Photography Hacks You Need in Your Camera Bag
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Photo by Smart on Unsplash
I love photography hacks, especially DIY photography hacks that are cheap or free. Photography hacks allow photographers to truly show off their creativity (I think we do this better than anyone) and save money at the same time.
I always say if you really want to get to know a photographer, ask them what they keep in their camera bag.
For instance, I have a diaper shoved somewhere in mine at almost all times. That definitely tells you something about how hectic my work life is.
But, I also have some items you might not think about. Here are some of my favorite photography hacks.
A Rubber Band to Stop Zoom Creep
photo by JoKMedia via iStock
We all hate zoom creep, or when your zoom lens zooms without you wanting it to. But, there’s an easy way to stop zoom creep by using a rubber band.
You simply place the rubber band around the zoom ring on the barrel of the lens to prevent any shifting.
SnareMan uses a Lensband in their video about stopping lens creep, but the best part about this photography hack is that it is an easy photography hack, meaning you don’t need to go buy a specific product because it works just as well with a regular sized rubber band.
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An Innovative Filter Holder
Filters are a must-have for any photographer.
But innovative filters are a great hack to include in your camera bag...
I recently got my hands on Haida's M15 filter holder system, which is an innovative system because it's magnetic.
Once the magnetic M15 filter holder is mounted to a separately available adapter ring for your lens, you can mount a Haida M15 magnetic filter to it quickly and easily.
The filter holder's pull-and-release locking knob ensures the connection between the filter and filter holder is solid to prevent light leaks. But at the same time, the holder can be rotated 360-degrees so you can place the filter just right to get the shot you want.
This is advantageous when you use rectangular filters like a graduated ND, which requires fine-tuning to its positioning to get the desired effect.
Gone are the days of having to screw in filters and messing up the positioning of your camera while doing it...
Haida's M15 system makes quick work of filter changes and does so with the added benefit of not disturbing the camera. It's a win-win!
DIY Sandbags for Your Tripod
Justin Phillip is a man after my own heart because he’s largely dedicated his YouTube channel to DIY photography hacks. One of which are DIY sandbags.
While I do have regular sandbags, sometimes, or maybe more like all the time, these are extremely difficult to take on trips. After all, why would I want to give 10 pounds of my 50 pound luggage allowance up for… sand.
Instead of lugging your sandbags around with you all the time, simply buy some Ziploc bags, some cable ties, and beans or rice from the grocery store and make your own.
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Vaseline for Your Models Lips
Photo by Houston Ray on Unsplash
I always carry a small thing of vaseline in my camera bag for one really important reason: portraits.
If I’m photographing someone who doesn’t feel comfortable wearing makeup or forgot theirs at home, I can use vaseline as lip gloss that will produce beautiful shimmering effects.
Plus, vaseline is just a few dollars, so this is a very inexpensive DIY photography hack!
Old Fashioned Pens and Paper
photo by tolgart via iStock
As annoying as it is, technology fails. Your phone screen cracks, your camera dies, and in these dire times, it is absolutely necessary that you have old-fashioned pen and paper.
As an additional photography hack, put a little bit of tape around your pen so that way you don’t need to carry a whole roll around in your bag but you have some if you need it.
How to Carry These DIY Hacks in Style
Photo by Brandon Burk
No matter how many easy photography hacks you have in your back pocket, they won’t be very helpful if you don’t have an incredible bag to pack them in.
Holdfast’s Roamographer bag is that bag. It features vintage aesthetics that make you look professional and put together with modern functionality. It’s shoulder strap is lined with shearling, making it extremely comfortable; it’s large enough to carry all of your DSLR gear and a large laptop.
Photo by Brandon Burk
Plus, most importantly, it can fit all of your photography hacks.
While it is an investment, Holdfast gives you a lifetime warranty on all of their products, meaning you’ll never need to purchase another camera bag ever again.
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