Packing as a Photographer

[orna14]

Hey everyone! I know this might be a good question for the photography board but I've scoured it and googled all kinds of resources but just wanted a straight answer.

I'm heading to Disney in April and even though I've been to Disney countless times, this is the first time I'll be visiting as a photographer - Lowepro camera bag, heavyweight tripod, more than just a kit lens - you get the picture. I just wanted to know, does anyone have any tips for having my camera bag as my carry on? I'm worried that I won't have room for other basic necessities, that something might get flagged through security, or I'll be at risk for damaging my camera gear.

Usually my carry-on has a change of clothes, a book, some snacks, phone and charger, and in the past I've just taken the DSLR body with a kit lens. I won't be taking the tripod this trip, or if I do it's going to be in a different bag, but I have multiple lenses and accessories I'd like to bring.

Anyone have any tips/advice about this? Many thanks!!

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess it all depends on what else you want to be able to fit into your carry-on. I use a regular backpack and just put my lenses in individual pouches inside. That leaves me room to fit a few other items in there as well.

I've never had issues with any of my camera gear going through security, but I do pack my tripod on my checked bag.

 

[Spork3127]

I've never had any issues either with my camera gear going through security. My camera bag is typically my carry on. I typically dress for my destination despite what it's like where I leave. I usually fly out of Atlanta and the only time I'm outside is when I park my car and wait for the shuttle and getting off of the shuttle at the curbside check in. For our upcoming trip, I'll be in shorts and a t-shirt regardless of the funky north Georgia weather. It eliminates my need for a change of clothes.

For camera gear, I've always packed my tripod in my checked bag. I'll usually wrap the ballhead in a sock or two just for some extra protection. As far as lenses go, I just bought a ThinkTank that holds everything, but I did have a LowePro slingshot that I could cram most of my gear into, but had to utilize a lens pouch on the side for my 100-400. Really glad that the ThinkTank eliminated that. I'll have 2 chargers, 2 extra batteries, lenses, 1 body, cables, etc. Just the necessities that I know I may use.

Things that I try to use common sense with and leave at home:
I own a Giottos Rocket Blower that I'll use in the days prior to any trip to try and clean up any dust, etc. but haven't attempted to put it in my carry on due to it's design shape.
The spikes that replace rubber feet on my tripod.

 

[orna14]

I've never had any issues either with my camera gear going through security. My camera bag is typically my carry on. I typically dress for my destination despite what it's like where I leave. I usually fly out of Atlanta and the only time I'm outside is when I park my car and wait for the shuttle and getting off of the shuttle at the curbside check in. For our upcoming trip, I'll be in shorts and a t-shirt regardless of the funky north Georgia weather. It eliminates my need for a change of clothes.

For camera gear, I've always packed my tripod in my checked bag. I'll usually wrap the ballhead in a sock or two just for some extra protection. As far as lenses go, I just bought a ThinkTank that holds everything, but I did have a LowePro slingshot that I could cram most of my gear into, but had to utilize a lens pouch on the side for my 100-400. Really glad that the ThinkTank eliminated that. I'll have 2 chargers, 2 extra batteries, lenses, 1 body, cables, etc. Just the necessities that I know I may use.

Things that I try to use common sense with and leave at home:
I own a Giottos Rocket Blower that I'll use in the days prior to any trip to try and clean up any dust, etc. but haven't attempted to put it in my carry on due to it's design shape.
The spikes that replace rubber feet on my tripod.

I guess it all depends on what else you want to be able to fit into your carry-on. I use a regular backpack and just put my lenses in individual pouches inside. That leaves me room to fit a few other items in there as well.

I've never had issues with any of my camera gear going through security, but I do pack my tripod on my checked bag.

Thank you guys both so much for your advice, it's really reassuring. I'm in Pennsylvania so it'll be warm enough here that I can wear shorts to the Airport, so that will work well. It's a relatively short trip so I won't need to pack many outfits in the first place so I think it'll work out fine. Thank you guys both for the advice, makes me feel a lot better about the upcoming trip.

 

[tlseege]

Security has had to open my bags and look at my lenses, but otherwise I've never had a problem and I'm a destination wedding photographer so I travel a lot with my gear.

I will note that some flights run out of overhead storage or the bins are too small to hold full size carry-on luggage. BE PREPARED with what you'll do in this case. I typically travel with my roller bag of gear and then a backpack. In the backpack I have my change of clothes and basically everything you mentioned. So when I have to gate check my gear bag I have to switch everything. I have to get my gear into my backpack and wear some of it (you can wear your camera and it doesn't count as a carry-on... I've had to wear two at a time! Ha!). I always bring something like this: http://www.amazon.com/OneTigris-Wat...=1458312745&sr=1-8&keywords=camera+bag+insert along so that if I have to switch my lenses into my backpack they are safe.

 

[Deffenm]

Thank you so much for this post. I am a very new camera owner/user and I am doing a quick trip to WDW in April for the flower and garden festival and I was nervous trying to figure out what to take on the plan. tlseege, thank you for the link to the camera bag insert. I was looking for something like that to convert my Disney backpack into a safe camera bag.

 

[loves to dive]

We are divers and my honey does underwater video, I do underwater stills. He used to use a hard size camera box with special padding for his camera and lights and batteries but that just got to heavy to lug around. Now he uses a rolling back pack. He pads everything with his extra clothes so a shirt is used to wrap around the camera (which he keeps in the housing while travelling), his lights are wrapped in his bathing suit and shorts, etc. He gets flagged just about every time we go through security because the lights look a bit weird when going through xray and it gets swabbed just about every time. If they gate check bags, he flat our refuses, he made the mistake of putting the lights in checked luggage once, very well wrapped and they opened it and broke one of the arms. My gear is much smaller so it just fits in among all the scuba gear we carry on and again, we refuse to let them gate check it, can't afford to have our regulators either lost or broken.

 

[AndyR]

I use a ThinkTank Airport Roller Derby (carryon) and have never had an issue with it. WDW has some guidelines about tripods needing to fit inside a standard backpack.

 

[jawa7400]

My husband has a backpack specifically for camera, lenses, etc. it's compartments are destined for the camera so nothing else goes in it. He stores that under the seat as his personal item (like I would a purse) and then has a small carry on with necessities.

 

[orna14]

Security has had to open my bags and look at my lenses, but otherwise I've never had a problem and I'm a destination wedding photographer so I travel a lot with my gear.

I will note that some flights run out of overhead storage or the bins are too small to hold full size carry-on luggage. BE PREPARED with what you'll do in this case. I typically travel with my roller bag of gear and then a backpack. In the backpack I have my change of clothes and basically everything you mentioned. So when I have to gate check my gear bag I have to switch everything. I have to get my gear into my backpack and wear some of it (you can wear your camera and it doesn't count as a carry-on... I've had to wear two at a time! Ha!). I always bring something like this: http://www.amazon.com/OneTigris-Wat...=1458312745&sr=1-8&keywords=camera+bag+insert along so that if I have to switch my lenses into my backpack they are safe.

Thanks so much for that link, I have a feeling that's going to be a lifesaver! On my last trip I had no idea where my camera could sit in relation to me so I kept it tucked away in the bag. This year, I'm definitely going to try for some airplane photos. Nothing crazy, but it's nice to know it's possible. I'll definitely keep your advice in mind.

 

[orna14]

Thank you so much for this post. I am a very new camera owner/user and I am doing a quick trip to WDW in April for the flower and garden festival and I was nervous trying to figure out what to take on the plan. tlseege, thank you for the link to the camera bag insert. I was looking for something like that to convert my Disney backpack into a safe camera bag.

We are divers and my honey does underwater video, I do underwater stills. He used to use a hard size camera box with special padding for his camera and lights and batteries but that just got to heavy to lug around. Now he uses a rolling back pack. He pads everything with his extra clothes so a shirt is used to wrap around the camera (which he keeps in the housing while travelling), his lights are wrapped in his bathing suit and shorts, etc. He gets flagged just about every time we go through security because the lights look a bit weird when going through xray and it gets swabbed just about every time. If they gate check bags, he flat our refuses, he made the mistake of putting the lights in checked luggage once, very well wrapped and they opened it and broke one of the arms. My gear is much smaller so it just fits in among all the scuba gear we carry on and again, we refuse to let them gate check it, can't afford to have our regulators either lost or broken.

I use a ThinkTank Airport Roller Derby (carryon) and have never had an issue with it. WDW has some guidelines about tripods needing to fit inside a standard backpack.

My husband has a backpack specifically for camera, lenses, etc. it's compartments are destined for the camera so nothing else goes in it. He stores that under the seat as his personal item (like I would a purse) and then has a small carry on with necessities.

Thank you guys so much!! I'm glad I could help, Deffenm, I'm just so nervous (and excited of course) and the DisBoards are always the best place to ask.

I'm sorry to hear about those lights, loves to dive! Unfortunate circumstances. Thank you for the advice, though, I'll definitely keep my gear wrapped carefully and safely.

AndyR, I heard about those guidelines and I think I'll just keep the tripod out of the park, but I would like to photograph Wishes from the beach at the Polynesian. Does anyone happen to know if tripods are allowed on resort property?

Jawa7400, usually that's what I do, but luckily I'm sharing a suitcase with my sister for this trip so all I need to worry about is my bag.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Thank you guys so much!! I'm glad I could help, Deffenm, I'm just so nervous (and excited of course) and the DisBoards are always the best place to ask.

I'm sorry to hear about those lights, loves to dive! Unfortunate circumstances. Thank you for the advice, though, I'll definitely keep my gear wrapped carefully and safely.

AndyR, I heard about those guidelines and I think I'll just keep the tripod out of the park, but I would like to photograph Wishes from the beach at the Polynesian. Does anyone happen to know if tripods are allowed on resort property?

Jawa7400, usually that's what I do, but luckily I'm sharing a suitcase with my sister for this trip so all I need to worry about is my bag.

You'll have absolutely no problem with your tripod outside the parks. Set up anywhere for shots. It's only coming in to a park it has to be able to fit into a bag.

 

[SplashMo]

Think Tank does make nice bags. If you wear it as a backpack it should not be a problem. Do not let them check it...