As a photographer you probably already have a “bag problem” most photographers I know have many different bags and I am no exception. There are fanny packs, sling bags, shoulder bags, laptop bags, backpacks, rollers and carry on bags but the one we are gonna talk about in this lesson is what I call the ready bag.
From my days of being a volunteer firefighter I would have to check in the trucks and equipment bags at the beginning of my shift. We would have pretty much anything we would ever need for 99% of the calls that we would run in our truck. I got in the habit of making sure I would have everything I would ever need in my car “just in case” That is when I decided to put all of those different things in what I like to call my ready bag, to be ready for anything.
I first used a shoulder style camera bag that I wasn’t using and filled it with everything I could ever need when it came to shooting a news scene. But I needed something better so after talking with some of my friends I discovered an organizer that cops use in their patrol cars. It is called the Uncle Mikes Patrol Seat Organizer 
So why do you need to pack your car with another bag among the already full trunk/cargo space? [private_pro] Well sometimes news scenes can be very long and drawn out or an assignment requires for you to be waiting for someone to come out and waiting in your car or outside for hours. If you are on a news scene and you need something like food, water or sunblock chances are if you leave you will miss your shot so leaving is not an option. It can be a lifesaver if you can just run to your car or pull out a cold water bottle in your bag and keep from being dehydrated or sunblock to protect your face. The ready bag is not designed to be carried with you onto the actual scene, it should be used to re supply and carry backups just in case you may need them.
Now lets go over what I have in my bag.
- Spare batteries, AA, AAA, camera batteries etc. At least one pack of each.
I like to make sure I have enough power for extended scenes or just in case I forgot to charge up the night before. - Gum/deoderant
Gum can be your friend, and even make you friends! When out on a news scene your breathe will get funky.. no way around it so pop in some gum and don’t be known as the photog with stinky breathe - Water Bottles and Gatorade
Water is probably the most important thing you can carry in your ready bag, along with Gatorade this can make sure you do not get heat exhaustion and pass out. Some news scenes can be very long and hot and keeping hydrated is very important. I I carry at least four 24oz bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade in a cooler in my car. I usually keep myself pretty well hydrated but I do put a bottle of water inside the bag I take to the actual scene. If I need more I can just go to my car and grab more. - Leatherman Multi Tool
I use the Leatherman Wave and you never know when you will need it so I always keep one in the bag. - Extra notepads,pens and business cards
You are going to have to get names and info so having extra notepads in your bag will keep you from writing notes on your hand. Pens, business cards also fall into this category. - Sunblock and head gear
You will be out in the elements and if you are in a hot enviorment like me in central Florida sunblock and a hat or visor will help you from getting too burned. I use SPF55 or higher. - Extra memory cards and DV tapes
I like to carry lots of memory cards just in case so having extra in your bag will make sure you never run out. - Medicine
You may not think about it now but packing Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Asprin, anti-diarrhea, and upset stomach meds will be your friend if you ever need it. Trust me, eventually you will! - Ear Plugs
On your typical news scene you may not need it, but in a parade or a heavy metal rock concert you will be glad you had them. - Snacks
I like breakfast bars, granola bars, trail mix and beef jerky in my bag since they do well in a hot car. You never know when you will be able to get some food so pick the snacks that you like but remember to not put chocolate or anything else that will melt in a hot car!
Now your personal preference and climate will dictate what goes into your bag but these are things that work for me if you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment on this post.[/private_pro]