Comments on: Is Your Camera Gear Insured? http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:13:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert Bockenkamp http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-3400 Robert Bockenkamp Tue, 31 May 2011 01:28:25 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-3400 Because if seeing this article and others such as this I did inquire with my agent with whom my cars and home policies are with. I have almost $30,000 in gear for my "hobby" and it became apparent that I better be damn sure I had coverage from either car or homeowners. It was recommended by my agent that I take out a commercial inland marine policy that would cover my gear no matter where it was. The cost was $1.00 per $100 insured. The cost to me as of this posting is $27,000.00 because as soon as I filed the listing with serial numbers and costs I realized I had forgotten to add nearly $2,800 more in equipment I had and will have to do an update. I rest a LOT easier now when I am in public with all of my equipment either with me, in the car or a motel room. Because if seeing this article and others such as this I did inquire with my agent with whom my cars and home policies are with. I have almost $30,000 in gear for my “hobby” and it became apparent that I better be damn sure I had coverage from either car or homeowners. It was recommended by my agent that I take out a commercial inland marine policy that would cover my gear no matter where it was. The cost was $1.00 per $100 insured. The cost to me as of this posting is $27,000.00 because as soon as I filed the listing with serial numbers and costs I realized I had forgotten to add nearly $2,800 more in equipment I had and will have to do an update.
I rest a LOT easier now when I am in public with all of my equipment either with me, in the car or a motel room.

]]> By: phatphotographer http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-2036 phatphotographer Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:42:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-2036 I have both a small business policy which covers liability and property and a personal articles policy which specifically covers my scheduled camera equipment against any loss with no deductible. The second policy felt a bit luxurious, but my State Farm agent recommended it and she was right. I recently broke a pocket wizard and had it replaced the next day. For the details on what happened check out <a HREF="http://blog.phatbabyphotography.com/2008/07/but-we-had-good-photo-shoot.html" REL="nofollow" rel="nofollow">insured during a baby photo shoot</a> and the post immediately following it on my awesome insurance agent. I have both a small business policy which covers liability and property and a personal articles policy which specifically covers my scheduled camera equipment against any loss with no deductible. The second policy felt a bit luxurious, but my State Farm agent recommended it and she was right. I recently broke a pocket wizard and had it replaced the next day. For the details on what happened check out insured during a baby photo shoot and the post immediately following it on my awesome insurance agent.

]]> By: Anonymous http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-2033 Anonymous Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:55:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-2033 I got my D90 and other camera equipment insured just after I got it.<br/>I thought it was wise, seeing as I was taking it to Italy a month after I insured it, so I could take pictures while skiing without worrying. I got my D90 and other camera equipment insured just after I got it.
I thought it was wise, seeing as I was taking it to Italy a month after I insured it, so I could take pictures while skiing without worrying.

]]> By: Anonymous http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1998 Anonymous Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:45:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1998 The homeowners policy will cover a "percentage" of the loss. This percentage is based on the value of your home. If your home is insured for $ 1.0 Million the "Contents" coverage is 10% of the loss.<br/><br/>My emphasis is to "prevent" the loss in the FIRST place. If you want other tips to preventing property losses such as high valued camera equipment send me a reply on this blog. The homeowners policy will cover a “percentage” of the loss. This percentage is based on the value of your home. If your home is insured for $ 1.0 Million the “Contents” coverage is 10% of the loss.

My emphasis is to “prevent” the loss in the FIRST place. If you want other tips to preventing property losses such as high valued camera equipment send me a reply on this blog.

]]> By: Mark http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1966 Mark Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:45:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1966 Do you add a rider to your homeowners policy, or do you get it through a separate company? Do you add a rider to your homeowners policy, or do you get it through a separate company?

]]> By: Jacom Stephens http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1961 Jacom Stephens Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:24:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1961 Insuring your equipment is an absolute no brainer for professional photographers and even serious hobbyists. Camera equipment is expensive and the likelihood of it getting stolen, broken or lost is quite high if you use it a lot. Large events, air travel, shooting by water or from tall buildings, etc. In many cases, your photographic equipment can be worth more than your car. And NOT insuring your car is just NOT an option, but I'm surprised at how many people don't insure their camera gear. I've never had to file a claim yet, but I know that if I ever had to, it would be covered. Just like backing up your hard drives or having health insurance, you never realize how important it is until a disaster happens and then it's a life saver. You may complain about the cost now, but once it saves your bacon you sure won't. That said, I opted to have a separate insurance for my camera and computer equipment and not use my home owners insurance for that. I just wanted to be sure there were no loopholes or limits if I needed to file a claim (ie: if I dropped a really expensive camera off the side of a fishing boat while in Greece or something) and didn't want the possibility of multiple claims affecting my homeowners insurance rates. It's a good idea to remind people about insurance though Rich. Insuring your equipment is an absolute no brainer for professional photographers and even serious hobbyists. Camera equipment is expensive and the likelihood of it getting stolen, broken or lost is quite high if you use it a lot. Large events, air travel, shooting by water or from tall buildings, etc. In many cases, your photographic equipment can be worth more than your car. And NOT insuring your car is just NOT an option, but I’m surprised at how many people don’t insure their camera gear. I’ve never had to file a claim yet, but I know that if I ever had to, it would be covered. Just like backing up your hard drives or having health insurance, you never realize how important it is until a disaster happens and then it’s a life saver. You may complain about the cost now, but once it saves your bacon you sure won’t. That said, I opted to have a separate insurance for my camera and computer equipment and not use my home owners insurance for that. I just wanted to be sure there were no loopholes or limits if I needed to file a claim (ie: if I dropped a really expensive camera off the side of a fishing boat while in Greece or something) and didn’t want the possibility of multiple claims affecting my homeowners insurance rates. It’s a good idea to remind people about insurance though Rich.

]]> By: Debbi_in_California http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1960 Debbi_in_California Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:08:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1960 I have all my lenses, cameras, pocket wizard, Sekonic meter and each Canon Speedlight insured with State Farm as a rider on my Homeowner's Policy. Each time I upgrade a camera, I drop one, even if I don't sell it. I don't insure the softboxes, stands or White Lightnings.<br/>Debbi I have all my lenses, cameras, pocket wizard, Sekonic meter and each Canon Speedlight insured with State Farm as a rider on my Homeowner’s Policy. Each time I upgrade a camera, I drop one, even if I don’t sell it. I don’t insure the softboxes, stands or White Lightnings.
Debbi

]]> By: mpot http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1959 mpot Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:04:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1959 My camera gear is insured under my home contents policy, and I have everything itemised with serial numbers in the policy.<br/><br/>However, it only covers me for theft or accidental damage in the country, so when travelling overseas, I need to take out additional insurance. My camera gear is insured under my home contents policy, and I have everything itemised with serial numbers in the policy.

However, it only covers me for theft or accidental damage in the country, so when travelling overseas, I need to take out additional insurance.

]]> By: Michael Hilton http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1957 Michael Hilton Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:04:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1957 I am just an semi-serious-amateur and twice I have had my camera equipment from my house, once from my car trunk, once from my living room. My Allstate homeowners policy covered it both times (about 3 years apart). I would HIGHLY recommend everyone get homeowners insurance.<br/>-michael I am just an semi-serious-amateur and twice I have had my camera equipment from my house, once from my car trunk, once from my living room. My Allstate homeowners policy covered it both times (about 3 years apart). I would HIGHLY recommend everyone get homeowners insurance.
-michael

]]> By: sd http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1956 sd Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:29:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1956 I insured mine as scheduled items under my renter's insurance with MetLife. I specifically wanted an all-risk policy so that it would cover anything no matter where I was. Three months later all of my gear was "lost" by an airline (after they forced me to check the bag, no less). AND, their claim forms specifically state they are not responsible for camera equipment and just about anything else that could be valuable. But, thank goodness, I had insurance. I faxed a copy of the baggage claim to MetLife and got a check about a week later. If it hadn't been for that insurance I'm sure I would have ended up on the news or in jail.<br/><br/>It costs so little to insure this stuff, there really is no reason not to. I insured mine as scheduled items under my renter’s insurance with MetLife. I specifically wanted an all-risk policy so that it would cover anything no matter where I was. Three months later all of my gear was “lost” by an airline (after they forced me to check the bag, no less). AND, their claim forms specifically state they are not responsible for camera equipment and just about anything else that could be valuable. But, thank goodness, I had insurance. I faxed a copy of the baggage claim to MetLife and got a check about a week later. If it hadn’t been for that insurance I’m sure I would have ended up on the news or in jail.

It costs so little to insure this stuff, there really is no reason not to.

]]> By: Mike Panic http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1953 Mike Panic Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:26:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1953 Right now I rely on 1. my home owners and 2. my auto insurance but don't have any other insurance should it get dropped, or stolen from anywhere aside from my car or home.<br/><br/>What I've always tried to do, in addition to keeping receipts for large ticket items, is to photograph them and their serial number and keep the digital files somewhere safe (like in Gmail) and make prints of it all for reference. Right now I rely on 1. my home owners and 2. my auto insurance but don’t have any other insurance should it get dropped, or stolen from anywhere aside from my car or home.

What I’ve always tried to do, in addition to keeping receipts for large ticket items, is to photograph them and their serial number and keep the digital files somewhere safe (like in Gmail) and make prints of it all for reference.

]]> By: calanan http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1954 calanan Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:26:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1954 I have my gear covered as a separate rider through USAA (military insurance). They do have separate policies and rates for business shooters vs. amateurs/personal use so folks may want to keep that in mind when obtaining coverage. I have my gear covered as a separate rider through USAA (military insurance). They do have separate policies and rates for business shooters vs. amateurs/personal use so folks may want to keep that in mind when obtaining coverage.

]]> By: Jeremy http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1951 Jeremy Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:21:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1951 Great advice Rich. Honestly I have done nothing about insuring my gear and I really should. The only time I have done any insurance itemization was on tour where the travel insurance required it. Great advice Rich. Honestly I have done nothing about insuring my gear and I really should. The only time I have done any insurance itemization was on tour where the travel insurance required it.

]]> By: Eric Hamilton http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1949 Eric Hamilton Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:20:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1949 My insurance policy expired a few days ago. I'm looking for a cheaper plan. I have heard of other photographers getting their equipment covered for ~$200/year. I'm looking for a deal like that. My insurance policy expired a few days ago. I’m looking for a cheaper plan. I have heard of other photographers getting their equipment covered for ~$200/year. I’m looking for a deal like that.

]]> By: Brady http://leggnet.com/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html/comment-page-1#comment-1950 Brady Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:20:00 +0000 http://leggnet.com/wp/2008/12/is-your-camera-gear-insured.html#comment-1950 Just a small bit of advice about your homeowners policy and something to look at, most policies will not cover the gear if it is lost / broken or stolen while out of the country. Just a small bit of advice about your homeowners policy and something to look at, most policies will not cover the gear if it is lost / broken or stolen while out of the country.

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