Is your photographer insured?

Any true professional photographer that is doing everything right on the business side of things should have liability insurance. It was definitely one of the things that I asked our photographer during the initial conversations.

We paid 3400 for our photographer total. Her base package was 2300 which included unlimited coverage, all edited digital images, and an engagement session. We brought her in from Tennessee to Maryland to shoot our wedding so we paid about 700 dollars in travel expenses. We also added a second photographer for an additional 400.

Mine is.

I agree with MrsO. A true photographer will have insurance. I asked each photographer that I interviewed if they have insurance and that I will need to see it before I sign a contract with them. I am paying $2995 for my photographer. I believe that you can not put a price on true talent. You have to do research and read reviews to see if the photographer will be a best fit for you. I research for 2 months everyday before I decided on my photographer. Our price does include 2 photographers, videographer, and the engagement session.

There were many other cheaper photographers but this was the area I did not want to try to 'skimp' when it came to the cost.

Pretty much any photographer charging a fair market rate has insurance.

Someone that seems really cheap is not. They are cheap because they are not doing proper business practices like insurance, paying taxes, sales tax, etc. You cant charge such a cheap rate and make any profit if you are actually paying for these things.

I have liability, equipment insurance, as well as back up for getting sued.

Mine and most photographers should be.. Esp if they do a lot of weddings.

You can refer them to theeventhelper.com and they can pay for their own liability insurance for the day.

Our DJ is a friend of ours and we were able to get this for him for the day for less than $100.

Thank you for your responses. The person that we were planning to use is my FH frat brother. He does great work but only does weddings by referrals (usually family or other frat/soror members). Since we have been to many of the weddings he's photographed we have seen the quality of his work. Of all of the venues we seriously considered this was the first one that actually asked about his insurance. We have a couple of other photographers that we looked at and liked but I'm still waiting to hear if they are insured. So far the ones that have responded are not.

Thanks Mrs. I 2 Be. I considered doing that as well but didn't know where to start.

Would you be able to tell them that a friend is doing photos and that its not done by a company? Technically since its a friend if he doesnt present himself as a business name then it may be okay

No problem.. Hope it works out..

Our venue also required it, and given that people sue people these days for just about anything, I wouldn't have a vendor without it. And Mrs O is right - any decent vendor will have it.

Also, if I understand it correctly, photographer's insurance is not exorbitantly expensive, so if you really want this guy it shouldn't be a big deal for him to get it.

Michelle R I already sent our coordinator at the venue an email. I'm just waiting to see what she says.

Mrs. S I am even willing to pay for it or split it with the photographer since it will cover him for the rest of the year. You are right. People sue for anything and I don't want my wedding day ruined by something that could be avoided.

Yes. All of our professionals were insured. If he's starting out I think it's kind of you to split the cost of the insurance with him. You can also get an event policy to cover yourselves JIC, but I think it's cleaner if he has his own policy.

Perfect example of why your pros need insurance - our photographer set up a tripod light at our reception, next to a pole. Someone bumped into it from the dance floor, moving it an inch or two. Then someone came alone, tripped over the tripod leg, and the 10-foot thing came crashing down on the floor and broke. I just looked up from my conversation to make sure everyone was alright and that the catering staff was cleaning up the glass from the bulb, and then I shrugged and said, "Meh, insurance!" and returned to my family.

That was probably at least a $2500 piece of equipment. If she didn't have her own insurance she could have sued us for the cost to replace it.

Most venues will require insurance, and even if they didn't, do you really want to be responsible in the case that something happens?

It's the mark of a pro. The only ones who usually don't need it are officiants.

Professional Photographers carry liability insurance. Most venues require proof of liability insurance and they have a good reason for wanting their vendors to carry liability insurance. Don't lie to the venue about him as "just a friend." It would be awful if they kicked him out and you had no photos.

You also don't want to assume the liability from a financial standpoint should something happen...it wouldn't be a great way to start your marriage. The importance of hiring a professional shouldn't be underestimated.

Our venues didn't require any of our venders to have insurance. But all of our venders ARE insured. We won our photographer but she normally runs $2800 for the simple package. We're getting her biggest package that includes travel, a second photographer, all day coverage and all rights to our pictures.

Yep, mine is insured!

Mines a photographer that worked for a company and has just begun her own, so shes pretty cheap, but does amazing work (we have a 10k budget and no help so 10k is stretching it, and I took photography classes in college , so im picky) I did not ask about the insurance, I didnt even think about that.

A true professional should have Liability insurance in place. This is not something you want to "work around". Say your friend/photographer knocks over a lamp at the venue and it lands on a guest.... If they have liability insurance it covers everything, if the do not then YOU, as the person who booked the venue, are now responsible. Are you really willing to assume full financial responsibility for your photographers actions that day?