Washington
Photographer and videographer insurance in Washington
Industry data and city guides for Washington photographers. A quote is not a binder.
Washington had 384 photography studios and services with paid employees in 2023, and BLS estimates 960 photographers on payrolls. Many more work for themselves. This page covers the state's photography and video industry, what moves a photographer's quote, and city guides.
Washington photography and video industry
| 2023 Census count unless noted | Washington |
|---|---|
| Photographic services establishments | 384 |
| Portrait photography studios | 252 |
| Commercial photography firms | 132 |
| Motion picture and video production | 309 |
| Independent artists, writers, and performers | 508 |
| Photography businesses with fewer than 5 employees | 88% |
| Photographers on payrolls (BLS, May 2025) | 960 |
| Median annual wage, photographers | $48,050 |
| Film and video editors (BLS) | 450 |
| Median annual wage, film and video editors | $66,870 |
| Workers who work from home (ACS) | 20% |
U.S. Census Bureau CBP 2023 (NAICS 54192, 541921, 541922, 512110, 711510); BLS OEWS May 2025 (27-4021, 27-4032; payroll workers only); ACS 2020–2024 (B08301).
What moves a Washington photographer's quote
- Specialty: weddings and events, portraits, commercial, real estate, video.
- Gear value and deductible.
- Revenue.
- Drones and FAA certification.
- Assistants and second shooters.
- Studio space.
- Travel outside Washington.
- Claims history.
Pricing details: photographer cost factors. Venue paperwork: certificates of insurance.
Insurance oversight in Washington
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates insurers and agents in Washington. Federal rules matter too: commercial drone work falls under FAA Part 107 wherever you shoot. See drone photography insurance.
Photographer guides for Washington cities
- Auburn
- Bellevue
- Bothell
- Burien
- Federal Way
- Kent
- Kirkland
- Redmond
- Renton
- Sammamish
- Seattle
- Shoreline
- Edmonds
- Everett
- Lake Stevens
- Lynnwood
- Marysville
- Lakewood
- Puyallup
- Tacoma
- Bellingham
- Spokane
- Spokane Valley
- Bremerton
- Vancouver
- Kennewick
- Lacey
- Olympia
- Richland
- Yakima
Photography coverage topics
- Camera and gear insurance
- General liability for photographers
- Professional liability for photographers
- Wedding photographer insurance
- Commercial photography insurance
- Videographer insurance
- Drone photography insurance
- Venue certificates of insurance
- What affects photographer insurance cost
- Protecting gear from theft
- Photographer insurance application checklist
Smaller Washington towns
Photographers anywhere in Washington can request coverage. The rest of the state's towns, grouped by county:
- Ferry County
- Republic
- Garfield County
- Pomeroy
- Jefferson County
- Port Townsend
- Mason County
- Shelton
- San Juan County
- Friday Harbor
- Wahkiakum County
- Cathlamet
- Asotin County
- Asotin + Clarkston
- Columbia County
- Starbuck + Dayton
- Skamania County
- North Bonneville + Stevenson
- Benton County
- Benton City + Prosser + West Richland
- Clallam County
- Forks + Sequim + Port Angeles
- Island County
- Langley + Coupeville + Oak Harbor
- Kitsap County
- Poulsbo + Port Orchard + Bainbridge Island
- Klickitat County
- Bingen + White Salmon + Goldendale
- Franklin County
- Kahlotus + Mesa + Connell + Pasco
- Pacific County
- Ilwaco + Long Beach + South Bend + Raymond
- Walla Walla County
- Prescott + Waitsburg + College Place + Walla Walla
- Adams County
- Hatton + Washtucna + Lind + Ritzville + Othello
- Chelan County
- Entiat + Leavenworth + Cashmere + Chelan + Wenatchee
- Cowlitz County
- Castle Rock + Kalama + Woodland + Kelso + Longview
- Douglas County
- Mansfield + Waterville + Rock Island + Bridgeport + East Wenatchee
- Kittitas County
- South Cle Elum + Roslyn + Kittitas + Cle Elum + Ellensburg
- Pend Oreille County
- Metaline + Cusick + Metaline Falls + Ione + Newport
- Thurston County
- Bucoda + Tenino + Rainier + Yelm + Tumwater
- Clark County
- Yacolt + La Center + Ridgefield + Washougal + Battle Ground + Camas
- Stevens County
- Marcus + Northport + Springdale + Kettle Falls + Chewelah + Colville
- Whatcom County
- Nooksack + Sumas + Everson + Blaine + Ferndale + Lynden
- Lincoln County
- Creston + Almira + Harrington + Sprague + Reardan + Odessa + Wilbur + Davenport
- Skagit County
- Hamilton + Lyman + Concrete + La Conner + Burlington + Sedro-Woolley + Anacortes + Mount Vernon
- Grays Harbor County
- Oakville + Cosmopolis + McCleary + Westport + Elma + Montesano + Ocean Shores + Hoquiam + Aberdeen
- Lewis County
- Pe Ell + Vader + Toledo + Mossyrock + Morton + Napavine + Winlock + Chehalis + Centralia
- Spokane County
- Waverly + Latah + Spangle + Fairfield + Rockford + Millwood + Medical Lake + Deer Park + Airway Heights + Cheney + Liberty Lake
- Okanogan County
- Conconully + Nespelem + Elmer City + Riverside + Winthrop + Pateros + Twisp + Tonasket + Coulee Dam + Oroville + Brewster + Okanogan + Omak
- Yakima County
- Harrah + Naches + Tieton + Mabton + Zillah + Granger + Wapato + Moxee + Union Gap + Selah + Toppenish + Grandview + Sunnyside
- Grant County
- Krupp + Hartline + Wilson Creek + Coulee City + Electric City + Grand Coulee + George + Soap Lake + Royal City + Warden + Mattawa + Quincy + Ephrata + Moses Lake
- Snohomish County
- Index + Woodway + Darrington + Gold Bar + Granite Falls + Brier + Sultan + Stanwood + Snohomish + Monroe + Mill Creek + Mukilteo + Arlington + Mountlake Terrace
- Whitman County
- Lamont + Farmington + Malden + LaCrosse + Endicott + Oakesdale + Uniontown + Colton + Garfield + Albion + Rosalia + St. John + Tekoa + Palouse + Colfax + Pullman
- Pierce County
- South Prairie + Wilkeson + Carbonado + Roy + Ruston + Eatonville + Buckley + Steilacoom + Fircrest + Milton + Orting + DuPont + Sumner + Fife + Gig Harbor + Edgewood + Bonney Lake + University Place
- King County
- Skykomish + Beaux Arts Village + Hunts Point + Yarrow Point + Carnation + Medina + Clyde Hill + Algona + Normandy Park + Black Diamond + Pacific + North Bend + Duvall + Newcastle + Enumclaw + Lake Forest Park + Snoqualmie + Woodinville + Covington + Kenmore + Mercer Island + Maple Valley + Des Moines + SeaTac + Issaquah
Washington photographer questions
Do Washington photographers need a special license to buy insurance?
No special license is needed to buy business insurance. Some cities require a general business license, and drone pilots need FAA certification.
How many photography businesses are in Washington?
The Census Bureau counted 384 photographic services establishments with employees in Washington in 2023. Self-employed photographers are not included.
Who can a Washington photographer contact about an insurer?
The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner oversees insurance companies and agents in the state.
Does a part-time Washington photographer need coverage?
If venues or clients ask for a certificate, or your gear would be costly to replace, yes. Disclose part-time revenue honestly when applying.
Data notes: establishment counts from Census County Business Patterns; occupation counts and wages from BLS OEWS; work-from-home share from the American Community Survey; city sizes from Census 2024 estimates.
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Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research