I’ll be hitting up Vancouver Photo Workshops January 30th for a weekend intensive studio and camera skills class. If you’ve not had the opportunity to visit VPW, you’re missing out. Heavy on knowledge and skill, light on lecture – the staff at VPW get students out and shooting from day one, and we all know that consistent shooting and feedback is how any photographer excels. VPW has consistently been able to bring “rock star” photographers in for classes, and recently saw the likes of Joe McNally and Michael Grecco.

February has me potentially (I’m split between Vegas or Boston) in Las Vegas for the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference, where I hope to scoop a few new products for albums and canvas prints – as well as take in master classes by some of the industry’s best names.

March has me back in Vancouver for VPW’s location lighting series (small, portable, lighting setups with small strobes) and then onto Photoshopworld in Boston, MA to shoot with Joe McNally and Moose Peterson and take in everything new in Photoshop CS4.

That should bring me back to Lethbridge, and in the thick of wedding season – rested and ready to take on the Summer of 2009, with more than one new trick up my sleeve.

What are you committing to this year to improve your photography? Joining a local photo association? Collaborating with other shooters? Taking formal classes? 

The possibilities are limitless…

I walk a different path, I carry light modifiers, stands, and multiple strobes with me on location. Not having the proper gear to haul speciality equipment around quickly punished me last time around, leaving me a whimpering mess by the time I got home.

Things I’ve added to my gear since:

1. Kata 3N1 Camera Bag
   I had previously used a Crumpler Karachi Outpost bag -which holds a ton of gear (including a 17″ MBP), however I quickly realized I didn’t need to haul my computer along on a location shoot, as I wasn’t doing any tethered shooting or editing in the down time. The Kata 3N1 Holds 3 strobes, 3 lenses, 3 speed lights, a canon point and shoot, along with my various remotes, cards, filters, gels, etc. Its ability to move from backpack to slingbag is second to none. I bought my Kata bag in Vancouver for 90 bucks, but I see McBain carries the same one locally for $120 or so.
2. Ball Bungees
   Favoured by David Hobby of Strobist Fame, a set of ball bungees (I got mine from Canadian Tire – less than 10 bucks for a set) quickly tames any umbrellas you may be carrying into an easy to carry set. Extra bonus: the bungees can be used during a shoot to secure strobes to weird places, or receivers on lightstands.
3. Shotgun Case
   Yes, I realize it may get chuckles for my wedding clients, but my light stands are the perfect size and shape to fit into a padded shotgun case. I got mine from the Canadian Tire sporting goods section – it was 20 bucks.
    

Now I carry my bag, umbrellas and stands in one hand – ready to rapidly move from location to location without the drama of packing too heavy, or simply too much.  Let me know if any of these tricks help you on your next shoot, or if you have tips I haven’t mentioned that should be shared.