Backups are super important things to have. I’m not talking about backing up your photos and videos, although that is important. I’m talking about arriving at a job site with extra equipment. That way, should something fail, you are still able to get on with the job.
I was reminded of this recently when it became apparent that I didn’t have multiple of everything I needed!
When I go to a commercial shoot I arrive with at least the following:
- At least two drones (sometimes three).
- At least two mobile devices, one iOS, and one Android
- Multiple batteries for each drone on site (at least 3 per drone) all fully charged
- Spare cables for each device
- Plenty of micro SD cards
- At least two sets of propellers for each drone
Recently I went to take some video at a great little spot on the river in a little park away from it all.
After setting up it suddenly became apparent that I urgently needed a bathroom – apparently, something I had eaten did not agree with me. Fortunately, there was a port-a-potty nearby that was surprisingly clean and well maintained, complete with plenty of paper and hand sanitizer!
With the crises averted I bent over to get dressed and heard a SPLOOSH!!
I look down to see ripples spreading out in the blue liquid! Clearly, something had gone in there, but what could it be? More importantly, whatever it was, would I really be interested in fishing it back out again?
I started checking my pockets.
- Phone. Good.
- Keys. Good.
- Wallet. All good.
Phew! At this point, the chances of putting my hand in that thing had gone from an already super-slim chance to zero. But I was still confused. What on earth could I have dropped in there?
And then it hit me. My glasses!! I had them hooked on my shirt and when I bent over then had slipped off.
Fortunately, they were a cheap pair from CVS. No surprise…they stayed exactly where they were.
Unfortunately, that was the only pair I had with me and, since my eyes are not what they once were, that finished the day’s activities.
There is a well known saying among photographers that goes “if you have two, you have one, if you have one, you have none…”. I now know that means everything, not just the cameras and equipment!