MANAGE YOUR GEAR
Reducing the number of items within your bag is the best strategy
The type of camera bag you choose for storing your gear can also have an impact on your ability to shoot on the move. Not all bag designs are adapted to working quickly. While high-capacity bags are great for indoor-based shoots, with little requirement for mobility, these may not allow direct access to kit while still over the photographer’s shoulder, for example. Backpacks offer maximum balance, which is perfect for when lots of hiking is expected, reducing strain on one shoulder. Since all of your gear is stored on your back, however, it can take a few seconds to set the whole assembly on the ground and unzip the main section in order to access your camera.
Messenger bags on the other hand often feature top-loaders – inserts that can be accessed via a zipper on the top of the bag, enabling you to remove items without putting the carrier down. This is perfect when shooting in conditions that fall under the other definition of ‘on the move’ – when you have little time to plan, test and shoot important images, on photo-journalistic assignments for example. This type of storage also helps with maximising your discretion, as it’s possible to quickly access your camera when a potential image materialises, while remaining inconspicuous.
Regardless of the type of bag you choose to take on a rapid-fire shoot, reducing the number of items within it is the best strategy for streamlining your workflow. This makes it easier to find the items you need when in a hurry, while also keeping weight down and reducing the risk of expensive accidents as items are rapidly moved around. Cutting out tools from your inventory does, of course, mean you that you have to become more adaptable, using what you have with you to its maximum potential.