Photographer's Satchel

Photographer’s Satchel

An excellent life is made up of a thousand excellent details. May our Photographer’s Satchel be one of them in your life. Here are three excellent reasons why this camera bag is great for photographers. It’s functional, it’s photogenic and it brings joy.

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Say YES to Function

Answer YES or NO honestly about your current camera bag

• Can it be worn across the chest for easy access and converted to a backpack for trekking?
• Is it insulative so batteries and gear don’t quickly freeze or get damaged with heat?
• Would you use it as your everyday carry when not taking pictures?
• Does it enhance the way you look as a photographer?
• Can you leave it unbuckled or unzipped for hours without gear falling out because it has a flap?

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Say NO to Eye Pollution

Answer Yes or No about your current camera bag

• Would someone ever paint it into a painting?
• Is it photogenic? Would it ever be the subject of the photograph in Venice or out in nature?
• Is it classy?
• Is it attractive? Does it attract the eye of others?
• Does it get better looking the longer you have it? Or does it age like milk.
• Would your grandchildren fight over it when you’re dead?
• Would it enhance your photos if it were in the shot? Or be photoshopped out like a piece of trash.
• Does anyone compliment you on how good looking it is?
• Does it make you look better?
• Does it reflect who you are?
• Does your other camera bag age like fine wine? or like old milk?
• Are you excited about it? Or it is boring.
• Are you proud of it?

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Say YES to Joy

Answer Yes or No about your current camera bag

• Are you emotionally attached to it?
• Would you miss it if you lost the bag itself?
• Does it look like it has stories to tell?
• Do you ever intentionally rough it up to make it look better?
• Will people take pictures of your camera bag?
• Would people ask to borrow your camera bag empty?
• Has it ever brought you joy and enhanced your life?
• Will this ever be said about it? “This was your grandfather’s or grandmother’s camera bag and now it’s yours.

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FAQs and Objections

• What about protection if I drop it? My other camera bag has a lot of foam in it.
  • Let the padding on the bottom be a small blanket or light sweatshirt for just in case situations.
• But it’s not big enough for all of my gear.
  • It’s not meant to hold ALL of your gear. Do you only have one pair of shoes? Leave the 35 lb. camera bag in the hotel room and carry this for smaller fun outings or on long treks.
• What about dust and rain getting in? Buckle it down and it’ll be fine. You’re overthinking it unless you’re using it in the blowing sands of the Sahara. Then just put a t-shirt on top of it and then buckle it down. And don’t carry it through waterfalls.
• Why did you rename it the Photographer’s Satchel?
  • 15 years ago, it was named The Medium Satchel. 10 years ago, I redesigned it for more comfort and renamed it The Rounded Satchel. Since so many photographers buy it and send in great photos of it, and because it’s what our photographers and videographers personally carry at Saddleback, it became obvious and appropriate that it be renamed The Photographer’s Satchel.

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Justification To Spend the Money

• Even a cheap crap lens costs more than this bag, which is a key part of your gear.
• It’s cheaper to buy one bag than replace bags for the rest of your life.
• Don’t mess up other people’s photos with your ugly or boring camera bag.
• Two bags in one. Most camera bags are dedicated to being used for only cameras, but this is a fashion accessory meant to be used for daily use when not out shooting.
• Photographers are drawn to beautiful and interesting things to capture so others can enjoy them too. Why would you own a not beautiful or interesting camera bag?
• We pay more money to have a room with a beautiful view. We spend a lot of time and money to drive or fly to beautiful, faraway nature or look into the Grand Canyon and then return home. We take a lot of time and effort to hide powerlines, cords, trash, and other things that aren’t natural or that just don’t fit. Creatives love good-looking things. That’s why they congregate in beautiful places and paint or photograph beautiful things. Why would a photographer carry an ugly camera bag on their side unless they just couldn’t find a beautiful one? You now have no excuse.