Toronto Photography Meetup Group

When you go out shooting for the day, do you carry a camera bag AND a purse, or do you dump it all into one bag? Do you use a back pack for everything? I'm at odds as to whats the most efficient way to carry a camera+lens + all the other crap that I schlep around with me (wallet, make up bag, bottle of H20, maybe a jacket, a snack etc...). Was thinking of getting a Golla Zoom camera bag for the camera, but does that mean I need another bag for everything else? Is that awkward shooting with 2 bags?

I normally dump everything into a big old eddie bauer back pack. Which means a) its extremely heavy, b) i can never find anything.

Just wanted to know what all my fellow female shooters use.

Thanks!

I stopped using a purse years ago after observing my husband and how mobile he is, with no bag to hinder him

My wallet goes into the inner pocket of my jacket, the rest of my random stuff like phone and lip balm goes into a small pouch worn crossways on my body (technically this is still a purse but it is so small I never have to take it off when out). Bonus, on the top of the pouch is a small pocket big enough to hold a lens cap

If I need to carry more when out with my camera, the front zippered pocket of the camera backpack has been reserved for this. To remove my jacket, I tuck it over the bottom of the straps (so it is between my back and the backpack) when not in use.

i usually just carry a backpack and put all my miscellaneous stuff in the front or on top of it. sometimes, i even put a bottle of water and jacket inside. but i have to make sure i put them in the right angle or else the zipper opens by itself

Definitely no purse! It's tough enough to carry backpack, tripod & camera. I've a camera bag with a large unpadded compartment on top where I throw the rest of my (Lowepro Rover) stuff in there.

Note that I do have a camera bag (jill-e) that looks like a purse & is made of leather, but it's too heavy to use on regular basis. I only take it if I'm going to a restaurant & sitting most of the time.

My conclusion is that I really look stylish with a camera bag, so I opt for comfort.

In fact, I think my Rover is too bulky & I'm looking for something more compact that still carries a body with an extra lens.

Some companies make camera bags that look like purses/lady bags

If i'm carrying a lot of stuff, I take my backpack.

But after the years, I got really tired of carrying a heavy backpack so most days I opt to take my golla bag.

I have two similar to
this except one is grey with pink flowers, and the other is brown with an etched in flower. It's for the days I feel girly The ones I have were last years model as they came down to $10 before the new golla designs came out.

However, It cannot carry much. Mainly just a body/lens and my wallet does not fit into the zippered pockets so it has to go into the main compartment. However, using this bag means I have no choice but to keep things light, which is good because I'm tired of heavy. However, I have to leave a lot of things home. Also, the padding is not the best compared to my other bags and I think anything over $30 is way too much for this bag. I'd pay $30 only because they are cute, but definitely worth $10 Keep an eye on them as the guy at Blacks said they might come down in price again for Christmas!

I returned my Golla. It was $50 for one thing, and I need a bag with a handle on top, and as someone pointed out, some of the Lowepro Novas have mesh on the side for carrying a water bottle which the Golla does not. For $10 I would definitely get one. I think until I can come up with a solution its the Eddie Bauer backpack for me. I need everything that I carry with me. The day I leave something at home, is the day I'll need it. I appreciate all your input though. Maybe around xmas I'll find something thats affordable & will do the job.

I had a Rover but I sold it. It's bigger than my torso and it would knock me off balance. The bag is too heavy empty, and when i filled it with all my stuff it was near impossible for me to carry it. When I wore it, I felt like I was getting reading to jump out of an airplane. LOL....

I've been known to swing a baseball bat like a purse.