How do you ask a wedding photographer for proof of insurance in the U.S.?
Asked 1/17/2012
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What is the normal way, in the U.S., to ask a professional wedding photographer for proof of insurance? What document do photographers typically provide, and are there different kinds of coverage that matter for a wedding? I'm looking for common practice rather than legal advice.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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There are two common forms of insurance that may apply:
Liability insurance, which protects them against people tripping over their gear or even if the photographer knocks over a candle stand and burns down the cathedral. You would ask to see his COI, Certificate of Insurance.
While not insurance, Professional Photographers of America has an Indemnification Trust, for its members, which helps pay for restaging and reshooting the wedding in the event that the photographer physically can't deliver the images, for whatever reason: he had amnesia the morning of the wedding and didn't show up, the memory cards get stolen, all kinds of scenarios where the photographer may be sued. To ask the photographer about this, you can ask if they are PPA members, and verify their membership here, if they are full members, or by phone (800-786-6277), aspiring members don't show up in the online search.
Originally by user69. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user69
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A normal, straightforward request is: “Our venue/circumstances may require vendor insurance—can you provide a certificate of insurance?” The document typically requested is a COI (Certificate of Insurance).
The main coverage people usually mean is liability insurance. That covers incidents such as someone tripping over gear or the photographer causing accidental property damage. Many venues require all vendors, including photographers, to carry this.
A separate issue is contract protection. Insurance is not usually the same thing as guaranteeing delivery of wedding photos; that is often handled by the photographer’s contract, which may limit liability to a refund if they cannot perform. So if your concern is missed coverage, illness, gear failure, or nondelivery, read the contract carefully and ask about those terms specifically.
You can also ask whether the photographer is a member of PPA, which offers an indemnification-type benefit for some failure scenarios, but that is not the same as standard insurance.
So the practical approach is: ask for a COI for liability coverage, confirm any venue requirements, and review the contract for delivery/failure-to-perform terms.
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