Inattention

• The most common cause for accidents while taking pictures is inattention. A photographer who is not paying attention to his surroundings is at risk for incurring injury to himself and/or to his equipment.
  
  

Carelessness

• Photographers who leave their cameras and equipment in precarious places risk having their property damaged or destroyed. A damaged camera or lens can be very expensive to repair, and even more costly to replace.
  
  

Damage by Others

• Professional photographers who work with the public, such as portrait photographers or photojournalists, are at a greater risk of having their equipment damaged by others. The camera could be knocked out of the photographer's hand, or a tripod in a portrait studio knocked over by an unattended child. Without insurance, a photographer whose equipment is damaged by someone else is rarely compensated for the repair or replacement of the broken equipment.
  
  

Damage Due to Occupation

• Some occupations for professional photographers come with greater risks than others. For example, nature photographers, who photograph wild animals, put themselves and their equipment in peril because of their proximity to their subject and the subject's natural temperament. Photojournalists who go into hostile situations are at risk for becoming a casualty of the conflict rather than an outside observer.
  
  

Being Safe While Taking Pictures

• The number one rule when it comes to camera safety is pay attention, not only to your surroundings, but to where the equipment is placed in relation to hazards. When holding a camera, use the camera strap; it protects cameras from being dropped or knocked away. Additionally, professional photographers should have adequate insurance coverage to cover damage to their equipment, self and clients.