Looking after your camera bags is important. After all, behind the zips and Velcro lies your equipment and for some of us, the lenses and cameras are the tools of our trade and are essential in putting food on the table for our families. Photography writer Matty Graham www.mattygraham.com suggests five ways to maximize your safety when out and about with your cameras…

1) Buy a camera bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag

You don’t want to put your expensive photo kit on display to people who may be tempted to steal it – that’s the bottom line! So, the last thing I’d advise you to do is to spend your hard-earned money on a brightly colored bag that yells at the top of its voice; “Steal me!”

Naneu bags are the way to go – they function brilliantly thanks to the pain-staking design that’s gone into every model, but they look more like a regular backpack, rather than a traditional camera bag. This allows Naneu users out in the field to simply glide through crowded squares and busy streets without beady-eyed thieves picking up on what you are really packing under the weather-proof and well-padded bags.

2) Never ‘check’ your bag at press conferences

Just because photography is considered a profession, that doesn’t mean all snappers act professionally. In fact, even surrounded by scores of their peers, unscrupulous chancers will not think twice about reaching into your bag to sneak away a lens. As with the nature of press conferences, there is so much going on and nobody would question a photographer walking out the door with a lens. Keep your bag with you at all times. Naneu bags are fitted with extra-comfortable straps so even if that press conference drags on for hours, your shoulders and back won’t need a trip to the chiropractor.

3) Put your name and address in the bag and mention a reward

Contrary to the previous tip, there are still some good people left in the world and it could prove wise to include a label with your contact details somewhere people can find just in case the worst happens and you become separated from your bag. If you feel you can, add information about a reward to the bag label, as paying the finder is still likely to be cheaper than replacing your kit. The Naneu Military Ops shoulder bag Lima, Sierra and Tango includes a contact label for you to fill out.

4) Carry a cable lock

If you do have to leave your bag for a short time, then you my want to think about packing a cable lock. If you have a lock like the Master Lock Python (http://www.masterlock.com/product_details/AdjustableLockingCables_AdjustableLockingCables_DiscLocking_No.8413PythonAdjustableLockingCables/8413KA) then wrap the wire around your bag (and through zip loops, if you can). The lock, which cost from around $30/£25, adjusts so you can pull the wire tight around your camera bag, though I wouldn’t advise leaving your bag out of sight for long durations.

5) Rear-opening bags

If safety and security are at the top of your list when it comes to choosing a new bag then you will probably want a rear-opening bag. This is where the entry zip to the bag rests against the photographers back when the bag is in use. Basically, if someone is going to get to your cameras they will, quite literally, have to take the bag off your back – a fearsome deterrent for opportunist thieves. A fantastic example of this technology can be found in the Naneu Military Ops series – a serious range of serious bags and, quite possibly, the last word in covert camera backpacks.

Follow these tips and stay safe when you’re out in the field. Check back regularly for more photo advice.