How my camera bag helps me make better photos

How a camera bag helped me make better photos AND why a mirrorless camera works perfectly with the bag.

I believe the more photographs I take, the better a photographer I become.

‘Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.’ – Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Camera Photo Sling / Shoulder Bag

Just like exercise or the gym. Just thinking about exercise, doesn’t make me fitter or healthier. I need to DO it. Consistently. Repetitively. I needed to form the habit of always having my camera with me.

How did my camera bag help me improve my photography? It allowed me to carry my camera around ALL the time (not just sometime or special times) AND encouraged me (I should say, didn’t discourage me) from taking pictures. Here’s how:

First I started using a lightweight, smaller, mirrorless camera.

Then I got a sling / messenger / shoulder style bag.

1. A sling / messenger / shoulder style bag is not as hard to get to my camera as a backpack.
2. I reduced the amount of things and steps that slowed me down to take a picture. You know what that feels like? You want to take a picture, but it’s just too much trouble. That “bothersome” feeling? Not a very productive feeling. I wanted to make it EASY. Make it quick. Make it simple.
3. Here’s what it used to look like: My camera is in my backpack, lens-cap on, lens hood attached on backwards for transport. Maybe even in a case. THEN! I see a shot I want to take. I’d have to take my backpack off my shoulders. Put the backpack on the ground or table. Unzip the backpack. Take out my camera / turn it on. Take off the lens cap, stick it in my pocket. Take the lens hood off. Put the lens hood back on in “shooting” mode. Finally ready to shoot! BUT, realize: my backpack is on the ground or table unzipped. Not very mobile. To get moving, I’d have to zip the backpack up and put it back on my shoulders. Here’s what I do now instead.
4. I stopped putting my lens caps back on.
5. I keep my lens hoods on ALL the time. I don’t take them off. I can now do this with a smaller mirrorless camera.
6. I of course keep the lens I plan to shoot with ON my camera.
7. I have all my camera settings configured for quick action, typically: Aperture Priority: wide open, Auto ISO. When I turn on the camera I won’t have to think about it.
8. I use a wrist strap (my preference, some people prefer neck / shoulder straps)
9. My swap lenses don’t have caps on them either. Hoods are already on. EASY to change.
10. I keep my bag clean of lint / grit. I’ll turn it upside down / vacuum it out every now and then.
11. Of course, I carry my camera in my hand when I anticipate a shot. Then it’s NO steps: just shoot. BUT I found that there were a lot of times that I was walking around, camera in my bag, zipped up and I see a shot. THEN it’s only 2 steps to shoot: 1) unzip, 2) grab the camera / turn it on, then shoot. Bonus: my bag is also still on me! Very mobile. TIP: Practice getting your camera out: like a gunslinger. 🙂 It’s muscle memory. The more you do it, the less you’ll have to think about it.

I still love my photo backpack for other reasons. It’s very stable and doesn’t swing around when I’m going on a serious hike / trek / bike ride. It can carry much more (I have a “pro” backpack that I’ll take on some of my paid photo shoots). But for my everyday carry? It’s the sling / shoulder bag. I use a Lowepro Passport Sling, by the way. Click here for a link to my bag. There are tons of options out there if you search for “photo sling bag”, “photo messenger” or “photo shoulder bag”.

Another great option, the Think Tank Photo “Turnstyle” bag. One of my favorites!

So, IF you are in the camp that believes that by having your camera with you all the time can not only allow you capture great images, but ALSO encourages you to practice your craft more often, do you think that having the “right” kind of bag can help as well? I’d love to hear (read) your thoughts on this.

Wanna know what’s in my bag? Keep on the lookout for an upcoming article: “What’s in my bag.”