More and more photographers are learning – as they establish and grow their businesses – that a Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a must-have tool to have tucked inside one’s mobile studio toolbox. Much like showing your auto insurance card when renting a car, a Certificate of Insurance is often required when renting photography equipment for a big shoot or renting a space in which to book photo sessions. In a nutshell, a COI is a physical or digital document that serves as proof of liability insurance for equipment rental houses, venues and your clients who might request evidence that you have a valid and active insurance policy to cover potential claims of bodily injury, property damage, or loss.
At APA Insurance Services, we have found that more than half of the photographers we insure require proof of insurance over 25% of the time. It’s peace of mind to know you have one, particularly when you elect to grow your business in exciting new directions – like travel photography or off-site shoots like a destination wedding or a real estate marketing gig. You may learn on the Thursday before you depart for a wedding that an additional piece of rental equipment may be needed to fulfill the bride’s vision. A COI is great to have for those eleventh-hour scenarios. Some other benefits to having a Certificate of Insurance through APA Insurance Services include:
- Since some jobs – like the example listed above – may require urgent action on your part to provide proof of insurance, you’ll be pleased to learn that APA Insurance Services offers two convenient avenues for you to secure your Certificate of Insurance quickly:
- Depending on when we receive your request, we can turn around a Certificate of Insurance in 24 hours or less. Requests received after hours or on weekends will likely take longer
- We also provide a “self-service” aspect for COIs – which is ideal for after-hours requests since it’s available online 24/7 365 days a year
- You will have the opportunity to list the rental house or venue as an additional insured and loss payee through your general liability policy
- Unlike many of our competitors, APA Insurance Services is happy to provide Certificates of Insurance at no additional charge to our clients
If you haven’t yet purchased an insurance policy to protect your photography business, we invite you to consider APA Insurance Services as your provider. To success in business, you need to surround yourself with excellent advisors like a CPA, Attorney, or Insurance Agent. Not only do we understand the nature of the photography industry, but photography insurance is also ALL WE DO. It’s more than a specialty, it’s our sole focus. We offer two plans to fit your needs: Equipment Coverage Only or our Premier Photography Insurance Package. Visit the APA Insurance Services website to learn more or – if you’re ready to move forward – get a FREE QUOTE. You can also email karen@apainsuranceservices.com with any questions you have!
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor should it be viewed as legal advice. No one should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information in this website without seeking the appropriate professional counsel on his or her particular circumstances. Additionally, no one should secure or dismiss insurance coverage on the basis of any information in this website without seeking an appropriate professional counsel on his or her particular circumstances. Although every effort is made to provide accurate and useful information, APA Insurance Services, Inc. or any third-party contributor, assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information disclosed on this site.