Packing for a Photo Assignment
Striking the right balance of necessities for documentary work
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Belize for a special documentary assignment. It revolved around an initiative I learned about last year and, after some last-minute planning, I found an opportunity to attend this year.
I’ll be sharing more details about this assignment soon. But today, I want to share an overview of the loadout I packed to document the story as it unfolded.
Choosing the Right Bag
There’s no shortage of camera bags in my stash, but I wanted something new that combined three things none of my current pieces had:
Rugged outer lining that could thrive in messy conditions
Quick access to my gear (ie. no zipper top slot)
Modular system that could expand as needed
It’s a wish list that, surprisingly, doesn’t have a lot of quality options. However, I managed to find one manufacturer that ticked all the boxes.
The Wotancraft Pilot 7L sling is a well-designed, lightweight camera sling made to be abused. It allows for easy access to my gear and integrates a Molle system to add attachments for longer shoot days. I still had a healthy amount of skepticism because bags are such personal things for working photographers. It’s like choosing a pair of running shoes. If the fit is wrong, it ruins the whole experience. But after a week in the field, this sling turned out to be a fantastic solution for tough conditions.
Anyone who knows me knows that I like having nice bags for the different trips and projects. With the Pilot, I wanted to trade a little form for function. I can’t say if it’s the right bag for you, but what I can say is that this is the sling I’ll be carrying with me into the toughest environments. Especially when the bag is at odds with the elements.
Packing for the Story
The story I was chasing revolved around a very specific building. I won’t get into the specifics here, but the location was just as much a character in my assignment as the people it sheltered. It’s with this in mind that I opted for a Summilux 21mm as the main lens to establish the scene.
Given that we’d be navigating tight spaces and changing light, this lens would serve as the linchpin of my kit. The added benefit of this lens, something that avid readers here will know, is that it has a special way of placing people into the scene that feels enveloping without feeling unnatural. This Summilux was an easy choice for this story.
For an in-depth look at what this lens can do, read my long-term review.
I reached out to the Leica USA team to pair this lens with the new Leica M EV1. Having spent a little time with this camera, I knew that it’d make for a reliable tool for this assignment. Being able to see the full composition of a 21mm lens and focus accurately at wide apertures meant that I’d enjoy a higher hit rate in the field.
Now, I needed a second perspective to complement my primary solution. Ideally, it’d fill some gaps to make the overall experience easier. That’s why I packed my Leica Q3 43. With this, I could punch into details, leverage autofocus to shoot one-handed, and lean on the macro mode and crop options to really play with distance.
These two bodies are plenty. If everything went as planned, they’d compile the bulk of the storytelling for this assignment. But to really feel like I was prepared in the field, there were a few accessories that I had to keep with me, especially if things got challenging.
Rounding Out the Solution
The Pilot Sling has an integrated Molle system to attach additional packs as needed. It’s one of the key reasons I opted for this solution. With this, I could squeeze in a few more essentials.
First, I packed four additional batteries: two for the M and two for the Q. The days would be long and I didn’t want to find myself chasing plugs like Di Caprio in One Battle After Another. No, I was going to start each day with six batteries at my disposal.
Next, I threw in a cleaning kit comprised of a blower, cloth, and liquid solution to keep my glass as pristine as possible in the field. Great ingredients deliver a better edit. I’ll never leave for an assignment without these prerequisites.
I also packed a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and DJI Mic. Video was not the focus for this assignment, but given the breadth of what was transpiring, I wanted to have a solution at the ready in case I wanted to create a motion-based story. This kit makes for a powerful storytelling device, especially when you feed the sensor light.
Last, I packed a small kit of essentials to round out the bag. This included cash, gum, pen, notebook, multi-tool, and a plastic bag in case things got wet.
The beauty of the Molle system is that I could scale up or down as needed. For long, unpredictable days, I could bring everything I needed. For quick bouts or specialized stories, I could trim down to just the necessities.
Just In Case
The two camera bodies along with key accessories round out the Pilot for a manageable daily carry. It isn’t too heavy, yet it’s plenty to build out the story I was hoping to develop. But if you know anything about me, it’s that I’m always planning contingencies. So there are two more pieces that I packed in my carry-on in case I needed to call an audible in the field.
The first is a backup camera, in case one of my bodies failed in the field. For this, I packed my new Leica SL3 Reporter with the SL 28-70mm F2.8 lens. I’d lean on this in the event that one or both smaller cameras faced some obstacles in the story I was chasing. Along with a variable ND filter, this camera could also serve as a robust video solution should a surprise opportunity arise.
Next is something that is admittedly a little crazy, but it’s a lens I have always wanted to test out. The team at Leica USA sent over a Leica Summilux 90mm F1.5 for the M EV1. This lens is perhaps the optical equivalent of mounting a precision telescope on a pistol. It’s large, it’s excessive, and it’s capable of results that are simply astounding. I’ll always pack a 2nd or 3rd wildcard lens in my trips for the opportunity to create something really special. It just so happened that this time, it’d be the most coveted lens in the M lineup.
The Final Kit
While this still represents a substantial amount of hardware, it’s the lightest loadout I’ve traveled with for work in a very long time. Here’s a quick recap of everything:
Batteries
Cleaning kit
Essentials
With every assignment, I try to distill my kit down to the tools I am actually going to use. But the paranoia of disaster planning is always nudging me to bring just a little bit more. It’s a discipline I’m sure I can improve. However, I’d rather suffer the weight of being over-prepared than the agony of being caught short. With this kit, I had everything I needed to confidently focus on the story in front of me.
Upcoming Events & Workshops
Leica Akademie: Video for Photographers (Seattle)
In March of next year, I’m leading a three-day workshop for photographers who are new to video. Whether you’re looking to create short films, branded content, or simply elevate your visual storytelling, this workshop provides a practical introduction to filmmaking. Learn more here.
Arctic 2026 Photography Adventure
In 2024, I traveled to Svalbard with Quark Expeditions and it was unforgettable. I’m planning a return trip in 2026 with a group of photographers. This is not a workshop. It’s an excuse for like-minded storytellers to visit one of the most remote places on earth. If that sounds like you, fill out this form to learn more.
Next year, I’m heading to India again for our second street photography adventure across the North and South. Seats have just been made available for those looking for a deep, immersive photography experience. Learn more here.
Previous Favourites
The BIG December Contest
If you’ve been hanging around Church & Street for a minute, you know December means it’s time to go big. And this is hands-down my biggest giveaway yet. Here’s all the goodness one lucky person is taking home:
What’s a Church & Street party without my pals at ShopMoment.com? This year, we’ve decided to stop messing around and just drop a $500 Gift Card straight into someone’s account. Go nuts. Treat yourself to all the gear.
You know I drag my Espresso Display everywhere. And since I can’t stop talking about how essential it is, I put together the ultimate travel bundle so one of you can upgrade your adventures and stop hunching over a tiny laptop screen. One winner will receive a 15” Espresso Pro 4K display, Stand+, and Nylon Case.
This is my personal favourite. Two Wolves was, without question, my best shot of 2025. This image won’t even be available for purchase until next year, but one of you gets to own the first print.
How will I pick the winner? Make sure you’re signed up for this newsletter then leave a comment on at least one post from this month. I’ll be randomly picking one person, confirming they meet the requirements and contacting them directly before announcing the winner publicly.
As always, this contest is void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
What’s Next?
Planning is well underway for next year’s events and workshops. If you have a suggestion for what city I should bring one of my classes or meetups, be sure to let me know in the comments of this post.
GB
Would love to see some of your day of the dead pics. Since you are based in Canada & travel a lot, do you have any tips on dealing with Jet Lag? When I went to Nice I was discombobulated for over 2 days. Yet every tyme I went to Saudi, I was only out for a day or so. Just wondering & thanks for all you do!
Only 6mm of variance between your M and Q3, it doesnt seem like a whole lot of variation there. Do these 'off the beaten path assignments' ever have you wondering if you should replace the Osmo Pocket for an Action camera?
I am on the fence on the Osmo Pocket 3 for a vlog camera, im told it is not very rugged.
P.S. what is your towel option? The most important travel item!