Again, that's why you want an agent. Be honest with them about everything, and ask some "what if" questions. They're who you would call if something was damaged or stolen. As long as you can document that you gave them the full information then you should have a further level of protection under the agent's "errors and omissions" insurance in the event that they sold you the wrong kind of policy.

Boyd, I just talked to my State Farm Agent here in DC, and they were adamant that "inland marine" would not cover $10k in video equipment for freelance production--weddings and local videography only. Have you checked on this?

The deduction will never come into play because there are so many exclusions that the insurance co. can & will find a reason not to pay.

Another thought occurred to me re-reading this thread. Don't forget to insure your computer and the software that's installed on it either and don't make the mistake of thinking that just because it's in your home, it's covered by your homeowners ploicy. If you claim a home office on your taxes for example, that makes it a business item and not covered. And the software is often worth more than the hardware - Steinberg and some others who use USB keys for copy protection say that if an active key is lost or stolen, the replacement cost is the full value of the software it protects. So that $25 USB device is worth several thousand dollars once it's activated with the license for your copy of Nuendo, for example, and they explicitly state it will NOT be replaced if lost or stolen.

Just a heads up, I called this RNVA agency for insuring my video/photo gear but I was told by them I 'have' to be either be in the wedding or portrait business, otherwise they won't insure me.