How do you deal with the fear of having your gear stolen?

[Overread]

Such a waste - you can't get one in each hand if they are all up one leg - I mean what is the point of carrying 3 guns if you don't duel wield them ?

 

[480sparky]

Wow, and I thought two extra magazines was overkill...

Just two???

 

[Bossy]

I insure my stuff. No guns for me

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

What are some companies yal use to insure? Ive often wondered about this myself. I'd really like to talk to folks about it. I know I have a very small investment in photography stuff but it took me awhile to save for it. I'd hate for it to get stolen.

 

[Vtec44]

What are some companies yal use to insure? Ive often wondered about this myself. I'd really like to talk to folks about it. I know I have a very small investment in photography stuff but it took me awhile to save for it. I'd hate for it to get stolen.

I have Statefarm. It comes with a package for both general liability and equipment, $10,000 for equipment and $2M for liability.

 

[nickzou]

I live in Canada. Guns aren't as easy to come by. Basically all I've got are these:

But I'm not even worried about people taking my gear. I'm more worried about me being an absent minded idiot and forgetting it. I've already lost a monopod this way.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Hello everybody

I'll try to explain my situation and hopefully some of you may have an advice for me

A couple of months ago I bought my first DSLR... And now, when I should be going outside as much as time permits, sometimes I find myself reluctant to take out my gear depending where I'm going.

The thing is... getting the money to buy it wasn't easy. So, if it gets stolen, it's not like I can replace it anytime soon...

I'd like to be able to take my camera everywhere I go, but when you live in a big city like Buenos Aires, sometimes that can be challenging.
Now, I've been to enough "big cities" in the world to know it's not just about my city. So, I'd like to know how you deal with this situation...

I find some of my friends here going through the same problem... any advice?
It will be much appreciated!

Thank you very much in advance and have a nice day!

Regards,
LizardKing

I carry a liability insurance policy for about twice what my gear is worth, and a handgun in my wastband. Thanks to the laws in Texas, that's perfectly acceptable.

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

I have Statefarm. It comes with a package for both general liability and equipment, $10,000 for equipment and $2M for liability.

I'll have to look into that. Thanks! 2m for liability with a camera? :uts dumb blonde wig on lol:: why so much. Business? I'm just a hobby shooter with 2k in gear not much at all in reality but it's not like I make a super lot either ya know

 

[Vtec44]

I'll have to look into that. Thanks! 2m for liability with a camera? :uts dumb blonde wig on lol:: why so much. Business? I'm just a hobby shooter with 2k in gear not much at all in reality but it's not like I make a super lot either ya know

Some place requires you to have at least 1m of liability insurance to get a permit to shoot there.

 

[Jeremy Z]

Insurance like you guys are talking about may not be available in Argentina. Maybe there's a higher risk of fraud.

I'm a gun owner too, but you have to remember a couple things:

- The mugger is mentally prepared for this, and he has a strategy; he's got the drop on you. If you're not careful about HOW you carry it, it will get stolen.

- Shooting at someone in a crowded city like Buenos Aires is just as likely to result in the wrong person getting shot; not worth it to protect camera gear. I'd have a hard time living with myself after that. I suggest a baton, stun gun, or pepper spray as alternatives to lethal force.

- Instead, focus on your carrying habits. Carry camera bags cross-shoulder, not on one shoulder. Close them up when you're not actively digging in them.

- Be as inconspicuous as possible; don't bring all your gear if you don't need to. For instance, if you're doing candid people pictures in the streets, you probably don't need your fancy bounce flash, big tripod, or fisheye lens. Maybe just a normal zoom or a single prime lens.

- Carry the camera on a strap around your neck or with a wrist strap; not on the shoulder.

- When you sit down to lunch or something, close up your bag, put it under the table, and loop the strap around your leg a couple times.

- This is not what you want to hear at this point, but consider a camera that is very good, but does not look expensive. I've been carrying my Canon S90 for all my city shooting lately. When I'm not shooting, no one even knows I have a camera. Yet, when I am shooting, it is high enough quality to get the results I want. (Canon is on the S100 now, which is even nicer) I use the SLR only when I feel safe carrying it: countryside, wilderness, people pictures in friendly places, etc.

- Limit where you go in the city with the SLR set-up. As a resident, you know where and when it would be the most dangerous to carry it. Avoid those places, or only go to those places with a good point and shoot camera.

- Consider a camera back that doesn't look like a camera bag. I've got a small Domke bag that just looks like a small shoulder bag. There's room inside for an SLR w/kit lens and an extra lens too. I'll just cut the label off of it next time I bring it to the city. (as I said, I use the Canon S90 as my city camera)

I hope that helps!

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Netskimmer]

Here are the two I most commonly carry.

I like to carry the Springfield when my wardrobe allows it. (usually in a shoulder holster) I carry it on my hip in a tac holster when in the woods. I use the Walther as backup. When I can't carry the Springfield the Walther is my primary. I always carry the Walther in an IWB. Both are chambered for S&W .40

 

[Tony S]

I get my insurance through Tom Pickard and Company, they specifically do photography. Covers my equipment, errors and omissions and liability up to 2 million. Liablity is a good idea, all it takes is one goofball to trip over a cord, fall off a posing stool, or when I'm covering a sporting event for one player to go into the crowd on the sidelines before a lawyer comes calling with paperwork for the coverage to pay for itself. They also provide certificates of insurance for locations, which often times you are required to have to shoot in places (it also helps get you into places when you can show you are insured).
TCP&Co.

I have State Farm for my home owners insurance, my agent said they won't cover my gear through them since I am in business. They can provide coverage through whats called an inland marine policy, but it was more $$ than the option I chose plus I'd like to keep my private stuff separate from the business side.

You can also get insurance through the Professional Photographers of America if youy become a member, there are plenty of benefits that go with that membership besides the group rate on insurance. Professional Photographers of America


A Google search for "photography insurance" turns up 156,000 results. lol

 

[Robin Usagani]

If someone steals your gear, you cant shoot them. You go to prison. You can only shoot it if you are in danger. As much as I hate getting my gear stolen, I dont want to kill anyone.

 

[blackrose89]

How much does coverage typically run?

 

[Vtec44]

If someone steals your gear, you cant shoot them. You go to prison. You can only shoot it if you are in danger. As much as I hate getting my gear stolen, I dont want to kill anyone.

Yeah it depends on the laws in each state but typically deadly force is to protect life, not properties. My insurance is for my gear, my gun is for my life.