One of the reasons why Jules Café hosts a contest every month is to encourage readers to come back and visit the site. Jules Café has fresh, new content all the time, and it is built to help you, the photographer learn, grow, and share!
Look in the Grow section to find information about lighting, shooting, and equipment. The Learn section will have articles about business, marketing, networking, conventions, and workshops. You can find inspirational interviews and information about photography contests, charity work, and other fun tidbits in the Share section. So grab a cup of coffee, curl up in a chair with your laptop, and dive in to Jules Cafe.
For this month’s contest we are featuring the super cool GoBee CF card holder! Cleverly designed by professional photographers (and now designers and owners) Lauren Hillary and Sara France, GoBee offers a modern take on camera gear for today’s professional photographer!
Since its inception in 2006, GoBee has been leading the call for a stylish solution to protect your gear. GoBee introduces a line of camera gear that are functional but also express your individual personality. And, they are fun to wear!
Check out the GoBee blog to see our own Jules as the latest GoBee girl!!
For the contest this month, we’d love to hear about YOUR favorite camera gear… how does everything except the camera help you? Â Leave a comment below to be entered to win a GoBee of your own! Be sure to visit back for a Coffee Break with the lovely Lauren Hillary!
I absolutely love my Crumpler camera bags. I have two. One is a backpack that holds my Canon 50D with 2 lenses, flash, batteries, other accessories and 15″ macbook pro. The backpack has a security feature that only allow it to be opened while off of your back. I also have a messenger style bag that holds a little less but is great for on-the-go. I find these bags to be very sturdy, weather-resistant, and cool-looking! Check them out at crumplerbags.com!
I love my shootsac!
I could not live without my shootsac. It has made my life so much easier.
Dang! I wanted to be the first to rave about my ShootSac! After having a two year old grab my 105mm 2.8 out of my camera bag and slam it onto the floor (only about $300 in repairs later) I invested in mine. I don’t have to worry about little monkeys grabbing my gear anymore. love, love, love.
Elissa how did you get an avatar up here?
My bra- it’s the safest place for my lens caps- it’s convenient and I always know where to find them.
I love my Jill-e bags—- I have a medium and large one, both are great for wedding day gear— I do need something small and portable, but I didn’t really groove on the shoot sac– but I love how they look—-Love my Crumpler laptop bag! Maybe a Boda?
I love my tamrac rolling bag. It holds everything under the sun including 2 bodies – a pretty full assortment of lenses, light meter – a gazillion batteries the macbook and even a reflector and anything else I can think of. It’s sturdy as anything – my 3 year old occasionally stands on it which isn’t good but so far has not damaged anything and he routinely knocks it over with the same non-result. And the best bonus is that my back and neck don’t hurt anymore from lugging around a bag on my shoulder.
I really love my Think Tank Aiport Security V2.0 rolling bag when I go on location. It houses everything I need and when I’m actually shooting I have my shootsac strapped on me because it holds a spare lens or 2, CF cards, iPhone, batteries, etc.
I have many different “little” things that have certainly made a big difference, and I’ve been saving for the Go Bee hip clutch because I think it is the perfect accessory to compliment my style.
With my photography I’m very spur-of-the-moment, seat-of-your-pants. So, I want to use accessories that aren’t too restrictive. I need to be able to just grab what I need, which is why I use a ShootSac. I typically have my 70-200 2.8, 28-70 2.8, and 85 1.2 (rented.. ha!) in the front, with a water bottle, my wallet, cell phone, speedlite and keys in the back (which makes it a bit bumpy but it works). I hang my Fongsphere off the side with its’ velcro.
Then, I have a Black Rapid camera strap so that my camera hangs on my side at hip level. Before, I had a lowepro strap with CF card compartments, but I was constantly removing the strap or lifting it off over my head because I could never be comfortable. Now that I have the Black Rapid strap, this isn’t even an issue because of how it flows with my body. I absolutely love it.
For my other equipment, I have a Crumpler 7 million dollar bag. That holds my back-up camera body, my extra lenses, light meter, white balance filter, and anything else I can think of. I pack that, my reflectors, and my tripod/monopod, and sometimes a stool or a step-stool, in a $20 rolling cart from wal-mart (because they’re totally durable and who cares how many things I run them over!?) for my shoots in places that require a lot of walking such as hills or beach areas.
*sigh* I’ve been trying to think of what to write about here because I only wish I had a shootsac or gobee CF card holder etc but not yet… those are still on the saving for list. I love Kris’ quip about her bra being a good place to store her lens cap… I thought about trying that but worried about getting the lens cap smeared… anyway, long story to say that at the moment my favorite gear is my tripod… mostly because it allows me to get portraits of my whole family (my son is five months old). It is a big deal because usually I am the one behind the lens, so the tripod allows me to be in the frame with my son, and hubby.
I love my smugmug camera strap – its got a little give to it (kinda springy/elastic) which makes it so nice when I’m on a long shoot or out hiking – it is easier to keep my camera around my neck, especially if I’m toting my 70-200 f2.8.
I do also like the bra comment – I have done that before after realizing I had no pockets!
I have to say my Jill-E bags. They keep me fashionable. Not all dressed up and carry a man bag.
I am verrrrrryyy slowly building my gear up. I need one of these car holders so badly! I actually use a old film container for mine right now, so bad, right?
. My favorite item that I use a ton is my shootsac, don’t know what I would do with out it! 
I love my cf wallet. I am obsessed with cf cards and I keep track of which ones are full by flipping them upside down when I use them. I have 10 slots in my wallet and about 16 cards. They sales have been tremendous lately. My shoot sac is a dream come true as well.
My comfy (but stylish!) lucky flats for shooting! I know it’s not really camera gear, but standing/kneeling/climbing can wear you down after 6 or 7 hours! This weekend they also came in handy when the day-after session I had scheduled with a bride and groom turned into a quick 30 minute session due to an impromptu brunch their families wanted to have! Stressful but fun, I ran ahead of them to take candid shots and ask bystanders [politely!] to move out out the next shot. Makes all the difference!! I’m sure a GoBee holder would have come in handy too!
I have a Tamrac bag since September 10, 2001. I will always remember the date. This has been the best, most comfortable and lovable bag. Yes, I love my Shootsac, but I never go on any shoots without this old favorite. It’s like an old friend that been on many journeys.
Love the boda bag! Mine’s pretty banged up though, so I’m excited to get my hands on the new version coming out in November. The boda bag + the gobee and I would be set!
not really camera gear but always comes in helpful at a wedding Saftey Girl Car emergency kit:
http://www.safetygirl.com/
Being a guy and rolling up with a safety girl kit always gets a good chuckle from the girls but they notice
and remember it! There are lots of great little goodies in there that come in handy like thread, tape etc…
always needed to fix any wedding problem
My Garmin nuvi 360. I would be lost without it! =) For anyone that shoots weddings or portraits on location I think a GPS is a must! All the gear in my bag is no good to me if I can’t find my way to my clients. =)
My favorite non-camera camera gear… That one may be a bit tough. I would never want to be without my 50mm f/1.4 or my crumpler, they are always with me. At times I would not be able to do my job without my pocket wizards, and I most definitely would not be able to get quality photographs of me with my family without them.
Greetings,
I’m a youngin’ and a newbie in the business having shot roughly 15 weddings since my first August 08. As i continue to build my photography business, add new gadgets and gidgets and whatnot galore, and keep up with rad blogs (i.e. JULES CAFE) to keep myself on the up and up — i’ve gotta admit the most helpful piece of equipment that saves my rear is my lowpro sling shot back pack. However, i just invested in Canon’s Megetron 70-200 IS 2.8 and the back pack is just not cutting it. I’ve been eyeballing the shootsacs, watchin’ how other’s execute a thorough wedding day coverage, and am still takin’ notes! – Lastly, a sweet, cold bottle of water is also a favorite piece of gear for any long shoot. I’m 6 months prego and expanding ever more and my little water bottle attached to my hip are pretty darn cool.
thanks for the blog! its pretty much jump-started a lot of learning areas that help me grow as a photographer!
I, too, love my camera bag! It’s an old Leica bag that I borrowed from my dad when I was in high school, and neglected to return.
It’s messenger-style with lots of pockets and room for everything I need. Besides being functional, it also has sentimental value, which I love. My dad still says I got my “photog genes” from him.. maybe it’s just the old bag! 
I wish I had a smaller bag to tote around when I don’t need all the equipment… but I guess that’s where a GO|BEE would come into play. 
Ooh I’ve been lusting over a GoBee bag for awhile! Thanks for the contest!
My video light! I love that thing. its so cheap and simple, but it helps me create a mood that you just can’t get with a flash. I especially love it for detail shots, like the ring and centerpieces!
Oh, it’s a toss up. My pepper camera strap so that my camera looks cool, and my camera bag. Of course, I am hoping sometime to get a shootsac (which will then move up to one of my absolute faves!) but until then, my Tamrac bag will be on the list.
I do love my camera strap and all the girly flowers it has on it.
I am the new girl on the block and I’m learning each and every day about what’s new and great in this crazy world of photography! I don’t have a lot of cool, nifty gadjets as of yet, so I’m a little stumped on what my favorite equipment is. I guess I could say the sun! Or a really great smile from the bride! Or my friends for their constant support. It really helps my photography to have all that! Especially when I’m on a budget. But. . . .I just found out about Shootsac’s from a fellow photographer. I still have a 2nd job working at a Starbucks and I saw her bag sitting on her passenger seat when she came through my drive-thru! It was love at first sight! I just bought one after months of saving my tips! I just know it will change how I shoot! So even though I don’t have it yet, I am sure it will be my favorite addition to my photography. I also have that feeling about the GOBee memory card holder. I’m gushing over it’s design and I can imagine all the good it will do for my peace of mind. I am always worried about my little memory cards. I like to keep them in my pockets, but what happens if they fall out. EEEEEK! So, you would make this Midwest girl very happy if she won! But if I don’t, there’s always the tips! Thanks! -Katherine
I love my shootsac. It’s changed the way I shoot.
I love my Jill-E bag. I get compliments on it all the time. Not only is it functional, but stylish to boot!
As I was lying awake at night thinking about my favorite gear ( yes, if you didn’t so the same you could call me pathetic) it dawned on me that it is quite simply my 100macro lens. As a self proclaimed “Wide Angler” it has completely changed my point of view – and maybe myself too. I notice and look for the small details, but I use it for my portraits too.
What I don’t like is this cheapo card holder I bought and am afraid to use because it looks like it called fall off any minute, and every time I open it, the whole room hears the “CCHCHHHRREEEAACK” of the Velcro, and then I can only hope not to drop all of them from their to big pockets. CLEARLY, I am dying to win this one!
My favorite piece of gear is my 50mm. I’ve learned to shoot in my own way with this sweet little lens. After that, it would be clothing with pockets. I feel lost without a pocket.
I definitely love the bra idea & will try it tonight @ a shoot…
I am also absolutely obsessed with my tripod! How could I get those fabulous shots of me and my hubby without it?
I’m definitely saving up for my own Shootsac and my own GO|BEE too. I desperately want them!
I’d be lost without my Tamrac Messenger bag. I’ve always got that extra lens, extra batteries and of course somewhere to put my fong dong (Gary Fong Lightsphere).
my camera slinger!
I absolutely can’t go without my Tamrac Expedition 5 backpack. FOR SURE. It’s perfect for storing everything I need for a shoot…complete with moveable compartments for my OCD moments, a front pocket to keep my girly stuff like chapstick and blackberry, and even some straps the outside for a water bottle. It’s totally not fashionable, but it’s perfect size for the overhead compartments of airplanes, and it’s easy to carry around. My Tamrac backpack definitely saved me on my world travels expedition a couple years ago!