Let’s say you’re hired to film a wedding and you get cinematic footage of everything. Unfortunately, after you edit your video and share your final product, the bride is unhappy with the lighting and how it makes her look unflattering on film… and now you have a lawsuit on your hands.
Being a wedding videographer is all fun and games until you’re hit with claims like these. If you’re wondering: Do wedding videographers need insurance? The short answer is yes!
Luckily, you’ve come to the right blog. Buying wedding videographer insurance can prepare and protect you from unexpected events. Below, we explain the four types of insurance every wedding videographer needs, your real-world liability risks, and how a policy from Full Frame Insurance (FFI) can protect your business.
4 Types of Insurance Every Wedding Videographer Needs
Kyle Jude, FFI’s underwriter and insurance expert, stressed the importance of wedding videographers having insurance.
“Videographers should get insurance to cover their livelihood. Whether you damage property on-site while taking photos for a wedding or a power surge damages your computer, preventing you from delivering your promised photos to the paying customer, having insurance that covers you and your business is important.”
There are four types of wedding videography liability insurance you need to protect your business. Each builds layers of protection to safeguard your finances and business in the event something goes wrong.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance is your safety net if clients throw surprising claims or lawsuits your way. For example, if you’re filming a rehearsal dinner and one of your tripods or lighting equipment accidentally scuffs up the venue’s floor, general liability can cover the damages.
Our base policy includes the general liability coverage that can kick in for third-party damages or injuries arising from your services. It also includes:
- Products and completed operations for any products or services you give
- Personal and advertising injury coverage to shield you from claims that you slandered a competitor or false advertising
- No-fault medical expense coverage if someone gets hurt at your video shoot
- Damage to premises rented to you protects you against the cost of damage that occurs in a rented location, such as a studio or office
Failure to Deliver (aka Professional Liability)
Failure to deliver, or professional liability, is important to have for events that occur outside of your control.
For example, you promise your client a package of five high-quality videos, but can only deliver three because the other two have poor-quality lighting or audio. The couple could sue you for not fulfilling your promise and wasting their time.
Failure to deliver coverage is an optional plan under FFI’s Annual or Annual + policies for $100 per year, or roughly $0.27 a day!
Equipment and Gear Coverage (aka Inland Marine)
We know you’re gear is vital to your services as a wedding videographer. FFI’s optional equipment and gear insurance, aka inland marine, offers protection for your cameras, lenses, gimbals, and other gear under our annual and annual + policies.
Let’s say you’re traveling to your client’s wedding on a four-hour road trip. You stop to get some snacks and gas from a gas station. You lock your vehicle before you leave, but when you return, one of your windows is shattered and someone stole all of your gear. This coverage can help recover or refund you for your lost gear.
Data Breach Protection (aka Cyber Liability Insurance)
As a wedding photographer, you deal with customer data regularly (such as names, locations, credit card information, and more). It would be a shame if a cybercriminal got hold of this information and your clients held you responsible for the damages!
Cyber crimes are hazardous and costly. IBM stated that a data breach’s average cost in 2023 was $4.45 million. Hackers could hold your client’s data for ransom, and still not give it back if demands are met, or place it on the dark web for other hackers to steal and use at will.
For example, you could be handling client data and editing your wedding footage on the public wi-fi of your favorite cafe. Just then, the service gets hacked and a cybercriminal either locks up your laptop or steals information without your knowledge.
FFI provides optional cyber liability insurance that can protect you in the event of a cyber attack and any lawsuits or claims saying you betrayed a client’s privacy.
Real Liability Risks Wedding Videographers Face
Damaged Property Upset Clients or Venue
Let’s say that while you’re recording the ceremony, you accidentally back up into a table holding fragile wedding presents, and they fall and break. Liability insurance can kick in and pay for property damage.
Guest Receives Injury During Set Up
Another situation can include setting up a tripod for videos or quick photoshoots. However, a guest trips over the tripod and breaks their hip. The “no-fault” medical expense limit of the general liability insurance can help pay for the medical bills.
Can’t Finish Job Because of Equipment Damage
You want beautiful footage of the newlyweds on a cliffside. Unfortunately, before you can record footage, a gust of wind knocks all of your equipment over the cliff into the water. In this case, the gear and equipment coverage can replace your damaged gear and the professional liability coverage (aka failure to deliver) can cover costs for lost videos that you can’t deliver to your clients.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I Need Insurance as a Wedding Videographer?
Yes–every wedding videographer needs insurance. There are numerous things that can go wrong at weddings: trip and fall accidents, property or equipment damages, failed memory cards, and more. Without insurance, you and your business could face claims costing tens of thousands of dollars or more.
Can I Price My Wedding Videography Services to Cover the Cost of Insurance?
Yes—your wedding videography service fees can (and probably should) account for overhead costs including business expenses like insurance, especially if you’re getting a one-time event policy. As you price your services, factor in business expenses like your time, transportation costs, leased space and equipment, insurance, licensing, software, and so on, so that your revenue can keep pace with your costs.
Does Wedding Videographer Insurance Cover My Gear?
General liability (the base wedding videography insurance) does not cover cameras and other videography gear. However, if you have an annual policy, you can also purchase our optional gear and equipment (aka Inland Marine) coverage. It can help fix or replace damaged gear, which can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
How Much Does Wedding Videography Insurance Cost Per Event?
If you shoot two to three weddings a year, FFI’s event videography insurance costs $59 per every 1-3 day event. If you film weddings regularly, you can purchase our annual coverage for $129 per year or a monthly payment option starting at $12.
Why Choose Full Frame for Your Wedding Videography Insurance
Full Frame Insurance’s wedding videographer insurance can protect you from numerous, unexpected claims and situations, including data breaches, damaged or stolen equipment, unhappy clients, lawsuits, and more.
You can choose one of FFI’s three coverage options:
- Event: 1-3 Day Coverage; $59 per event
- Annual: $12 per month or $129 per year
- Annual+: $23.83 per month or $189 per year
