journey of a camera bag

For the amateur and professional photographer alike the search for the perfect camera bag seems to be a never ending journey. Each camera bag has a different purpose, each photographer has different and changing needs and we all seem to cycle through bags in search of the impossible all in one.

Kylie and I thought we’d share with you our camera bag journey, as portrait and wedding photographers, to provide some insight into what works for us and potential reflection and guidance for your camera bag purchases.

To us, there are 3 types of camera bags:
1. Storage & Transportation bags – those used to store & transport your gear in the home, office and on-location
2. Shooting bags – those used to store the gear on you, for quick and easy accessiblity as you shoot
3. Marketing bags – those that look cool, try to be 1 or 2 (or both) and serve no practical purpose

A few years ago we didn’t really know the difference between storage and shooting bags, so we kept purchasing and trying new bags and never seemed to find the exact bag we needed. It wasn’t until we reflected on using different bags for unique purposes did we get closer to finding bags fit for purpose.

We’ve owned many different brands and types of bags over the last few years, some good, some bad and some which served us well for a small niche purpose or commission. Rather then be critical or positive towards bags we no longer use, we’ll run through the key themes of why they moved out of home.

Storage & Transportation Bags
By our definition, these are bags which are not as easily accessible whilst you are shooting, including rolling bags, hard cases and most backpacks which have to be taken off and unzipped to take out your gear.

To us the perfect S&T bag needs to be:
1. Strong, but lightweight – mainly for domestic/international travel where there are restrictions on carry-on weight, particularly in Australia (read: we never check-in our camera gear)
2. Big enough for our gear – sounds rather easy, though many bags are so full of padding that hardly any gear can fit in. We like a bag with plenty of room, looks smaller then it is and doesn’t scream expensive camera equipment inside
3. Quality product – durable material which can handle different conditions
4. Easily customisable – ability to customise inserts/areas to suit carrying requirements to hold gear safely

Storage & Transportation bags we are currently using?
ThinkTank Retrospective 30 Black Shoulder Bags. RRP ~179 USD each.

Whilst also fairly suitable as a shooting bag, we find the ThinkTank Retrospective 30 is the perfect storage & transportation bag in alignment with our criteria above. We’ve travelled with them domestically and internationally with no dramas. We also love the ThinkTank Airport International, TakeOff and Security rolling bags though have yet to make the leap due to the weight ~3.5-4kg. The weight doesn’t allow for much available storage weight for gear particularly when travelling on domestic Australian airlines with carry-on limitations of 7kg.

We currently find these bags adequately address our home/office, driving and flying storage needs effectively.

Shooting Bags
By our definition, these are bags which are held on your body whilst you are shooting, including shoulder bags, belt packs and some more easily accessible backpacks and laptop style bags.

To us, the perfect shooting bag needs to be:
1. Strong, but lightweight – given the weight of gear (read: Canon L series lenses) we want to make sure we don’t break out back and that our gear is held safe as we get down low, reach up high, stand up, sit down & lay down (yep our shooting style is a workout)
2. Big enough for our key gear – we don’t want to carry everything at once (read: weight) so we only carry what we need for a given portrait shoot and/or phase of a wedding (i.e. 70-200mm, 50mm, 35mm & Flash for Ceremony) and go back/forth from our S&T bags as needed
3. Easily accessible – take gear in and out of the bag quickly and easily as we shoot and also quiet (read: don’t want to hear velcro or metal zips during a wedding ceremony!)
4. Quality product – which can hold its own in all kinds of conditions and locations
5. Security – a camera bag that doesn’t look like a camera bag. We don’t use bags that scream I have expensive camera gear. Also, very plain colours (most of our bags are black).

Shooting bags we are currently using?
Shootsac Lens bags by Jessica Claire. RRP ~179 USD each

These bags have huge ticks against all of our criteria.

Side tip. Most camera bags also have grey inserts for a reason. They are a fairly close match to 18% grey aka integrated grey card.