Camera Insurance

Reading Todd's and Jody's posts reminds me that my insurance company (Inland Marine through State Farm) canceled my policy because of a claim I made. They'll still insure it while at my office, but not out of the office---duh! Anyway, anyone know of other companies that you've had good luck with for covering equipment on location?

A couple which come to mind as specializing in photography are Taylor & Taylor as well as Tom C. Pickard.

Odd, I have all-risk through state farm, zero deductible, extremely cheap. Covered anywhere, anytime.

Rod, would you care to share the type of claim that caused State Farm to restrict your policy? It's somewhat disconcerting that they would do this for a single claim. I can understand a policy restriction/cancellation for someone who regularly files for losses.

I've had State Farm coverage for 5 years and would be REALLY upset if they trashed my policy after a claim.

Bill,

I had a claim this year for a lost lens, something like $709, so with a $250 deductible they paid $459. Several years ago I had another claim where I had a Nikon D2X and lens stolen, as I recall the claim was in the $3-4,000 range. My State Farm business policy (which I've had for over 10 years) also covers computers and printers, lighting and office equipment, book inventory, etc., and what they will no longer cover is the equipment once it leaves my studio. Of course my nature photography equipment is rarely in the studio and the other photography I still do---architecture, and golf courses is on location as well. I offered to go a a higher deductible, but no dice. Maybe the lesson is, don't submit a small claim.

It doesn't seem to matter how long we've been with them or all the other insurance my wife and I have with State Farm---cars, home owners, businesses, medical---totaling around $9,000 in premiums annually.

Might have to do some shopping.

I had a similar experience with renters insurance a long time back with State Farm. I have been with them forever, but at one point because I filed a claim under my old renters insurance, they had a wait period before they would allow me to pick it back up. If memory serves, I think I had canceled the policy for a year or so while I was living with a relative, then when I tried to pick it back up they would not have it. They have been great to work with, but can be a little strange when ti comes to claims.

Well...not saying anything to put down State Farm or anyone that has them, but it is my least favorite insurance company and has been for years. They are famous for that type of stuff. I spent a few years in that business, my father was in it for over 20 years and my brother is still in it for about 20 years now. I had a claim of approximately $3500 this year and didn't get dropped at renewal from my insurance company which is American National. Pretty much any insurance carrier can insure camera equipment as a rider on your renters/homeowners policy. It is called scheduling personal property and you insure it for stated value. It is even protected against accidental damage such as dropping it into Chatfield reservoir (gee wonder who did that???). I will say, they really want me to get a business policy once I start to sell images, but will still cover me for the same items in the same manner at a little higher cost.

I have heard that many insurance companies will not cover you if they have any reason to believe that you are a professional photographer by their definition. I would check to make sure that you household insurance carrier will cover you. I use the policy offered through NANPA. It is probably not the cheapest, but I have heard good things about it. Other organizations also offer insurance, I believe that NAPP, ASMP, NPPI, and others of that type also offer insurance. These may be a biot more expensive than State Farm or your auto/home insurance, but they cover professionals and you won't find out that they won't cover you after you report a theft or breakage because they deem that you are a "PROFESSIONAL".

After I sold my Oregon house and had no "home", I had no "Homeowner's" insurance with a rider for all my camera stuff.

Bought a State Farm policy, paid the year, thought all was well and left for Ecuador (3 mo ago). Came back and had a notice that they were cancelling my camera insurance after that first month becuase I had a stolen camera/backpack claim with my HO insurance (that I told State Farm about when I applied. )
I finally went with NANPA for the all-risk insurance.

State Farm did the same with a friend's car ins. She went from another company to State Farm to save about $15/month. She told them about the one speeding ticket she had 3 years previous. She also got a cancellation notice after 1 month from State Farm "becuase of the one speeding ticket" they said. She went back to her first company, and they would not simply renew, they had to re-write the policy and added $125 to the year's fee.

FIE on State Farm.

Sandy r

I have used the NANPA insurance (Chubb) and have made several claims over the last several years and found the service very good with no change in coverage or premiums.

Fred and Scott thanks for adding that bit of information and I believe you are absolutely correct about the commercial issue. As I mentioned, I don't currently sell my work. If I did though, my insurance company would require me to take out a commercial policy or find other coverage. They have made that clear. If you are selling your work (even if it is not full time), they usually consider this comercial use and can possibly even deny the claim.

Update: To be safe, I would reecommend to read your policy exculsions and find out what their definition of commercial is. I have personally heard agents say something is covered, but then they don't disclose that to the underwriters and then claims get denied. Better to be safe than sorry.

Allstate insures me against theft from my residence or while on the road. My agent know's I sell my work and said there's no problem. They will not insure against damage. The good news is that I haven't filed a claim in 25 years so its never been tested.

So very strange all the terrible stories. Guess it helps that my State Farm agent is a family friend.

Here's another that gave State Farm the heave ho after being insured with them since I started driving 45 years ago. Also the agent was a friend who often let me borrow his 1963 corvette for family portraits. Leaving them had to do with cancellation of my son's insurance and documenting him as not approved to drive our vehicles. (his fault...too many tickets) But after 5 years of ticketless driving they refused to insure him and would not cover him if he drove one of our vehicles so they lost my business. I was never able to insure my camera gear with them because they insisted on classifying me as a pro even when I left the photo biz and my income from photography dropped to less than 1% of my income 10 years ago.

I've been without insurance on my gear for over 10 years now but all the stories I see here convinced me that I need to get some coverage. I called my new insurance guy this afternoon and will be meeting with him Saturday to discuss possible coverages for my gear. I'll let everyone know how it comes out.

Thanks to all for your input. I, too, am talking to another agent and expect to have an application done in the next few days. I'm looking at a business policy that will also cover the replacement of my inventory of published books from loss or damage.

I second Chubb through NANPA. I also was canceled by Farmers for making two claims over a 3 year period.