Florida Photographer Mike Masin Finds Peace of Mind on the Fly with Thimble’s General Liability Insurance

T: What drew you to photography as a career, and what are your favorite aspects of the job?

MM: I love to go out for a walk. It helps me clear my mind and focus (or not focus!). When I go shooting, I make a decision as to where I want to go, I grab my kit, and I just head out. The only time I truly have a plan in advance is when I’m on a wildlife shoot, so I know I’ll be going to a particular rookery for a couple of days. That’s a seasonal activity because I shoot during nesting season for wading birds.

The joy for me comes from a couple of fulfilling aspects of the job: first, I get to walk on the beach and be around wildlife. I also do some cityscape work in downtown Fort Myers and other locations that interest me.

On the other side of the equation, I have to sell my art. My photographs are in a few galleries, but I also set up at local farmer’s markets and art walks, so I get to talk to people. People ask me about my art, they ask me about photography. It’s almost a tripleheader in terms of getting fulfillment from what I do, because I not only get to pursue my passion, I get to talk about it.

T: Why did you choose Thimble for your business insurance needs?

MM: When I’m working in an area around other people—setting up a tripod on a shoot, at a market in a state park, or in the middle of the street for an art walk—there’s always the risk that someone could be injured or some damage could occur.

The thing that really attracted me to Thimble was the ability to whip out my cell phone and purchase $1 million in coverage for a set period. I also love that I can add Additional Insureds on the fly. One event that I participate in regularly requires three different Additional Insureds. With the Thimble app, it’s a breeze to add them, print out the Certificate of Insurance, and be covered, all while fulfilling my legal requirements.