Matty Graham

Photography writer Matty Graham explains how it’s not just cameras and lenses that could prove essential during a photoshoot.

Along with camera bodies, lenses and flashguns, there are a few items I always take on shoots. And do you know what, packing these items has saved my bacon more times then I care to remember.

Cash

Nobody uses cash any more right? Well, that may be true, but if you’re sent on location and have to park up somewhere, you may find that older parking meters don’t take electronic cards. Keep a stash of coins in your camera bag and only touch them if you really need to. They’re not for buying lunch, they’re there for emergencies only.

First aid kit

You’re going to pick up cuts and scratches when you work on locations. It’s not a case of if, it’s a case of when. Rather than bleeding all over your camera after trapping your finger in a tripod – yes, that’s happened to me and I bled big time – keep a small first aid kit in your bag, so you can at least cover up the cut and plough on with the job. We’re not talking saline drips and drugs, just a few plasters and some sterile cream.

Cleaning kit

Some locations will be more intensive than others and will mess your kit a lot faster. The main culprits are coastal locations, where the sea-water spray from the ocean will drench your camera before you’ve blinked or dusty locations such as deserts that will clog up lenses with sand. A small cleaning kit comprising of a paint brush and microfibre wipes will help your kit to keep performing in inhospitable areas.

A back-up memory card

I always pack my camera bag with a back-up memory card. This is never used with the others – it just stays there as a ‘in case of emergency’ card. Memory devices can and will corrupt, so it’s useful to have a pre-formatted card that is kept separate from the rest.

A back-up cell phone

Use a smartphone? Good then you’ll know they can be very unreliable. If you use a smartphone then pack an old (but fully charged) cell phone in to your camera bag. There may be times when you really need to get in touch with someone (or they need to get in touch with you), and a secondary source of communication isn’t just a good idea, it could save your life. As the motto says: Be prepared!