Secure storage during weddings for wedding photographers

[haring]

I would like to buy a bag in which I can securely store my lenses and back up cameras during weddings. What do you use?
I know assistant is the solution who can watch your bag but a lot of time is is just not feasable. Also, I can carry all the cameras and the lenses on me but it is impractical a lot of times...
What I am looking for is something which is hard to take from the without somebody noticing it and I can lock it.
Somebody suggested that I can get bags which have an alarm...
It would be great if I didn't have to worry about my stuff all the time.

I appreciate your help!

 

[Vaughn]

Any bag can be cut open, but perhaps just something that will keep the curious and opportunists out. A suitcase on wheels (w/ zipper locks) and perhaps a plastic coated cable lock to lock the suitcase to a lamp post, chair or other feature hard to move.

 

[Marcus S]

I leave my camera cases in the car and transfer a camera body and 2 extra lenses, plus film into a small soft bag that I can carry with me without much effort.

 

[holmburgers]

Look for a heavy duty Pelican case or similar.

 

[Mike Wilde]

Normal camera bag, be obvious. Make it bold, so no one pretends to just wanter off with it.

Place it at front of church out of view, but accessable from a side aisle during ceremony, and have a tasteful leather fanny pack to swap spare one lens in/out of and stash films to draw from/ as they are exposed.

At publc gardens, set it just out of the frame, but beside the party you are posing.

At reception, set beside the dj, etc. If you shoot weddings you will develop a rapport with the other 'trade pro's' and you will find you are busy at different times and can look out for each other.

 

[Worker 11811]

Look for a heavy duty Pelican case or similar.

+1 on the Pelican case!

http://www.pelican.com/

They make all different sizes and styles. Some of them are even hurricane proof!

 

[resummerfield]

Look for a heavy duty Pelican case or similar.

+1

 

[haring]

Thanks!

 

[haring]

I like the pelican but I would need something I can take with me to destination weddings...

 

[DanielStone]

destination weddings would be a breeze for a pelican case . It can really "survive" were other cases/bags would easily fail the weather test .

-Dan

 

[JBrunner]

Pelican case.

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
I don't own one, as yet, but get a Pelican Case !

I have a shabby wooden box, whenever I travel with it,
I keep it secured with braided cable, and Master locks.
Twenty Dollars Worth Of Low Tech Security ! Just In Case ...
.

 

[JayGannon]

Hehe Pelican case here too.

In particular the 1510 and 1650's.

 

[Worker 11811]

I like the pelican but I would need something I can take with me to destination weddings...

Many Pelican cases have gaskets around the rim and seal shut when you latch them. Most models are water resistant if not waterproof. For extra $$ you can buy "Hurricane Proof" models that are supposed to be 100% waterproof so long as you keep them sealed.

They also make "Mil. Spec." versions that the US Military uses to transport and store equipment.

All Pelican cases I have seen are lockable, secureable with anti-theft cable and are very difficult to break into even though they are made of plastic. (It is very heavy plastic!)

You can buy Pelican cases that are airline approved. If you are so inclined (I am usually not) you can slap an ID label on them and check them as baggage or ship them as cargo via Fed-Ex/UPS without any extra packaging.

If the military uses Pelican cases to haul their "valuable" equipment half way around the world, there's no reason why they can't stand up to virtually any use or abuse you would put them through, photographing a destination wedding in the Bahamas!