Our professional camera equipment represents a major investment in our business. When we travel for a shoot we are at the mercy of Transportation Safety Authority TSA inspectors and airline bacggage handlers. Proper packing of the equipment is the first step in the protection of our equipment. When checking equipment through you can count on that equipment being hand inspected. This means that our equipment investment will be handled and re-packed by someone who has no idea what it is, its value, and who is in a hurry.
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Pick your equipment bags carefully. There are many manufacturers of heavy duty camera cases. Three manufacturers that I recommend are Lightware, Porter Case, and Pelican.
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Pack your equipment carefully. If there are multiple layers photograph each layer as you pack. If you believe that the photograph does not provide enough detail you should write instructions using a simple large font. Attach the pictures and packing instructions on the top of the case. This will assure that they are visible and will help the TSA agent know how to pack your equipment.
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As an additional precaution you should drop by the customs office before your flight. They have forms that you would use for international travel so that customs will know you already owned the equipment when you left the country. Having an official inventory before any trip can help you should there be an insurance claim filed later it may help your case.
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If you are flying commuter airlines you may be required to check your bags gateside. While reasonably secure you never know when you may be the last one off the plane. To reduce any theft temptation you might consider packing your camera bags inside a regular suitcase. This trick combined with picking a suitcase that looks a little rough will reduce the appeal to the person who night be tempted by an expensive camera bag.
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If you know that your equipment may be subjected to temperaure extremes you also might want to consider packing the equipment in lined lunch pouches. These insulated pouches will slow down any substantial rise or fall in temperature around your equipment. If you are concerned about condensation you can use silica gel bags to absorb moisture. A down side to these bags is that they moderate temperature extremes. Once the equipment gets hot or cold it will stay that way longer even though the outside air has changed.
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When flying you should also note that airline liability limits, if any, will quickly be exhausted. A quick check with your insurance company may tell you if you have adequate equipment coverage or if there are any exclusions you need to be aware of. If you are working through your agent be sure to get that information in writing. A simple phone call will not carry any weight in a dispute.
To learn more about the TSA and their updated requirements you might want to take a minute to visit their website. (www.tsa.gov)
This article was written by Art Sprague of Art's Photography. Art travels six months out of the year covering events in the Midwest where he offers onsite printing and internet viewing of his images. He has considerable experience in what to do and what not to do when packing.
