Why this videographer ditched Full Frame for Thimble

When his policy renewal came up, Colton, the owner of Hard Copy Media, decided not to let his coverage auto-renew. He knew that letting policies automatically roll over isn’t always the smartest option, so he decided to shop around and compare. That search led him to Thimble. He found that Thimble was a much better fit than Full Frame Insurance because our quote process was faster, our platform was easier to use, and we truly understood the unique risks of videographers. From getting a certificate of insurance, to managing coverage, and to adding a loss payee for financed equipment, every step was simpler.

Running a videography business means you’re always moving. One day you’re on a rooftop shoot. The next, you’re at a corporate event across town. You’re managing gear, clients, timelines… and somewhere in that chaos, you’re also supposed to figure out business insurance (and still hit those deadlines).

That’s exactly where Colton found himself. As a videographer, Colton needed insurance that could keep up with him. So, he made a switch from Full Frame Insurance to Thimble, and it changed how he thinks about coverage entirely.

Here’s his story.

Why business insurance is so hard for creative freelancers

Most insurance providers weren’t built with videographers in mind. The coverage options are vague, the process is slow, and the person on the other end of the phone doesn’t always understand what you actually do.

For a business owner like Colton, that disconnect creates real problems. Videographers face a unique mix of risks:

• Expensive, portable equipment that moves between locations constantly
• Client contracts that often require proof of insurance before a shoot begins
• Financed gear like cameras, lenses, rigs and more that may require a loss payee to be listed on a policy
• Variable workloads and projects that don’t fit neatly into traditional annual policy structures

When your insurance provider doesn’t understand these risks, getting the right coverage becomes a frustrating guessing game. Colton experienced this firsthand with Full Frame Insurance before finding a better fit.

The switch: From Full Frame Insurance to Thimble’s Program

Colton didn’t leave Full Frame Insurance because of one dramatic event. It was more of a slow realization: he simply didn’t know a better process existed until he experienced it first-hand. Once he tried Thimble, Colton realized that Full Frame Insurance’s process felt harder than it needed to be. When Colton experienced Thimble’s modern user experience, the difference was immediate.

“It was just easier,” Colton says. “From getting a quote to actually having proof of coverage—everything moved faster and made more sense.”

That clarity matters. When you’re a small business owner wearing five hats at once, you need an insurance process that doesn’t require a tutorial.

How Thimble is built for videographers and photographers

One of the biggest reasons Colton stuck with Thimble is simple: Thimble actually gets what videographers do.

Thimble’s policies for videographers (and those designed for photographers) are designed around real-world scenarios (the kind of jobs Colton takes on regularly). The coverage options reflect an understanding of the industry, not a generic retrofitted template that leaves the insured wondering about coverage gaps.

This matters because insurance that doesn’t account for your specific risks isn’t really helping to protect you. A policy built for a retail store isn’t going to cover the same exposures as one built for a crew hauling thousands of dollars in video gear to an on-site filming location.

Thimble’s approach is tailored. The efficient quoting process asks only the questions you need, which quickly helps identify coverage options that may fit your business operations and needs.

How fast is the Thimble quote process for small business owners?

Speed was one of the first things Colton noticed. Getting a quote through Thimble took minutes, not days, and there was no waiting around for additional approvals. Coverage can start same-day and takes just a few minutes to finalize during checkout.

For a videographer who might land a new client on a Tuesday and need proof of insurance by Wednesday morning, that turnaround is the difference between landing the job and losing it.

Thimble’s online platform is built so that small business owners can get a custom policy quote without sitting through a lengthy consultation or waiting on hold. You answer a few straightforward questions about your business, and Thimble generates a quote that reflects your actual needs.

No jargon. No unnecessary back-and-forth. Just a clear quote, fast. Ready for you to run with.

Managing insurance on the go: Certificates of insurance and loss payees

Getting insured is one thing. Managing that insurance day-to-day is another, and this is where a lot of providers fall short.

Colton highlighted two specific tasks that Thimble made easy:

Getting certificates of insurance (COIs): Many clients and venues require a COI before allowing a vendor on-site. With Thimble, Colton can generate and share a certificate of insurance quickly, directly through the app. There’s no waiting on an agent or submitting a request and hoping for a fast response.

Adding a loss payee for financed equipment: If you’re financing a camera or other gear, your lender typically needs to be listed as a loss payee on your insurance policy. This can be a cumbersome process with traditional providers. Thimble makes it straightforward. Colton was able to add a loss payee without the usual administrative back-and-forth, ensuring he’s compliant with his financier.

For a business owner who’s constantly moving, these aren’t small conveniences. They’re the difference between spending an afternoon chasing paperwork and spending that time actually running your business.

Thimble vs. Full Frame Insurance: A side-by-side look

Here’s a comparison of both providers based on Colton’s experience:

The comparison isn’t about one provider being bad and the other being perfect. It’s about fit. For Colton, Thimble fit better, and that fit showed up in every interaction.

What other videographers and creative business owners should know

Colton’s experience isn’t unique. Many videographers and other similar small business owners spend years settling for insurance that technically covers them but never quite feels right. The process is clunky, the coverage feels generic, and getting basic documentation or making simple changes to a policy becomes a task that eats into a workday.

If that sounds familiar, it’s worth asking whether your current insurance provider actually understands your business. Whether it’s time for renewal or not, it’s always a good time to compare insurance quotes. (We’ve covered this before – here are 10 business milestones that should also trigger an insurance review.)

The right partner should “get” your profession. They should make it simple to do important things like making a loss payee easy to add. They should let you get a COI in minutes or on demand, not wait around for a human broker. And the quote process should reflect your actual work, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all policy that lumps videographers in with every other “creative professional.”

Thimble was built with small business owners like Colton in mind. That shows.

Get a no-commitment quote today

Colton switched to Thimble and hasn’t looked back. If you’re a videographer or small business owner who’s tired of insurance that doesn’t fit how you work, find out what coverage Thimble can offer for your business.

Frequently asked questions

What type of insurance does Thimble offer for videographers?

Thimble offers general liability insurance and other coverage options tailored to the specific risks that videographers face, including coverage for client-facing work, on-location shoots, and more.

How long does it take to get a quote from Thimble?

Most small business owners can get a custom quote from Thimble in just a few minutes through the online platform or app. There’s no need to speak with an agent to receive a quote.

Can I get a certificate of insurance quickly through Thimble?

Yes. Thimble allows policyholders to generate and share a certificate of insurance within minutes, directly through the app. This is especially useful for videographers who need to provide proof of insurance before a shoot.

How does Thimble compare to Full Frame Insurance for videographers?

Based on Colton’s experience at Hard Copy Media, he felt Thimble’s process outperformed Full Frame Insurance because of its speed, ease of use, and relevance of coverage for video production businesses. Key advantages included a faster quote process, simpler COI access, and easier loss payee management for financed equipment.

Can I add a loss payee to my policy if I finance my camera equipment?

Yes. Thimble supports adding a loss payee to your policy, which is a common requirement for videographers who finance expensive camera gear or production equipment through a lender.

Is Thimble a good fit for small production companies?

Thimble is designed for small business owners across a range of industries, including videographers and other small businesses. Its flexible, easy-to-manage policies make it a strong option for creatives who need coverage that keeps up with their workload.