What’s in YOUR Camera Bag?

Hopefully, there’s a camera in there.  Did I ever tell you about the time I grabbed my camera bag in a rush without checking and arrived at a photo shoot without my camera?  No?  Well, let’s just say, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CAMERA BAG!!!

OK, back to the camera bag.  My camera happens to be a Canon EOS 60D – which I happen to love and am still learning to use.  I got this after my trusty Canon EOS Rebel malfunctioned at a wedding.  I still have it and plan on having it serviced to use as my back up camera.  In the meantime, I decided to upgrade and use my 0% financing for 18 months!

In addition to a camera, there ought to be an extra battery.  Nothing is worse than gearing up for the perfect shot, clicking the shutter release and…nothing.  Zilch.  The battery is dead.  Well worth it to have a spare!

The other important item to have in your camera bag is something to clean the lens with.  It’s no fun when you download your images and find that you had a smudge or piece of dust on your lens and it’s duplicated in every shot.

If you have an SLR with interchangeable lenses, then those lenses will allow you to add a filter.  Add one1  Really!  If the filter gets scratched, the lens is still OK.  If the lens gets scratched, you’re gonna be really mad.

These are the most important things: camera, spare battery, lens cleaning cloth, and a filter if applicable.

Here are some additional things I keep in my bag:

• an extra lens
• a polarizing filter
• flash
• extra batteries for the flash
• a copy of Pocket Guide to Outdoor Photography (great quick reference!)
• sun lotion
• chap stick
• a granola bar (gluten free and dairy free, of course!  My favorites are Kind Bars and Lara Bars!  YUM)
• mosquito repellent wipes (I started keeping those in there after I got chased away from a cool location by an angry hoard of mosquitoes!!)

I also keep a BPA free bottle of filtered water with me at all times…just not inside the camera bag!

So, before you head out the door, make sure you’re ready and remember the Girl Scout motto:  Be prepared!!

What key things do you keep in your camera bag?