Professional Liability Insurance for Photographers in Ontario
Ontario photographers capture moments that matter—but even a small misstep can lead to a big dispute. E&O insurance protects you from client claims tied to missed deadlines, dissatisfaction, or alleged professional mistakes.
Errors and omissions insurance for Ontario photographers
If you are a freelance photographer in Ontario, you likely have a lot of variety in your career. In one week, you could be working at an outdoor wedding, an elegant fundraiser, or an outdoor photo shoot.
Wherever you’re using your professional skills, you may be capturing one of the most important moments in your client’s life.
There are always risks involved in offering your services to the public, which is why it’s important to have a secure and comprehensive professional insurance policy for your photography business.
Interested in purchasing your professional liability online in minutes?
Acera Insurance offers EasyCover where you can get a quote, bind your policy and pay online in only a few short minutes. Get comprehensive coverage and affordable rates quickly and easily.
Here are some of the benefits of EasyCover:
- Get free online quotes 24/7
- No long, confusing applications to fill out
- Purchase and manage your policy online
- Support by phone, email or chat
- Option to bundle with other coverages
Photographers liability insurance explained
As a photographer, you take pride in providing quality photography services to clients. However, mistakes can happen, no matter how careful you are, and your clients could hold you accountable for financial losses or damages that result from your errors, negligence, or omissions.
This is where professional liability insurance (PLI) comes in. PLI, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects businesses from the financial costs of legal claims related to professional advice, services, or products.
Some areas of professional liability insurance covers incorrect information, missed deadlines, breach of confidentiality, and malpractice. PLI may cover legal expenses, court costs, settlements, and judgments awarded to plaintiffs.
Why do you need professional liability insurance for your photography business in Ontario?
Although photographers in Ontario are not required by law to carry a professional liability insurance policy, it’s essential to have adequate Photographer insurance coverage in case something goes wrong, including if a client sues you. A secure insurance policy protects your company and assets from financial loss due to third-party claims, which often involve lawsuits.
If you fail to deliver your services as promised, your clients could file a claim against you. Insurance can help you pay for legal defense costs, up to your policy limits.
It’s recommended you have a professional liability insurance policy in Ontario regardless of whether you travel frequently for work or cover local weddings in your city.
Professional liability insurance is an essential requirement for photographers who are looking to mitigate the risks associated with their work. By acting proactively and investing in the right insurance, you can focus on what you do best.
How does photographers liability insurance in Ontario work?
Even the most skilled and experienced photographers can make mistakes. Photographers liability insurance provides coverage that allows you to feel confident doing your work knowing you’re protected if a customer brings a lawsuit against you.
Like other business insurance coverages in Ontario, professional liability insurance requires you to pay a premium, which is based on several factors, including the size of your business, claim history and your business’ level of risk exposure.
There are specific requirements and exclusions for professional liability insurance for photographers. For example, most policies will not cover general business risks such as property damage or theft.
It’s important to thoroughly review your policy with an insurance professional and understand all the terms and details before choosing a policy if you’re not sure what insurance coverage you need.
E&O insurance for Ontario photographers
Acera Insurance can offer insurance solutions for the following
types of photographers in Ontario:
- Drone photographers
- Event photographers
- Wedding photographers
- Fashion photographers
- Freelance photographers
- Videographers
With our EasyCover program, we can insure all types of photographers for businesses that have up to five employees, except for paparazzi.
Examples of
Ontario photographers professional liability insurance
A professional liability policy protects you from potential claims arising from actions you take in your business. This may include:
- Claims for breach of contract
- Misconduct
- Negligence
- Non-delivery of a service promised
- And more
Typical scenarios for claims can include:
Third party fails to deliver
You engaged an independent contractor to process the images following a major photo shoot. However, they did not deliver the final assets by the mutually agreed deadline. As a result, your client—who is relying on the images for a scheduled publication—is experiencing delays and is now holding you accountable for the associated costs of postponing their release.
Wedding photographer accident
While enroute to photograph a wedding, you are unexpectedly involved in a car accident that prevents you from attending the event. The couple had not arranged for an alternative photographer and, as a result of the missed coverage, have chosen to pursue legal action against you for damages.
Courier loses prints
After completing a major photo shoot for a client, you arrange for the final prints to be delivered via a third-party courier service. However, the courier delivers the wrong prints, and your client is now holding you responsible for covering the full cost of reprinting the photographs.
How much does photographer professional liability insurance cost?
As an Ontario-based business owner, there are many factors that can impact your professional liability insurance rates. In general, the higher your risk, the more expensive your rate will be.
These factors can affect the cost of your photographer insurance premium:
- Industry experience: Having 10+ years of photography experience may make you less likely to make mistakes than a new photographer. This could lower your premium.
- Revenue: The more revenue your photography business makes, the higher your chances of being sued by a client and the more likely your premium will rise.
- Business size: The size of your photography business could impact your insurance rate.
- Number of employees: You could be held financially and legally liable for your employee’s mistakes, leading to higher insurance rates over time.
- Insurance history: Low claims to no claims shows insurers that you are less likely to make mistakes in the future. This will lower your premium or start you at a lower rate.
As a professional photographer, your insurance rate can be quite affordable, with some premiums starting at less than $500 per year for Ontario photographers.
To learn exactly what you can expect to pay, get your free quote with EasyCover. There’s no need to speak with a broker; just answer a few quick questions online to receive your instant quote.
Other coverages for Ontario photographers
Your business may not require all of these different coverages, but it’s important to evaluate each one against your risks.
Commercial General Liability Insurance
Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance is a foundational type of coverage that is strongly recommended for businesses of all sizes. It provides financial protection if a third party is injured or if their property is damaged as a result of negligence – whether by you or one of your employees. This coverage typically includes costs such as legal defence fees and potential settlements.
In the fast-paced environment of a photo shoot, accidents can – and do – happen. That’s why photographers in Ontario are encouraged to carry CGL insurance. Whether it’s a client tripping over a light stand or accidental damage to a venue, having this coverage in place can help protect you from unexpected expenses and liability claims.
Cyber Liability Insurance
In today’s digital world, photographers depend heavily on technology – from cameras and editing software to online galleries and cloud storage. With client data and personal information often being stored or transmitted electronically, photography businesses face real risks from cyberattacks and privacy breaches.
Cyber liability insurance offers critical protection if your business experiences a cyber incident. This type of coverage can help with a wide range of expenses, including data recovery, extortion demands, legal fees, regulatory fines, and even the theft of digital assets. For photographers handling sensitive client information, cyber insurance is an essential safeguard against the growing threat of cybercrime.
What you need to know before buying photography insurance in Ontario
Before getting a quote for professional liability insurance as a photographer, it’s important to prepare the answers to the questions below before you speak to one of our skilled brokers. It’s helpful to collect information about your business for the below items:
- Payroll estimates.
- Information about prior insurance claims.
- Annual revenue estimates.
We are happy to help you build a solid insurance policy for your business. If you already know what you want, it’s simple – start your online quote and get a policy in your hands today. If you need guidance, it’s just as easy to talk to one of our brokers on the phone or via email.
How to choose the best photographer insurance in Ontario
Below are a few tips to read before you start your insurance policy search as a photographer. We take over the insurance details for you so you can get back to being creative in your business.
- Know your risks as a photographer. Before choosing a professional liability insurance policy, it’s important to assess your business risks. Consider the nature of your business, the types of services you offer, and the potential consequences of an error or omission.
- Consider claims-made vs. occurrence policies. There are two types of professional liability insurance policies: claims-made and occurrence. A claims-made policy (often less pricey) only covers claims made during the policy period. An occurrence policy covers claims that occur during the policy period, regardless of when they were made.
- Look for a strong financial rating. When choosing an insurance provider, it’s important to look for a company with a strong financial rating. This ensures that the provider has the financial stability to pay out claims in the event of a lawsuit.
- Assess policy limits and deductibles. Professional liability insurance policies have policy limits and deductibles. Limits are the maximum amount the policy will pay out per claim, or per policy period. The deductible is the amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. Ensure you understand your policy limits and deductibles.
- Work with a trusted insurance broker. Choosing the right professional liability insurance policy can be complex, so it’s important to work with a trusted insurance broker.
An experienced professional liability insurance broker in Ontario can help you assess your risks, compare policies from multiple providers, and find the right coverage for your photography business. Brokers also help you navigate the claims process if a lawsuit does arise.
Why you should consider Acera Insurance and EasyCover
Acera Insurance is one of the largest, independent and employee-owned insurance brokerages in Canada. Through our EasyCover program, we offer one of the only online portals in Ontario that allows a customer to buy their insurance online, without needing to speak to a broker. We specialize in providing professional liability insurance, a unique form of coverage designed to protect professionals. However, we have extensive experience supporting the broader commercial insurance needs of our clients. You can also buy additional business insurance coverage, including commercial general liability policy, cyber liability insurance, and more. We make the process of securing your commercial coverage as quick and easy as possible. Plus, we can offer expert advice to you whenever you need our support.
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