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Oops, there goes the camera! by Jesse Millan

So you read my article about how you should always take your camera with you, did you? Now that you’re getting in the habit, I’ll show you how to make it safer to take your camera with you all the time with photographer’s insurance or its more affordable younger brother, tenant’s insurance.

What is Photographer’s Insurance?

Photographer’s insurance is a specialized insurance package that is very important to have when working as a pro photographer. It will cover your camera equipment, income streams lost due to equipment failure and your liability in case you drop your camera on that nice Maserati.

It’s designed with the professional photographer in mind and unfortunately, the price reflects that. For those of us who have nice equipment that we’d like insured but no income streams or liability needed, we look to a cheaper alternative. This is where tenant’s insurance comes in.

What is Tenant’s Insurance?

It’s pretty much what it sounds like: An insurance package designed for apartment tenants. It’s homeowners insurance for the non-homeowner. Tenant’s insurance covers your possessions as well as limited liability with regards to water damage, fire, and so on. Very useful stuff, but how does it relate to photography?

Tenant’s insurance is much cheaper than photographer’s insurance and covers all your camera equipment in a way that makes sense for the average hobbyist. This kind of insurance protects your possessions, including all that expensive camera equipment at home. Just give ‘em the serial numbers and save the receipts, same as you normally would for a warranty. You can expect to pay somewhere between $30 and $50 a month for tenant’s insurance, if that.

Get a “Floater” on Your Digital Camera

Tenant’s insurance protects your stuff while it’s at home and locked up. Unfortunately, it has limited coverage outside the home. You know, out there in all those nice places you like to take your camera. But this can be remedied!

When you’re setting up your policy, ask how much it would be to add a ‘floater’ policy for your digital camera. A floater protects your camera both at home and away from home. As always, read the policies so you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not, but you should be safe to take your now-insured DSLR with you wherever you go. Don’t do anything overly stupid with your camera, because the paperwork and deductible can still be a pain.

Keep Your Camera Receipts Somewhere Safe

Fireproof filing cabinet, safety deposit box, whatever. The insurance company will ask you to present these receipts if something happens to your camera, so you better have them handy. Store the original receipts along with photocopies of each one. Sometimes receipts are printed on thermal paper and will fade after only 6 months or so.

For added meta-humour, take a photo of the receipt and the photocopy using the camera that the receipt is for.

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Related Articles:

• Why You Should Always Take Your Camera With You
• Insuring Your Camera Stuff @ Photocritic.org
• High End Nikon D3 Digital SLR Rumors