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Photography and Videography Business Insurance in North Carolina
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Photographer and videographer insurance in North Carolina
Insurance helps pay for costly lawsuits and accidents, and sometimes it's required by law. Learn about business insurance requirements and the most common policies for North Carolina photographers and videographers.
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What are the most common policies for NC photographers and videographers?
These insurance policies provide the best coverage for the risks faced by photographers and videographers in North Carolina. You may need different types of insurance for contracts, loans, or leases.
General liability insurance
This policy covers third-party accidents, such as a customer who trips over a tripod and suffers an injury in your studio. Bundle it with commercial property insurance for savings in a BOP.
BEST FOR
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Damaged customer property
- Libel and slander lawsuits
Business owner’s policy
Small photo and video studios are often eligible for a business owner's policy, or BOP. This policy bundles general liability coverage and commercial property insurance at a discount.
BEST FOR
- Customer injuries
- Customer property damage
- Camera equipment coverage
Professional liability insurance
This policy covers legal fees if a client sues a photographer or videographer for negligence. It's sometimes referred to as errors and omissions insurance (E&O).
BEST FOR
- Lost or damaged memory cards
- Missed photo shoots
- Accusations of substandard quality
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers' compensation covers medical costs when an employee is injured on the job. North Carolina requires this coverage for photo and video businesses that employ three or more people.
BEST FOR
- Employee medical expenses
- Disability benefits
- Workplace injury lawsuits
Commercial auto insurance
This policy covers the cost of accidents involving a vehicle owned by a photography or videography business. North Carolina requires this coverage for business-owned vehicles.
BEST FOR
- Property damage caused by your vehicle
- Bodily injuries from an auto accident
- Vehicle theft and vandalism
Inland marine insurance
This type of camera equipment insurance protects items that travel outside of your office. It covers property losses due to theft, fires, storms, and vandalism.
BEST FOR
- Cameras and backdrops used off-site
- Photography equipment in transit
- Video equipment at a filming location
Looking for different coverage? See more policies.
Which policies are required for photographers and videographers in NC?
Photographers and videographers in North Carolina may need to carry the following types of insurance to comply with state laws and the terms of contracts:
General liability insurance
General liability insurance protects your business from expenses associated with common mishaps, such as customer bodily injuries and accidental property damage.
Photographers and videographers might need this coverage to sign a commercial lease or qualify for a business loan. Clients and venues might also ask for proof of insurance. Adding commercial umbrella insurance can boost your limits on general liability insurance and other kinds of photographer liability insurance.
A general liability policy also helps protect against advertising injuries, such as libel, slander, and copyright infringement. So, if an employee at your photography studio defames a competitor on social media, this policy would cover your legal costs if the other business sues.
A business owner’s policy bundles general liability insurance with commercial property insurance at a discount, and protects against common lawsuits and damaged business equipment.
Workers' compensation insurance
To meet state requirements in North Carolina, photography and videography businesses that employ three or more people must provide workers’ compensation insurance. This policy covers disability benefits and medical bills for work injuries and occupational diseases.
Workers' comp is also recommended for independent contractors and sole proprietors, as personal health insurance can deny claims for injuries that are related to your work. Policies typically include employer's liability insurance, which shields employers from legal costs if an employee blames them for their injury.
Commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance protects vehicles owned by your photo or video company, such as a van used to transport cameras or film equipment. It covers legal bills and other costs resulting from an accident, along with vehicle theft, weather damage, and vandalism.
North Carolina requires auto liability insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in the following amounts:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability
For vehicles that are used for business but are leased, rented, or otherwise not owned by the company, you'll need hired and non-owned auto insurance (HNOA). This can be bought as standalone coverage or an add-on to your general liability insurance or commercial auto insurance.
Personal auto insurance will not cover accidents that occur during work-related activities, which is why you likely need additional coverage.
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How much does insurance cost for NC photographers and videographers?
Photographers and videographers in North Carolina who buy policies from Insureon pay an average of:
General liability: $24 per month
Business owner's policy: $59 per month
Workers' comp: $56 per month
Factors that affect videographer and photographer insurance costs include:
- Services you offer, such as portraits or wedding photos
- Value of your cameras, lighting equipment, and other business property
- Location, such as Charlotte, Raleigh, or Durham
- Business income and size
- Policy limits and deductibles
- Coverage options, such as an additional insured
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Do photographers need a business license in North Carolina?
North Carolina doesn't have a general, state-wide business license. However, commercial photographers and videographers must comply with state and local regulations. That includes:
- You may need a business license issued by your city, county, or other local municipality.
- You must file an Assumed Business Name with your Register of Deeds office if you operate your business under a name other than your own. Other states call this a fictitious business name (FBN) or a "doing business as" (DBA) name.
- You need a Certificate of Registration from the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) to sell items that are subject to sales tax, such as portraits and photo albums.
- You may need a permit to take photographs or conduct a film shoot on public property, such as a state park, or if using drones. Again, you'll need to check the regulations for your area.
The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) offers a Business Start-Up Guide with helpful resources about how to start a new business in the state. You can find more information about film permits from the North Carolina Film Office.
How do I become a certified professional photographer (CPP) in North Carolina?
The Certified Professional Photographer designation is earned through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), a nonprofit trade association. It can help elevate you above the competition, and members gain access to online classes and workshops, photography insurance policies, and copyright and licensing resources.
The certification process is the same in every state, including North Carolina:
- Fill out the CPP Candidacy form and pay a $200 application fee
- Take an online exam
- Submit your images for evaluation
Photographers who earn the designation must recertify every three years. This requires participating in continuing education such as workshops, conventions, or the Imaging USA photography expo.
How do I get North Carolina videography and photography business insurance?
Insureon helps North Carolina photographers and videographers save time and money shopping for insurance by comparing quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance companies.
Our insurance agents are licensed in North Carolina and can answer your questions as you consider coverage.
To make the application go quicker, have this information ready:
- Workforce details, such as payroll and number of employees
- Current and projected revenue
- Business partnerships
- Desired coverage limits
- Commercial lease insurance requirements
Apply for free insurance quotes for your photo or video business today. We can work with you to identify and purchase the best types of coverage for your business. Most small business owners receive a certificate of insurance the same day.