Big or small, bright or dull, as a photographer your camera bag is very important, for it contains the tools you need to complete your job.

So lets discuss two aspects of packing a proper tool bag.  First, bringing the right stuff.  Second, making sure you know how to use that stuff.

The right tools.
So this all depends on what you will be shooting.  Will you be doing any long exposures?  In the night, or in the day?  What will the temperature be like?  Will you need a tripod?  How many extra batteries will you need?  Or storage cards?  It’s important to ask yourself these things before you head out, because there’s nothing worse than hitting the streets just to realize your SD card slot is empty.  In fact, if you’ve got a bad memory like me, go ahead and make a checklist of all your camera related things you may need, and quickly run through it while gathering your kit together.  Don’t be ashamed, the best of us need a list sometimes 🙂

Knowing your tools.
Now obviously digital photography can seem like a never ending learning process, and there’s nothing wrong with playing with settings and trying new techniques in the field.  In fact, that’s the best way to learn.  But trying to figure out how to manually adjust your flash in slave mode while the clock is ticking may not be so fun.  Trust me, you’ll be frustrated.  So take the time to get a feel for your gear before it’s time to rely on it.  It could really be as simple as memorizing the buttons on your camera, or setting up your tripod, but if you are comfortable with these types of things, I promise you will be more relaxed, confident, and have more fun on the streets!