As a wedding photographer, your photography gear is part of the reason you have the ability to take gorgeous photos. Regardless of how expensive or new your equipment is, keeping your gear safe is crucial. When you shoot the engagement session or wedding day, there is always a chance you may be working in conditions which are not ideal, especially for the safety of your gear. Purchasing gear can become quite the expense for your business, so replacing it every time you shoot in unpleasant weather may not necessarily be feasible for your bottom line.
Shooting in climates which provide rain or snow (or dirt and sand) can already be a challenge, especially to capture the perfect shots. But, how can it affect your gear?
Here at ShootDotEdit, we connect with pro wedding photographers worldwide. One of the biggest pain points (outside of editing weddings photos) is when something goes wrong with a photographer’s gear, especially when it happens during the wedding shoot. That’s why we put together a few ways to keep your gear safe in dangerous conditions.
Supply Covers for Your Gear
One of the best ways for you to protect your gear in any shooting situation is to cover it. Among other issues, direct sunlight is not ideal for your camera, and neither is the freezing cold. When the weather is too hot or muggy, the seals on your camera may dry out, risking the chance of dust, dirt, or sand in your camera (or even water if you are shooting on a rainy day). When shooting in freezing weather, there is a chance your camera’s battery life can run out more quickly.
Related: A look inside of Ben Hartley of Style and Story’s Gear Bag – see it here!
So you do not have to worry about the weather ruining your gear, cover it whenever possible. Bring along something which will act as a cover for your gear while you are not using it. During the shoot, you can use your jacket or a blanket to cover your gear. As long as it helps keep any sand or dirt from entering your camera and keeps your gear at a moderate temperature while it is freezing outside, you can use it.
Quick Tip
If your batteries die during the freezing weather, hold them in your hand for a short period of time, or wrap them in your jacket or blanket to warm up. This will temporarily give the batteries life and you can capture a few additional shots.
Also, make sure you know your gear. If your camera is not a weather sealed DSLR, then you will know you need to take precautions to protect it.
Related: The Best Cameras for Wedding Photography
Bring Helpful Accessories
Arriving at your shoots prepared helps you protect your gear, especially if you know exactly what you are facing. When you know you are working in dangerous conditions, bring along helpful accessories which will provide protection for your gear. In your gear bag, bring along microfiber towels to assist you in quickly removing any dust, sand, or rain from your lenses. Do you know how to protect camera from rain? You can bring a rain cover to protect your gear from any condition, meaning you will have shelter over your camera, lenses, and other important equipment.
Because the sun can become such an issue for your camera, bring along a few accessories to avoid affecting its mechanical aspects. A UV filter protects your camera from any extra sunlight, and a lens hood is a tube or ring which can attach to the front of your lens to protect it from too much light.
If you do not have the necessary gear to cover your camera or protect it as you are shooting, use what you have available. This is a cost-effective option and can be a suitable to provide protection for your gear. When you shoot in the rain, you may wear a rain jacket, and when you shoot in the snow, you might have gloves or even a hat. Use those objects to cover your camera while you are shooting and protect it when it is not in use. You can also bring an umbrella or blanket to wrap your gear in while you are working.
Related: What must-have gear do wedding photography duo Amy and Jordan Demos have in their gear bag?
Buy a Quality Camera Bag
When you purchased your camera, you may have also bought a camera bag to carry it around. The quality of your camera bag does matter if you are shooting in dangerous conditions often. Making a one-time purchase of a secure camera bag which can hold and protect photography gear from damage is something you can include in your financial decisions (especially since it saves you from purchasing new equipment on a regular occasion).[ninja-inline id=14322]
Know What Your Camera Needs
Even with all of the tools to use to protect your gear, you should know what your camera needs to stay out of harm’s way. Understanding what weather does to your camera can assist you maintain its overall health, helping you keep your camera for a longer amount of time. If you are shooting in drastic temperatures, keep in mind the effects it will have on your camera, lens, memory card, and battery.
If it is freezing outside when you are shooting, and then you bring your camera into a warm atmosphere, you risk condensation on the inside of your camera, as well as on your lens. For you to protect your camera, leave it inside the camera bag after shooting in extreme temperatures. When you enter an environment which is the opposite temperature, you avoid any potential damage the drastic environment change could cause.
Quick Tip
To avoid damage to your lenses or memory cards, change them in a location that is safe from sand or water damage.
Understanding how to keep your gear safe is one of the top priorities for you as a photographer. As you take the steps to protect your gear, you can relax knowing you do not have to replace any of your equipment (unless you want to). In addition to your gear, your images are an important part of your business. Find out how to master proper lighting and posing techniques to create memorable images every time with our Pro Photographer Lighting and Posing Guide! Click the banner to get the free guide today.
[mashshare url=”http://shootdotedit.com/2016/01/how-to-keep-your-gear-safe-in-dangerous-conditions/”]