inside my camera bag

This is a post I’ve been meaning to do for forever, so finally I am sharing with you (most) of what is inside my camera bag and where I work.

my gear & bag

1. Canon 7D Mark II: it was an agonising decision to go with this camera body, as I’d been contemplating purchasing a mirrorless camera for their (light) weight.  In the end, though, the 7D won out as I already owned Canon lenses and didn’t want them to collect dust.  Plus the 7D is excellent in low light, which makes it the perfect camera for photographing events in the school hall.
2. Canon 550D: my original baby.  I pushed this unit to its limits before upgrading to the 7Dii.  Now it’s the camera that my son picks up to practise his photography with and the one I loan to friends when they need a larger camera than their phone.  It’s still in perfect working order and I always have this one charged and ready to go when I’m on a shoot – just in case!

1. Canon EF-S 55-250mm: one of the original kit lenses that came with my 550D, the zoom mechanism is completely flogged out because this was my go-to lens for a long time.  I keep it in my bag because it comes in handy for photographing sports days at school.
2. Canon EF-S 18-55mm: the other kit lens from my 550D.  It doesn’t get used all that often anymore.
3. Canon EF 50mm 1.8: the nifty fifty. This is the lens that lives on my camera now.  I had a hate/hate relationship with it for a long time as I struggled to find its focal sweet spot, but in 2015 I made the decision to leave this lens on my camera until I mastered it.  It’s the lens I favour for photo shoots, although I’m hoping to upgrade to the 1.4 soon (ideally, I want the 1.2, but don’t know about the price!)
4. Canon EF 85mm 1.8: I purchased this lens with the intention that it become my go-to lens… Hasn’t happened yet, so I’m thinking of doing what I did with the 50.  Put it on my camera until I master the sucker!
5. Canon EF 100mm 2.8: I *love* this lens.  If I’m having a particularly rough day, the 100mm goes on the camera and I go into the garden exploring the world in miniature until I calm down.

I keep a Speedlite 270EX II in my bag as well.  Again, I had every intention of learning how to use it, but preferring to photograph in natural light, I’ve just never really had the need to master the flash.  It’s on my to-do list for this year, though.

I don’t know how I managed without my Rapid Strap before I bought it!  Lovingly called the Sniper-Strap, I purchased mine after attending a Love Your Camera workshop with Angie Baxter and seeing hers in action.  Since then I’ve bought one for Daughter’s camera as well.  Why do I love my strap so much?  It slings across my body and takes all pressure off my neck when I’m wearing my camera.  I can (and have) literally have my camera on my body all day without it being a nuisance.  Best money I ever spent!

1. spare memory cards: formatted after each use and ready to go when I pick them up.
2. lens pen: to keep my lenses and camera body clean and free of gritty bits.
3. blower pen: great for blowing dust and grit off.

All of my gear (plus bits and pieces I’ve purchased and never really used… can you say Gary Wong diffuser?!) lives in my Kelly Moore camera bag.  It helps keep the dust off of everything when it’s not in use and protects it when I travel or am at a photo shoot.  It all lives beside the Mercedes I got for my birthday a few years back (the real thing was a tad expensive), and my 2 red hippie camper vans (because one day I’m going to own one and travel around Australia in it!).

my space

This is where I work. I made the decision to purchase an electric standing desk last year because I find that sitting puts too much pressure on my back.  I have a Human Tool Balance Spot anti-fatigue mat that helps to keep me upright and moving and alleviates the pressure on my feet when standing for long periods.

1. I run a Dell XPS 8700.  It’s a couple of years old now, but still (mostly) working a charm.  Has the odd hiccup, but runs Lightroom (my photo editing software) easily and efficiently.
2. I moved over to a Wacom Intuos pen and touch tablet a number of years ago.  I use it instead of a mouse as it allows me finer control when editing photos. I still have a touchpad mouse on my keyboard, as every now and again I come across programs that won’t play nice with my tablet.
3. my Big Picture planner from Design Aglow.  I’ve customised my own weekly to-do list, but love having everything in this folder and at my fingertips.
4. my Paperblanks journals.  One is for my jewellery design sketches. The other two are used for keeping photography tips and notes, and for sketching out poses for photo shoots.
5. my creative matra’s for 2017: ‘I am one with the creative flow of life’ and ‘I capture the beauty of life in my art’. are my creative goals for 2017.
6. my alter.  I keep a Ganesh and Krishna statue at my work space and an amethyst, rose quartz and clear quartz crystal.  They’re there to help me calm and remind me to engage in self-care.
7. my glasses.  Can’t see sh*t without them anymore, so I need to know where they are at all times.  This is their permanent home when they are not on my face!

So there you have it.

my gear, my bag, my space

I’d love it if you would share a link to photos of your workspace if you have one.  I love being a little voyeuristic and peeking at how others set up their spaces.