We understand that in the world of photography, filmmaking and video production, time is money – and reshoots can spell disaster. Whether you’re an advertising photographer on a product shoot, a cinematographer on a feature film, or a producer managing a multi-day campaign, mistakes, accidents, and technical failures can mean going back to square one. That’s where reshoot cover becomes essential.

This often-overlooked form of insurance can be the safety net that keeps your project alive when something goes wrong. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what it is, who needs it, how to arrange it and when it might not be necessary.

What is reshoot cover?

Very simply, reshoot insurance is a specific type of production insurance that reimburses the cost of having to reshoot or re-photograph part or all of a project due to events outside the control of the production team. This can include issues such as:

• Damage or loss of film, digital media or data including corrupted memory cards or hard drives.
• Theft or damage to key equipment or props.
• Fire or flood damage to the shoot location.
• Injury or sudden illness to essential members of crew

So if you’ve already paid for locations, models, talent, crew, equipment, and editing – but you cannot proceed with the shoot or the end product is unusable through no fault of your own – reshoot insurance can cover the costs to do it all again.

Who arranges reshoot cover?

Responsibility typically falls to whoever is producing or commissioning the work, but it depends on the nature of the shoot and contractual agreements:

• Photographers or filmmakers -if you’re freelance or working independently and producing the shoot yourself, you may need to arrange your own cover.
• Production companies – for larger shoots or multi-day campaigns, producers will generally arrange the policy as part of the overall production insurance.
• Agencies or clients – the advertising agency or client may take out what is known as an ad wrap which is designed to cover any claims relating to the shoot including reshoot cover.

Ultimately, the producer or lead creative should ensure reshoot insurance is in place and that everyone involved knows what’s covered.

When do you need to have it in place?

Timing is critical. Reshoot insurance must be arranged before the shoot begins – ideally during the pre-production stage, once dates, locations, equipment lists, and crew are confirmed. Policies won’t cover losses retrospectively. Coverage typically starts from the first day of the shoot and ends when the final usable content is safely backed up or delivered. 

The earlier cover is arranged the better as any policy would exclude losses arising from circumstances you were aware of or ought to have been aware of when taking out the policy. If there was to be another ash cloud that caused flights to be cancelled worldwide, any claims relating to this would be excluded under any new policy that was purchased. However, if you arranged cover before the ash cloud happened, your policy may in theory cover those losses. For this reason, we would always recommend that production companies have annual policies in place to give themselves the broadest possible cover.

When might you not need reshoot cover?

There are some scenarios where reshoot insurance might not be necessary:

• Personal or portfolio projects – if you’re not under contract, or the content isn’t critical, you may accept the risk personally.
• Very low-budget shoots – if the cost of reshooting is minimal or you’re working with volunteers, it might not justify the insurance premium.
• Shoots covered by ad wraps – where there is an ad wrap in place, that policy should cover reshoot insurance.

So please remember…

You may never have purchased reshoot insurance before but it is an essential cover that can protect you from an incredibly sizable loss. Always ask yourself: “Could I afford to do this again if it all went wrong?” If the answer is no, reshoot insurance is a must.

The cost of reshoot insurance can be significant but it is common practice across the industry to charge these costs back to your clients as you are protecting their investment in the shoot.