This package also covered one week of pre-production and one week of post-production, so in total, we were covered for 14 days.
This is just one example of what you might expect to pay, but remember that costs can vary based on the scope of your project and the specific risks involved.
The Excess and The Average Clause: Things to Watch Out For
What is Excess?
When you make a claim, there’s usually an excess – the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Be sure to factor this into your budget so you’re prepared if you need to make a claim.
What is the Average Clause?
If you don’t insure your equipment for its full replacement value, the Average Clause can apply. This means the insurance payout could be reduced, leaving you to cover the difference. For example, if you insure £50,000 worth of gear, but the true value is £100,000, your claim might only cover half the cost.
Final Thoughts
While insurance might feel like an added cost, it’s a vital safety net for your business and your peace of mind. From covering your own equipment to protecting third parties and ensuring your team is safe, having the right coverage can make or break your production. Always review your insurance needs before heading into a shoot, and make sure you budget for any excess fees or additional coverage.
When in Doubt, Ask!
If you're ever unsure about the insurance coverage you need or have questions about what your policy covers, don't hesitate to do more research or call up your insurance provider to ask questions. They can help clarify things and make sure you're getting the right coverage for your specific situation.
