Matty Graham

As with any item of photographic equipment, there are many potential banana skins when it comes to camera bags. Photography writer Matty Graham has words of advice to help you avoid slipping up…

Leaving your bag in the car:

It can be oh so tempting. You’ve endured a long, exhausting day of photography followed by an equally taxing car journey home. You can smell a perfect meal being served up on the table, but all your kit needs to be lugged back in to the house before you can sit down and enjoy the food. It would be so easy to leave the camera bag in the car, but don’t you dare! Even if you do it just the once, the chances are that this will be the day that someone steals your car, and of course, your prized photo gear.

Don’t get overloaded:

Modern camera bags can hold a massive amount of equipment, but taking the proverbial kitchen sink along to a photoshoot can be counter-productive. Not only will too much weight slow down your progress – especially if you are walking through rough terrain such as snow, a steep mountain or marshland, but if you need to get to a certain piece you gear quickly, you may need to remove other items first.

But don’t head out underloaded:

The opposite problem from above – arriving at a photoshoot with a half-full bag of photo equipment can only spell trouble. Big trouble! The key is to work out which shots you are going to capture and make a list. Then, work out which kit you will need to pack to make sure you can achieve these images. It would be a crime if you miss out on that ‘cover’ image because you left the spare camera battery at home, wouldn’t it?

Checking in at the airport:

As I noted in a previous article, checking in your camera bag to an aircraft’s hold is the photo equivalent of picking zero on the roulette table – theoretically, you do have a chance and you’re photo kit may emerge at the arrivals hall in one piece, but let’s face it, you’re risking too much, so keep your camera bag in the overhead baggage.

Personalise your bag!

The truth is that there are a limited number of photo bags on the market and if you are a working photographer, mingling with other snappers at events like press conferences or sport events, then sooner or later, you’ll meet someone who has equally good taste and has invested in the same bag as you! Head off potentially embarrassing situations at the pass by customizing your bag the day you buy it. Even if its just adding a keyring to the zipper or some coloured tape around a carry handle, make sure there’s something visible that distinguishes your camera bag from the rest.