Five Ways to Carry Your Camera Gear Around Without Driving Your Spouse Crazy

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3765285 M image We photographers can sometimes be a little obsessed when it comes to camera gear. We want to bring it all, we want to bring it everywhere, and we want to be prepared to capture any shot. Our spouses, on the other hand, are often not as enthusiastic. So here's a few tips to lightening your photo load and keeping your significant other from strangling you with your neck strap.

Leave the Tripod, Get a Monopod

Going for a hike through a scenic mountainside or perhaps visiting the Grand Canyon? Leave your big clunky tripod at home and opt for a monopod. A monopod will give you some needed stability, but won't slow you down as you don't have to unfold it and set it up every time. It can be annoying to any travel companion to have to stop every few minutes as you set up your gear. A monopod is lighter, quicker, and can be used as a hiking stick as you trek through any countryside. Better yet, have a tripod that has monopod built into it.

Use an iPad instead of a Laptop or Desktop

The great thing about iPads is their convenient size. You can still transfer and view all of your images, but you don't have to lug around a bulky laptop and charger. This can make a great substitute for a desktop too as you can carry it around the house and have a conversation with your spouse instead of yelling at each other from opposite ends of the house.

Discretely Carry Your Camera

Carrying your camera around your neck, shoulder, or in your hand can create an obstacle for when your spouse wants to get close. They don't want to hold hands with a battery grip or have a lens poking them in the ribs when they go in for a hug. Personally, I'd recommend the Black Widow Holster from Black Spider Holster. This handy little gadget slides onto your belt and lets your camera hang right at your side, giving your arms the freedom to give your spouse more attention, while at the same time being only a quick hand motion away from capturing a shot. The cool thing about the Black Widow is that it can take a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or really anything with a standard tripod socket. Which brings me to my next point.

Take a Smaller Camera

When you bring your DSLR out, you're more tempted to fiddle with the settings and get everything perfect. With a point-and-shoot or iPhone, you're more likely to spend time in the moment and only capture the shots that really catch your eye. Less camera typically means less thinking. So instead of taking a dozen photos of your spouse's meal, maybe you'll just take a few of the two of you together instead.

Bring an All-in-one Lens Instead of a Dozen Primes

If you must bring your DSLR, at least cut down on the amount of gear you bring for it. Try using an all-in-one lens instead of half a dozen primes. How many times do you think your spouse will put up with you saying “Hold on, honey, just let me change lenses real quick”? Bring one lens and you won't be tempted to use all of them. Every brand has their own all-in-one lens. Nikon and Canon both have a 18-200mm lens, which should cover just about anything you'd want to shoot. If you're looking for something a little faster, both brands also offer a 24-70mm f/2.8.

Also Read: 41 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN’T DATE A PHOTOGRAPHER

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Written by Spencer Seastrom