I decided I was done. I was never doing a shoot like that again. Ever! Finished-finito-fin.

It wasn’t photography I was quitting, or any one type of photography. It was shooting with all my extra gear in a backpack that had become absolutely out of the question. Fumbling with zippers and pockets to retrieve a lens in the middle of a portrait session or wedding was slowing me down, and while it hadn’t made me miss a shot, there were times I’d missed out on using the specific lens I wanted, just because it was so darn hard to get to buried in my Case Logic backpack. And don’t get me wrong, I love my Case Logic backpack. It’s perfect for transporting my camera bodies and toting gear around during long outings, but as a lensbag, it’s the opposite of user friendly.

Not to mention that I felt it made me look like a humpbacked bumblebee.

Enter the nifty little Shootsac designed by Jessica Claire, who’s not only been named one of the Top 10 wedding photographers in the world, but should be named Photographer’s Best Friend for designing such a simple tote that’s perfect for anyone who needs to swap lenses mid-shoot. And yes, I was giddy when my Shootsac product arrived.
Danny immediately pointed out that he loved how strong and sturdy the hardware is. I don’t expect these clasps or rings to break any time soon (even when toting around the combined weight of my 14-24 and 70-200 lenses). But, since I’m a girl, one of my favorite features of the Shootsac is the changeable covers. There are just so many to choose from, and like a little shopaholic getting lost in Anthropology, I want every single one. For now though . . . I have my basic black. I’ll just tell myself I’m sticking to a classic, professional look for the time being.

Meanwhile, all I can say is — wow! It’s comfortable to wear, easy to carry, simple to use, has plenty of space for car keys, wallets, and lip balm as well as spare memory cards, batteries, and lens cleaners. The icing on the cake is that I no longer look like a bumblebee when I’m on location. Last weekend, I gave my Coach bag the day off and took my Shootsac into Panera after a portrait session, and I would bet you — real money — that anybody who noticed it thought it was just a purse, or that maybe I had a laptop inside, not a small camera store’s worth of Nikon gear.
I love how the Shootsac is designed with the same high-quality, high-density neoprene used in wetsuits. That material keeps divers warm, and also keeps lenses protected, so I can carry them around without their covers, ready to go any second. I can easily carry three or even six spare lenses, or up to five lenses and a speed light. It’s easiest to use with only two spare lenses, so there’s plenty of room to maneuver. Just remove the lens from the camera, slide it into the spare pocket, pull out a new lens, and voila — what used to take me a good minute or more of fumbling now takes just seconds. My gosh. How did I shoot without this thing?!

After using it for only a week and a half, I have to just gush. I love my Shootsac — and if you’re a photographer looking for a smarter way to carry your lenses on your shoots, you will, too. You can thank me (and Jessica Claire) later.

~ Laura