Tips for a photography trip. Part 1: The camera bag

Wednesday 9 November 2022, 10:00 by Nando Harmsen | 6,897 views | 5 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

To go on a photography trip without any worries, I have a number of tips to help you photograph with a group without concern. I draw on the experience I have gained from the many situations I have encountered as a photography tour leader.

This is the first part in a series of tips for when you go on a photography trip. This part covers the camera bag. You use it to carry your equipment to the beautiful locations you visit during the trip. So it is important to handle it with some care. Something that is easily forgotten in the excitement.

On a photography trip with a group. Make sure you have the right camera bag with you.

Choose the right bag

A backpack seems like the best choice for a photography trip. But this is not always the case, it depends on the type of photography trip. For a city trip, a shoulder bag can sometimes be a better choice, as it makes your equipment easier to reach. Read more in my article about the best camera bag.

If you are going to cover long distances on foot at your destination, a backpack is naturally the better choice. But make sure your backpack is a good one, with good shoulder straps and a supportive hip belt. This makes carrying your equipment much more comfortable.

A good backpack has good shoulder straps and a hip belt. This is especially important if you are going hiking.

Make sure you have a sturdy bag, with sufficient protection for your equipment. A cheap bag often offers too little protection. Remember, there may be thousands of euros' worth of equipment in your camera bag. You should not try to save a few euros by choosing a cheap camera bag.

The bag - What do you put in it?

Make things easy for yourself and organise your bag properly. Give your camera, lenses and filters their own compartments in the main compartment of your camera bag or backpack. Do not put too much in it, less is more. This also helps prevent damage if the camera bag falls over or even falls out of the car when the boot is opened. This can certainly happen on group trips.

Do not overfill your camera bag, and give each item its own compartment. In this example, damage to your equipment is almost certain. I regularly see a camera bag packed like this.

Ask yourself what you need. A camera and two or three lenses are often enough. Organise things logically, so you can quickly grab what you need. The last thing you want is to stuff your bag full. Keep it organised and well balanced.

Do you have loose items? Extra batteries, a rain cover, a microfibre cloth, a tea towel, a remote control and extra memory cards, put them in a separate compartment and not with your camera and lenses. If you do not have an extra compartment, buy a separate accessory pouch, so everything stays neatly together. That way, you will not lose anything.

It is best to carry small items in a separate pouch. This helps you stay organised, so you will not easily lose anything.

Anything you do not need in your camera bag can stay in a separate pouch in your hotel room or in your luggage. You do not need a card reader or a battery charger while photographing. Take them out of your bag, do not carry them with you on your day trip.

Extra space in your camera bag

A camera bag tailored specifically to the equipment you have at that moment seems ideal. But it is not. Extra space always comes in handy, and not just for your photography equipment.

You are often out for longer. Then you may want to bring a raincoat or a cardigan. Perhaps it is too warm and you want to take off a tie or scarf. Or your gloves. Extra space in your bag for these clothes makes a big difference. Also think about your lunch, and a piece of fruit or a bottle of something to drink.

Sometimes you are out for longer. Make sure you have space in your camera bag for lunch, a snack, a bottle of water, and a cardigan or rain jacket.

A camera bag is more than just a bag for your camera and a set of lenses. Especially when you are going on a photography trip. If you do not have that space, consider getting a new bag to avoid ending up with an extra pouch on your trip because it does not fit in your camera bag.

The bag - How do you handle it?

You are not going to walk around with your camera in your camera bag. You want to take photographs, so you take the camera with a lens out of your bag. Do this in a safe place, far from waves breaking on the beach, or on a flat section in mountainous terrain.

Make sure you have a good system for carrying your camera around your neck. I have previously written about how I carry my camera, but there are of course other methods too. However, when you have to climb, make sure your camera does not hit the rocks. If necessary, put it back in the bag for a while.

If you have difficult paths to navigate, consider carrying your camera in the camera bag for a while.

Do not leave your bag all alone

Keep your bag with you. That may sound strange, but in their excitement many people leave a bag out in the open while taking photographs. After all, they are in a group. But the group spreads out, and everyone keeps walking further. Eventually, your bag is left all alone, often still open with all the equipment within easy reach. Most people are honest, except for that one...

Do not simply leave your bag on the ground when you go to take photographs. Carry the bag on your shoulder. This is very important on the beach.

Do not leave your bag on the beach either, and certainly not open. The sea has a will of its own, and the waves breaking on the shore always reach further than you think. You would not be the first person to end up with a camera bag full of seawater.

Do not let your photography trip turn into a nightmare

A photography trip is fantastic. Going out together with like-minded people is also educational, because you get to see how others take photographs. It is inspiring, and you reach the most beautiful places easily.

By handling your bag properly, you prevent anything happening to your equipment and the trip turning into a nightmare. Still, you should not let yourself be scared by thinking about everything that could go wrong with your equipment.

You should be able to enjoy a photography trip without any worries. A good camera bag certainly helps with that.

Treat your bag sensibly. The tips in this article are not difficult, and are simply 'good practice.' Remember that they are actually not just for a photography trip, but apply all the time. Even when you are 10 kilometres from home. The only difference is that during a photography trip you cannot simply go home if something goes wrong.

Dit artikel is voor het laatst bijgewerkt op 9 november 2022.
De eerste publicatiedatum is maandag 18 juli 2022, 20:10.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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5 comments

Lauran wrote on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at 11:07 | reply
Sorry Nando but I hate photo trips. I always prefer to go alone. Except when I’m shooting models. Obviously, you then have one or more models with you and a mua. But after shooting I always like to be alone for a while and enjoy the moment.
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at 11:37 | reply
@Lauran:
Photo trips aren't for everyone. So you're someone who wouldn't do this. I understand that perfectly, and I always go alone myself too. Then you have all the time to yourself.
But others think it's fantastic to be taken to the most beautiful spots and, on top of that, have guidance with the photography itself.
Translated from Dutch.

Lauran wrote on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at 12:23 | reply
@Nando, I understand that very well. Many people often go together. That herd behavior humans have after all. And there is nothing wrong with that. By the way, a nice and pleasant article to read.
Translated from Dutch.

Peter wrote on Tuesday 19 July 2022 at 15:25 | reply
@Lauran. That wasn't what it was about at all in Nando's article here. If you go on a trip, tips, especially for beginners, are very valuable. And if people enjoy going out together, that's their business. Calling that herd behavior doesn't sound very respectful.
Translated from Dutch.

Donald Willemsen wrote on Friday 22 July 2022 at 01:15 | reply
@Peter, don't take it personally. There are always people with a different opinion and who thereby rub others the wrong way.

It's about Nando's story and his tips. Nando's story contains good tips. You don't necessarily have to take photo trips in a group. You can also take them alone, possibly accompanied by a local guide.

What I always run into is that with 99% of the photo trips, which are usually organised by professional photographers, no consideration whatsoever is given to the fact that there are also (amateur) photographers with a physical disability. They almost never get the chance to take part in a photo trip because of the places and countries that are visited. Organised photo trips are 99% only suitable for people who are physically mobile.
In the Netherlands, 2.3 million!!! people live with a physical disability. Among this group there are surely also people who enjoy photography.
Despite all kinds of international and European treaties that have also been endorsed by the Netherlands, no or insufficient consideration is still given to people with a disability. In addition, there is of course a financial barrier because a person with a disability may need to arrange assistance from a carer, which increases the cost for an extra person.
I therefore propose that photographers who organise photo trips investigate, in the countries where these trips take place, to what extent there are opportunities for people with a disability to participate in such a trip.
The description of such a trip could then indicate whether the trip is also suitable for people with a disability, including wheelchair users.
Translated from Dutch.

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