More About How To Transport Your Equipment

More About How To Transport Your Equipment

by William Lulow

I don’t think I have written too much about how to carry your equipment, what kinds of camera bags to bring, how many, and what size, but I took a long trip a few months ago so I thought I would mention what equipment I usually bring and how I transport it all.

First, the most recent, long trip I took lasted a couple of weeks or more. I wanted to make sure I was prepared for any kind of photographic opportunity that might arise so I really found that I brought too much. The trip took me to California and then to Hawaii, but I found I didn’t need many of the items I packed.

Second, the basic kit I like to bring with me consists of the following:

1. Two camera bodies
2. Four lenses (20mm, 60mm, 85mm, 135mm)
3. Two flash units. (One for the camera and an extra one on a light stand)
4. Batteries
5. Reflectors
6. Lithium ion battery for portable flash
7. Filters
8. Laptop computer
9. A small light stand that opens up to six-feet
10. A small travel tripod

I probably didn’t need all this gear, and, on the next extended trip, I will only take one of the camera bodies, the lenses, the laptop and that’s about it. The only piece of lighting equipment I will pack is my on-camera flash.

Here is what the bag looked like packed:

This bag holds it all! I won’t take it everywhere I go, but it is designed to get my equipment safely to my destination. I also use a fanny pack that holds one or two lenses with the camera over my shoulder when I’m just walking around. Here’s another view:

So, in this one bag I was able to transport every piece of equipment I would need for my extended trip, including a laptop which I use mostly for editing.

I always have looked at the equipment I take on any shoot as a kind of “kit.” It is comprised of items I always have with me as well as some specifically designed for travel and location work. As with every type of job I do, I actually look at my vacation travel as a kind of “job” as well, so I want to be sure I have all the gear I need to make the kinds of images I want. This is the fanny pack I use:

It’s just big enough for a couple of lenses and filters with the camera at the ready, on my shoulder. I use this when I am just walking around touring a new city or place. I always pack a small, travel tripod:

This guy folds down to 15″ and opens to approximately 5.5 feet. It’s lightweight and supports my Canon cameras with the heaviest lens. A tripod is really a necessity no matter where you go.

The other thing I do is to carry pouches on my belt for extra lenses and wear a photographer’s vest for filters and other small items I may need. I probably would never carry the whole backpack when I’m just walking around a city or even country side. Here are a couple of the pouches:

These small pouches are for extra lenses or other accessories and they fit right on your belt. So you really don’t have to carry the entire backpack and photo kit with you as you tour around. You definitely do not want to be burdened with a heavy pack when you are touring. The big pack I only use to get all my equipment on and off the airplane and into the transfers to hotel or place I am staying. If I know that I want to make a specific image, I will then carry equipment that I need especially for that photo. Otherwise, I will never carry everything all the time.

If I am touring by car, where access to the backpack is easy, then I will pack it in the car’s trunk. If I am walking around, I want to have both hands free to shoot and very little over my shoulder where it can be stolen easily. Very often, I don’t want to be conspicuous if I am just touring. If I am doing an assignment where I might need extra equipment, especially lights, then I will take the big backpack. And, if I’m on an assignment I very often have assistants to help with the equipment anyway.

When I shoot on location for a corporation or other company, which is really most of my work these days, I usually bring most of my studio gear with me. It includes lighting (enough to make a 5-light setup, if needed), backgrounds, reflector cards and other light modifiers. I actually set up a mini-studio right on the client’s premises and work from there. This is what I take with me:

The packed car

Hand truck loaded with gear

Part of studio on-location setup in a conference room

This kind of shoot is different from just touring when I’m on vacation (although I treat my vacations like actual “jobs” as well). Here, I often have the help of an assistant, but I also can handle all this stuff myself.

The take away for this article is that you don’t need to carry every bit of equipment everywhere you go to make pictures. When you are just walking around a new place, keep it simple. If you see an image you wish to make, you might have to go back later to make it if you don’t have every item you need. If you are packing your studio gear, make sure it all fits on one hand truck. The more compact your equipment is, the easier it will be to transport it.