What is the point in owning expensive camera equipment if you are afraid to take it out into the world and make full use of it?

I personally know of several keen photographers who own superb camera equipment, and yet will not take it with them when travelling for fear of loss, damage or theft along the way, yet when they get back to the safety of their own home, wish they had taken their best shots with their best camera equipment.

Others leave fantastic lenses at home at all times, except when specifically going out on a ‘photo shoot’, missing numerous spontaneous photo opportunities. There must be thousands of lenses that rarely see the light of day simply because they are valuable.

I know myself that if i had been a tiny bit less cautious, i might have included my prime macro lens in my camera bag more often and not missed out on numerous photographs that would have been fantastic in my portfolio, if i had only taken the right kit!

What inhibits us from getting the most out of our cameras? One factor is the simple fear of losing something precious and difficult (read expensive) to replace.

For many semi pro photographers, the more expensive the camera kit gets, the less it is by their side ready for action. And for the photographer that owns expensive equipment (lens, digital slr camera, flash, tripod, memory cards, laptop, etc) getting proper insurance for your gear can significantly improve your photographic abilities, simply by having more of your kit with you, and worrying about it less (that of course does not mean you should be negligent!).

Most of us have household insurance that can (generally at a premium) cover cameras when not in the home, but most keen amateur and professional photographers own items that are worth a significant amount of money, and household policies often have a large excess, and won’t cover individual items over a certain value. Household policies will also not cover you if your photography could in any way be seen as a business, so if you are pro or semi pro, you really need an insurance policy tailored specifically for photographers.

Dedicated camera insurance makes a world of difference to your peace of mind, wether you’re professional, semi pro, or a keen amateur.

For the professional photographer, there is also the issue of public liability. We have to face the fact that society has become more and more litiginous, and a decent insurance policy could well save you (and your home!) should you find yourself on the wrong end of a legal action.

This is why i have spent a considerable amount of time looking into insurance policies specifically designed for the keen amateur, semi pro and full time professional photographer.

If you are based in the U.K, Photoguard is likely to be your best bet. They offer a policy to match your needs, with varying premiums for amateur, semi pro, and professional photographers. All their polisies include £1 Million of personal liability cover and £5000 personal accident cover.

Photoguard offer a ‘double the difference’ price guarantee, as well as a £5.00 discount if you apply online.There are of course other group schemes arranged by camera clubs and associations, but these tie you into remaining with the association. I personally prefer the independence and freedom of having my own policy, and not paying any more for the privelege!

UK PHOTOGRAPHERS GET AN INSTANT ONLINE QUOTE FROM PHOTOGUARD HERE

If you are a US based photographer, please check back soon, as we are in the process of reviewing the policies available to you.