NEXT earned our top spot for the best small business insurer for photography companies due to its affordability and coverage. However, we recommend comparing quotes from our other top picks, including The Hartford, Simply Business and biBERK.
Best Photography Business Insurance
Updated: July 8, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
NEXT is the best business insurance company for photography firms because it offers the greatest balance of customer service and affordability.
The cheapest overall commercial insurance provider for photography businesses is NEXT, with low monthly rates for various coverage types.
To shop for business insurance for your photography business, assess the risks in your industry, consult agents and other similar organizations, nd compare multiple options.
Best Business Insurance for Photography Companies
| NEXT Insurance | 96 | 98 | 94 |
| The Hartford | 95 | 97 | 91 |
| Simply Business | 92 | 94 | 83 |
| biBERK | 91 | 92 | 91 |
| Nationwide | 91 | 89 | 91 |
| Progressive Commercial | 88 | 92 | 81 |
| Hiscox | 87 | 88 | 87 |
| Thimble | 86 | 88 | 81 |
| Chubb | 86 | 81 | 87 |
| Coverdash | 85 | 80 | 83 |
*All scores were based on a photography business with two employees across professional liability, general liability, workers' comp and BOP policies.
1. NEXT
pros
Cheapest general liability and BOP
Fast, digital-first quote experience
High customer satisfaction rating
cons
Longer quote times
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
NEXT ranks highest for photography business insurance thanks to its low rates and streamlined online platform. It offers the cheapest general liability and BOP coverage, ideal for photographers who want fast protection without hassle. NEXT holds a 4.7‑out‑of‑5 customer rating, making it a reliable choice for solo professionals and small studios. It's especially useful for freelancers who manage bookings and coverage on their own.
2. The Hartford
pros
Lowest professional liability rates
Strong financial strength (A+ AM Best)
Competitive across all major policies
cons
Website isn’t fully self-service
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
The Hartford is a dependable pick for photography businesses that need robust professional liability coverage. It offers the lowest pricing for that policy type, along with solid rates for general liability and workers' comp. Backed by an A+ from AM Best, The Hartford appeals to studios and professionals who want comprehensive protection and claims support they can trust.
3. Simply Business
pros
Strong BOP and liability pricing
Access to multiple carriers
Helpful for policy comparisons
cons
Customer service not top-rated
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Simply Business is a great option for photographers looking to compare multiple insurance offers in one place. It provides competitive pricing on BOP and general liability coverage while giving users access to several carriers. Its strength lies in flexibility—ideal for photographers with unique equipment or service needs. However, those prioritizing support may prefer providers with stronger service ratings.
Cheapest Business Insurance for Photography Firms
Based on our study of business insurance pricing, NEXT offers competitive commercial insurance for photography companies, with the cheapest general liability and BOP coverage. However, this applies only to photography companies with two employees, and you may find lower rates elsewhere. Below are the most affordable providers by major coverage types.
Cheapest General Liability Insurance for Photography Companies
With an average monthly rate of $14, NEXT offers the lowest-cost general liability insurance for photography companies. Even so, consider getting quotes from the next-most-affordable insurers: The Hartford and Simply Business.
| NEXT Insurance | $14 | $169 |
| The Hartford | $17 | $210 |
| Simply Business | $18 | $211 |
| biBERK | $19 | $234 |
| Nationwide | $20 | $242 |
| Progressive Commercial | $21 | $252 |
| Hiscox | $24 | $285 |
| Thimble | $24 | $294 |
| Chubb | $26 | $311 |
| Coverdash | $36 | $437 |
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance for Photography Companies
For photography businesses shopping for workers' comp insurance, Thimble tops our list as the most affordable insurer, with average rates of $7 per month or $88 yearly.
However, you may find more affordable rates with Progressive Commercial, Simply Business, The Hartford and Hiscox.
| Thimble | $7 | $88 |
| Coverdash | $8 | $100 |
| Hiscox | $8 | $98 |
| Progressive Commercial | $8 | $95 |
| Simply Business | $8 | $98 |
| The Hartford | $8 | $99 |
| biBERK | $9 | $103 |
| Nationwide | $9 | $110 |
| NEXT Insurance | $9 | $102 |
| Chubb | $10 | $118 |
Cheapest Professional Liability Insurance for Photography Companies
The Hartford offers the most affordable professional liability insurance options for photography companies, with low average monthly rates of $57. You may also want to compare prices from other low-cost providers like NEXT, Progressive Commercial and Thimble.
| The Hartford | $57 | $687 |
| NEXT Insurance | $59 | $714 |
| Progressive Commercial | $61 | $728 |
| Thimble | $62 | $747 |
| Hiscox | $63 | $762 |
| Simply Business | $63 | $754 |
| Coverdash | $64 | $768 |
| biBERK | $66 | $790 |
| Nationwide | $68 | $821 |
| Chubb | $74 | $890 |
Cheapest BOP Insurance for Photography Companies
NEXT provides the most affordable business owner's policy (BOP) coverage for photography companies, with an average yearly cost of $246 for bundled general liability and property protection. That’s a savings of roughly $19 annually compared to The Hartford, the second most affordable option.
| NEXT Insurance | $20 | $246 |
| The Hartford | $22 | $265 |
| biBERK | $25 | $305 |
| Simply Business | $27 | $319 |
| Nationwide | $30 | $364 |
| Progressive Commercial | $31 | $375 |
| Hiscox | $36 | $426 |
| Thimble | $38 | $452 |
| Chubb | $39 | $469 |
| Coverdash | $53 | $632 |
What Type of Coverage Do You Need for a Photography Business?
Most companies with employees are legally required to carry workers' comp insurance, and businesses that use vehicles must have commercial auto coverage. Many clients or contracts also require businesses to carry general liability insurance before starting work. A surety bond may also be necessary in certain industries, especially when contracts require guarantees of service or compliance.
RECOMMENDED PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS COVERAGE
Photography businesses should consider general liability insurance, even if it’s not legally required, as it covers risks like bodily injury, property damage, and legal defense costs. Professional liability insurance is also a smart option for businesses that work under client contracts or provide specialized services. This coverage becomes especially useful for companies offering specialized services or handling large contracts where the risk of disputes is higher.
Coverage Recommendations by Photography Company Type
We've broken down the various types of photography services by risk exposure, from highest to lowest, to help you understand your insurance needs. Coverage recommendations vary depending on the service type, with higher-risk businesses advised to consider more protective options.
Photography Business Type | Coverage Types Recommendation | Most Common Insurance Claims | Most Common Reasons For Litigation |
|---|---|---|---|
Wedding Photography Studio | General Liability, Professional Liability, Inland Marine, Workers' Comp, BOP | Property damage during events, client dissatisfaction, gear theft or damage, assistant injuries | Missed shots or lost files, breach of contract, guest injury, emotional distress claims |
Freelance Photographer (General) | General Liability, Professional Liability, Inland Marine, BOP (optional) | Gear loss or damage, client disputes, slip/falls at shoot locations | Alleged negligence, property damage, copyright issues |
Commercial/Product Photography | Professional Liability, General Liability, Commercial Property, Cyber Liability, Workers' Comp | Lighting/equipment fires, client dissatisfaction with quality, studio damage | Breach of contract, IP infringement, property damage during shoots |
Real Estate Photographer | General Liability, Professional Liability, Commercial Auto, Inland Marine | Damage to property, drone accidents, gear theft from vehicles | Damage to listings, misrepresentation claims, injury during property access |
Event Photographer (Corporate/Parties) | General Liability, Professional Liability, Workers' Comp, Inland Marine | Injuries at venues, equipment damage, lost memory cards | Failure to capture agreed content, injury claims, breach of contract |
How to Get the Best Cheap Business Insurance for Your Photography Company
Here's a step-by-step method for finding the best and cheapest business insurance for your photography company.
- 1
Decide on coverage needs before buying
Consider risks specific to your business for claims, get advice from similar businesses, talk to agents and research the types of business insurance. This will give you a balanced perspective on your coverage needs and prevent you from being convinced to get excessive coverage.
- 2
Research costs
To ensure you get the best deal, research average costs for your business profile and determine which providers offer the cheapest rates overall. This will give you a measuring stick for how much you're saving when comparing quotes and which companies to start with.
- 3
Look into company reputations and coverage options
To further narrow your list, research what customers say on online rating sites and forums to get a more comprehensive look at company services. Also, to align with your coverage needs and future ones, research coverage options to ensure you're covered for the right items.
- 4
Compare multiple quotes through different means
The tried-and-true method for finding the best deal is to compare multiple quotes for apples-to-apples coverage. Pricing differs by your comparison method, whether with captive agents, comparison sites, company websites or independent agents.
- 5
Reassess annually
Your business situation will change, influencing your rates and coverage needs. Repeat these steps annually to ensure you still have the best deal.
How to Decrease Your Photography Business's Liability Risk
Reducing liability risk is crucial for photography businesses looking to manage insurance costs effectively. We've organized risk mitigation strategies by business type or risk level to help you find the best fit for your needs.
Risk Level | Included Types | Risk Mitigation Tactics |
|---|---|---|
Highest | Wedding photography studios, commercial photographers with employees | Use written contracts outlining deliverables and liability. Invest in backup gear and storage. Train assistants in equipment safety. Secure inland marine coverage for on-location gear protection. |
Moderately High | Real estate photographers, event photographers handling indoor/outdoor shoots | Perform location walkthroughs prior to shoots. Use liability waivers if entering client property. Back up photos immediately. Avoid risky access areas without supervision or permission. |
Moderate | Freelance photographers, small studios without employees | Use portable insurance for gear. Get general liability and professional liability bundled. Maintain written agreements. Store data securely and redundantly. |
Moderately Low | Indoor-only product or e-commerce photographers | Maintain safe, clutter-free studios. Use surge protection for lighting and equipment. Avoid fire hazards from overheating devices. Keep client contracts clear and specific. |
Lowest | Part-time photographers, hobbyists monetizing side projects | Limit shoot complexity. Clearly label work as non-commercial or limited-service. Carry basic liability insurance. Avoid contractual obligations that imply professional standards. |
Best Insurance for Photography Business: Bottom Line
NEXT is the best insurer for photography business insurance, offering both the top overall score and the most affordable rates. We also recommend getting quotes from The Hartford, Simply Business and biBERK. For the best deal, talk to agents, research providers and pricing, and compare multiple quotes side by side.
Photography Business Insurance: FAQ
This section answers frequently asked questions about insurance for photography businesses.
Who offers the best photography business insurance overall?
NEXT provides the best business insurance for photography companies, with an outstanding customer service rating and a MoneyGeek score of 96 out of 100. The Hartford is a strong contender, scoring 95.
Who has the cheapest business insurance for photography companies?
Here are the cheapest business insurance companies for photographers by coverage type:
- Cheapest general liability insurance: NEXT Insurance at $14 per month
- Cheapest workers' comp insurance: Thimble at $7 per month
- Cheapest professional liability insurance: The Hartford at $57 per month
- Cheapest BOP insurance: NEXT Insurance at $20 per month
What business insurance is required for photography organizations?
Workers' compensation insurance is required if you have employees, and businesses owning vehicles need commercial auto insurance. General liability coverage and surety bonds are often necessary for client contracts.
How much does photography business insurance cost?
Business insurance costs for photography companies vary depending on your services, gear, and whether you work independently or with a team. Below are the average monthly costs for commonly needed policies:
- General liability: $21 per month
- Workers comp: $8 per month
- Professional liability: $63 per month
- BOP insurance: $31 per month
How We Chose the Best Photography Business Insurance
We selected the best business insurer for photography companies based on the following criteria:
- Affordability (50% of score): The lower a company's costs compared to the competition based on our base profile for four core coverage types, the better it performs.
- Customer service (30% of score): We scored providers on overall customer satisfaction using industry studies, customer review forum ratings and public forum sentiment analysis from sites like Reddit.
- Coverage (15% of score): We scored business insurance for this category based on the flexibility, payment and actual coverage options.
- Financial stability (5% of score): Using financial stability industry ratings from companies like AM Best and Moody's, we created an overall rating to judge how likely a company is to pay out claims compared to the competition.
All pricing in this article is based on the following base profile to represent the vast majority of small businesses in all states:
- Three-person business with two employees
- Coverage: $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total per year for all but BOP, which includes the same coverage plus $5,000 of business property coverage
- $150,000 in payroll
- $300,000 annual revenue
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- AM Best. "Hartford Fire Insurance Company." Accessed June 16, 2025.
- NEXT. "Customer Reviews." Accessed June 16, 2025.