Here's something that surprises most Texas photographers: the state doesn't actually require you to carry business insurance. No law says you must have it to shoot weddings, portraits, or commercial projects. But here's the catch—try booking a venue for a wedding or landing a corporate contract without proof of insurance. You won't get far. What's technically optional becomes practically mandatory the moment you want to work professionally.
Texas gives photography business owners unusual flexibility. Unlike most states, it doesn't mandate workers' compensation insurance. There's no state-level photography license to obtain. But this freedom comes with responsibility. Without the right coverage, one lawsuit from a client who trips over your lighting stand or claims you ruined their wedding photos could wipe out everything you've built. Let's break down what you actually need to protect your photography business in Texas.
What Insurance Does Texas Actually Require?
The short answer: none, for most photography businesses. Texas doesn't mandate specific insurance for photographers to operate legally. You won't get fined by the state for running your business without coverage. This sets Texas apart from many other states that require workers' compensation or other business insurance from day one.
But there's an important exception. If your photography business contracts with government entities—say, doing headshots for a city department or covering a county event—you must provide workers' compensation coverage for employees working on that project. This requirement exists even though Texas generally treats workers' comp as optional for private employers.
The real insurance requirements come from clients, venues, and landlords, not from state law. Wedding venues typically require photographers to carry at least $1 million in general liability coverage. Commercial clients often won't sign contracts without seeing a certificate of insurance. If you're renting studio space, your landlord will demand proof of coverage before handing over the keys. The market imposes requirements that state law doesn't.
Understanding Workers' Compensation in Texas
Texas stands alone as the only state where private employers can choose whether to carry workers' compensation insurance. For solo photographers with no employees, this is irrelevant. But if you hire assistants, second shooters, or studio staff, you need to understand your options and their consequences.
If you decide not to carry workers' comp, Texas requires specific steps. You must file Form DWC005 annually with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation, declaring your non-subscriber status. You must post written notices in your workplace in English, Spanish, and any other appropriate language. And you must tell new employees in writing that they're not covered by workers' compensation.
Here's what many photography business owners don't realize: skipping workers' comp means giving up critical legal protections. With coverage, employees generally can't sue you for workplace injuries—workers' comp is their only remedy. Without it, an employee who gets hurt can file a lawsuit against your business, and you lose most defenses. Even if the injury was partly their fault, they can still sue. For Texas photographers, workers' comp insurance averages around $48 per month, a relatively small price for substantial lawsuit protection.
General Liability Insurance: Your Contract Key
General liability insurance is where the rubber meets the road for most photography businesses. This coverage protects you when someone gets hurt or their property gets damaged during your work. A wedding guest trips over your camera bag and breaks their wrist? General liability covers their medical bills and your legal defense if they sue. You knock over a vase at a client's home during a family portrait session? The property damage is covered.
In Texas, general liability insurance for photographers typically runs about $29 per month. That's remarkably affordable considering it often provides $1 million in coverage per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. The policy also covers advertising injuries like copyright infringement claims, libel, and slander—relevant protections when you're publishing photos on social media and marketing materials.
Most venues and commercial clients require photographers to carry general liability with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence. Some high-end venues or corporate clients demand $2 million. When you book a job, they'll ask for a certificate of insurance proving your coverage. Without it, you simply can't work at many locations or for many clients. This makes general liability insurance functionally required, even though Texas law doesn't mandate it.
Professional Liability: Protecting Your Deliverables
Professional liability insurance, sometimes called errors and omissions coverage, protects you from claims related to your actual photography work. This is different from general liability. If a bride claims you missed crucial shots at her wedding or delivered photos that were out of focus, that's a professional liability claim. If you accidentally delete a client's only copies of their newborn photos, professional liability kicks in.
These claims happen more often than you'd think. Memory cards fail. Files get corrupted. Sometimes you simply make a mistake—wrong camera settings, missed moments, or photos that don't meet client expectations. A single lawsuit claiming professional negligence could cost tens of thousands in legal fees alone, even if you win. Professional liability insurance covers your legal defense and any settlements or judgments against you.
While not legally required in Texas, professional liability insurance becomes increasingly important as your business grows. Wedding photographers face particularly high exposure—when something goes wrong with wedding photos, emotions run high and lawsuits follow. Commercial photographers working with business clients also need this protection, as corporate clients are more likely to pursue legal action for deliverable issues.
Equipment Coverage and Business Property Insurance
Your camera gear represents a substantial investment. A professional camera body runs $2,000 to $6,000. Add lenses, lighting equipment, tripods, and accessories, and you're easily carrying $10,000 to $30,000 worth of equipment to every shoot. Your homeowners or renters insurance won't adequately cover this business equipment, especially when it's damaged away from home.
Inland marine insurance (confusingly named, since it has nothing to do with water) covers your photography equipment wherever you take it. If your gear is stolen from your car at a wedding venue, dropped and damaged during a shoot, or destroyed in a fire at your studio, inland marine coverage pays to replace it. This coverage typically includes cameras, lenses, lighting, computers, and other business property.
Many Texas photographers bundle their coverage through a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), which combines general liability, business property coverage, and business interruption insurance into one package. BOPs designed for photographers typically cost around $113 per month and provide comprehensive protection. This bundled approach often costs less than buying separate policies and simplifies your insurance management.
Licensing and Permits for Texas Photographers
Texas doesn't require a state-level photography license or professional certification to offer paid photography services. You can legally start shooting weddings, portraits, or commercial work tomorrow without any special permits from the state. This differs from professions like cosmetology or real estate, which require state licenses.
However, you will need a sales tax permit if you're selling goods or services to the public in Texas. This applies to most photography businesses since you're selling photography services. You'll collect sales tax from clients and remit it to the state. Some Texas cities and counties also require local business licenses or permits. Check with your municipal government or county clerk's office to understand local requirements in your area.
If you plan to shoot at popular Texas locations like state parks, historic sites, or certain public spaces, you may need location-specific permits for commercial photography. These permits are separate from business licensing and typically come from the entity managing the property. Drone photographers face additional requirements—the FAA requires a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate for commercial drone operations, regardless of which state you're in.
How to Get Started with Photography Insurance
Start by assessing your actual needs. If you're a solo photographer with no employees, you can skip workers' compensation. But you'll almost certainly need general liability insurance to work with clients and venues. Add professional liability if you're shooting weddings or working with commercial clients where deliverable disputes could arise. Equipment coverage makes sense once your gear value exceeds what you could comfortably replace out of pocket.
Several insurance companies specialize in photographer coverage and understand the unique risks of the profession. Compare quotes from multiple carriers, paying attention to coverage limits, deductibles, and any exclusions. Many insurers offer policies that can be activated and deactivated as needed, useful if you only shoot certain types of events occasionally.
The beauty of running a photography business in Texas is the flexibility—you're not buried under mandatory insurance requirements and licensing fees. But use that flexibility wisely. The modest cost of appropriate insurance coverage protects everything you've built. One client lawsuit, one equipment theft, or one injured wedding guest could shut down your business without it. Get the coverage that makes sense for your specific situation, obtain necessary local permits, and focus on what you do best: creating images that matter to your clients.
