Items You Must Have in Your Camera Bag
Some of the items you should keep in your camera bag aren’t available in most camera stores. You can find them in supermarkets, hardware stores, toy stores, drug stores, and a bunch of other places, but that doesn’t mean they don’t belong in your photography kit. On top of this, they all cost under $10 – so there’s no reason for you not to have them.
Want to know what they are? Read on.
Keep an eye out for:
- velcro ties
: You’ve probably got several different cables in your bag for chargers, connectors, and other things. Velcro ties will help keep them from gettting all tangled up in your bag.
- battery case: If you’re a Strobist like me, you’ve probably carry several rechargeable batteries in your bag. Some people have recommended using your batteries in groups to extend their life. One way to do that is by labeling your batteries. I do that, and use a battery case similar to this to help keep my battery groups together. I also use them to differentiate the spent cells from the charged ones.
- dessicant: Water and electronics usually don’t mix well – that’s why it’s so important to keep your gear dry. Getting an all-weather bag (I use the LowePro Slingshot 200) helps keep moisture from getting in during downpours, but making sure the inside always stays dry requires more than just waterproofing. These little pillow-like things suck the moisture out of the air – helping keep your gear dry. On this note, if you’re really feeling cheap, just grab some dessicants from packs of nori, bottles of vitamins, and other items that usually have some silica gel included. They might be a bit small, but enough of these things can still make a difference.
- flashlight: I’m the type of guy that carries a flashlight all the time – I have flashlights in my pocket, my bag, my car, my room, and basically everywhere. That being said, I can probably bore you with way too many reasons to keep a flashlight in your camera bag. A few photographic reasons, however, are getting perfect focus on a self-portrait, light painting (see amazing examples here and here), and simply so you have a light source whenever you need one. Not yet convinced? I don’t care – just get one.
- adhesive putty: It looks and feels like clay, but it works like glue. Even better, it’s reusable and it leaves no residue. Adhesive putty is perfect for sticking a reflector on a wall, propping up a small mirror, keeping your subject still, and basically making sure things stay in place.
- oil blotting paper: Oil makes faces shinier, and shiny skin tends to blow out under lighting – that’s why people on TV usually wear makeup. Now, unless you can afford to have a stylist with you for all your shoots, you need to find another way to combat oil. Besides, not everybody will be too happy about putting stuff on their face. Oil blotting paper usually does the trick. Of course, you can also have your subjects wash their faces, but you can’t exactly fit a sink in your pack, can you?
I’m sure you can think of dozens of other items to pack in your bag. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below.
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Slingshot 200,
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• Luis • 4 December 2007 •
Plastic bags — ziplocs (sandwich and gallon) and small trash can liners. Water is bad.
Mosquito Repellent!!!
1. Extra batteries
2. Sunscreen
3. A hat
4. rubber bands
5. Bottle of water
6. Energy bars
Brian Auer: I forgot about the bags – I have a bunch of ziplocs and a couple of garbage bags in my kit too. The thing is I’ve never really had to use them. Thanks for reminding me though.
Jake Garn: Thankfully, other people on my team seem to attract mosquitoes more than I do. I think I’ll be adding a bottle to my kit soon. Thanks!
KerryG: Thanks for the suggestions! Aside from the batteries, I keep the rest of these items in a separate bag.
[...] for location photography a little while back, but we’ve found some other great ideas over here for more general goodies to include in your [...]
business cards
a cheap bagged plastic poncho (coleman has them for 2$)
[...] Items you must have in your camera bag [...]
Thanks for the great list! I especially liked the flashlight. I’m always forgetting that and, when I am out at night, trying to focus on something, a flashlist would come in very handy!
ty: I can’t believe I never replied to your comment! I have business cards in my bag all the time, but I don’t have a poncho. I do, however, have a garbage bag. I’ll look out for that Coleman poncho. Thanks!
Shawn: A flashlight comes in handy whether or not you’re a photographer – but don’t get me started on that. Anyway, you’re welcome. I’m glad you like the list!
[...] a news site. Luis has thoughtfully separated his content for easy perusal by fellow photographers, featuring gear roundups and a few helpful tips. Best yet, you get to see his better visual work via a Flash-powered photo [...]
hotel shower caps – elastic, lightweight and fends off rain drizzles
william: I keep garbage bags and rubber bands in my bag, but I think I’m going to scrounge around for some shower caps. I like the fact that the elastics are built in already.
Very good ideas. One thing I have always kept with me is a mini multi tool. It has a small set of pliers, a flat head screwdriver and a few other tools that are good to have just incase. I agree with the flashlight I am something like you I have one everywhere and always keep one in my Back pack with an extra set of batteries just for it. Never would have thought about the Silca for inside my bag, but keep a bunch with my camera equipment in the house, but what a great idea. One other thing I keep, this is along the elastic idea is some mini bungee cords and a few safety pins, like the ones used to hold kilts together. Both those items have been very useful many times.
J.Cormier:
I also carry a multi-tool with me all the time. I couldn’t quite think of specific uses for it though, so I left it out. I think one day I should revisit this list and come up with a new one.
I also have the safety pins in my bag that have proven to be very useful for wardrobe adjustments. Bungee cords are a recent addition to my kit, but I use them more with my lights than anything else. What do you use them for?
Oh, I’m glad you like the list, by the way.
Well for the bungee cords when I am going into the bush or doing some night shooting and not bringing photos lights I use it to hold my large 3,000,000 candle light flashlight in place, off a tree, to a pole, etc.. I have also used them when I know I am going to be caught in a rain storm and far from my truck or shelter to fasten Garbage bags securely around my knapsack, I like those portable rain ponchos but sometimes in the summer the storms really can whip up the wind and not willing to risk my gear to one, I put my knapsack into one bag, another over it and use the cords to secure them. I have even used them to make a small cover when I am out for a long day and there is no shade, I use my knife from my mini tool and open up a garbage bag and connected them to these 4 small trees I could reach and gave some time out of the direct sun. I rarely ever use my multi tool, but the 3 or 4 times I have needed it, it was worth its weight in gold. It is hard to decide what you really need and at some point you need to make hard choices or you just get weighed down.
J.Cormier:
I can’t remember who, exactly, but somebody likened me to MacGyver after I explained why I carry a flashlight, multi-tool, and other things in my bag. I told him I learned all that stuff on the net (and yes, on the show), but couldn’t come up with other people I knew who shared my ideas. I think I should point him to your comment… if I remember who said that in the first place.
I never saw the show but I am very aware of it. Like the Boy Scout motto, always be prepared, I wasn’t one of them either but some things just make sense. Better safe then sorry has always been my way of looking at it.
A truly great list of things. I would also suggest that extra batteries should always be placed in the camera bag just in case. Even though you can pretty much find batteries for a camera anywhere….you never know.
Thanks for the very good ideas for what to carry in your camera bag. I always carry some kind of screwdriver and small tool set for repair glasses or cameras whenever they need it.
you say: “I’m sure you can think of dozens of other items to pack in your bag” can you tell me soggestions?
Good list and some good additional items in the comments. I always carry asprin. It’s hard to get that perfect shot when your head is pounding. A hat is a must for those of us balding guys.
Sellotape and some cardboard to extend lens hoods as the sun goes down.
Great list, thanks!
thinnest cigarette paper
(best for lens cleaning)
A collapsible assistant!