Here in the US, most photographers (those that I know) only shoot alone or at most with a second photographer, who also shoots, so no one is left looking after their gear. Fortunately, in weddings here, not a lot of uzis (maybe including someone whose only goal is to steal) go to the church and people during the reception are only those who are invited.

I hope I didn't jinx myself asking these questions because I'll be working as 2nd photog for 3 weddings in September and all of these weddings will be held in places here in NJ and NY that are kinda vulnerable to theft.

Hi Marco, well almost... almost... But we got lucky... My assistant was guarding the rest of my gear inside the church... I noticed 3 men behind him kept on changing positions, apparently getting nearer and nearer... I prompted my assistant to move forward... The guys candidly stood up and walked out of the church like there's nothing... :) Better be safe than sorry. Dito kasi uso ang tutukan...

I've had gear stolen from me before when I was still a student.

I remember one trip I took to Mt. Banahaw. The guide told us of a certain pool inside a cave. He told us that it was part of a cleansing ritual to take a dip in the pool without any jewelry on. But he cautioned us to be careful with our jewelry once we had taken it off inside the cave.

Someone asked the guide a query. "Bakit kailangan namin mag-ingat? Hindi ba banal na lugar ito?"

The guide was pretty pragmatic with his reply. "Banal na lugar nga ito. Pero hindi lahat ng nagpupunta dito ay banal." :D

That's why my driver/assistant is in charge of minding my gear whenever I am shooting a wedding.

I've had gear stolen from me before when I was still a student.



Me too. My first SLR was stolen when I was in grade school. This is around the early 80's. Someone pawned a Canon SLR to my dad and never came back to get it. So I took interest and joined the Lens & Photo club in DLSZ. The camera, 2 lenses, flash and battery grip along with the case was gone when I got back after lunch break(no lockers where installed then). :Angry:

Marco this is a good thread to start.

That's why we are trying to finalize with Malayan Insurance the insurance for photographers and their gear. This product will be available, ( I hope I'm correct)this time third week of September. Photographers will be protected for events such as theft.

I'll be making a separate final post on this topic next week.

Does having an Ibook stolen at a wedding fair count? :D Learned my lesson, that's why during weddings, I have my assistant make sure that the camera bag is always with him during the church ceremony and also have the bag padlocked and cable locked during the reception.

I know another photog who got his monopod stolen at the church, what pissed him off was the tripod collar of his lens was still attached and that it costs more than the monopod.

Here in the US, most photographers (those that I know) only shoot alone or at most with a second photographer, who also shoots, so no one is left looking after their gear. Fortunately, in weddings here, not a lot of uzis (maybe including someone whose only goal is to steal) go to the church and people during the reception are only those who are invited.

I hope I didn't jinx myself asking these questions because I'll be working as 2nd photog for 3 weddings in September and all of these weddings will be held in places here in NJ and NY that are kinda vulnerable to theft.


Marco,

No. And hopefully never.

You can't fit all those stuff in the pews and it looks silly with all those guests not being able to sit because you have all those bags in the seat. Putting it under the pews is not a good idea either as it is hard to get stuff if you yourself need it. The space under the pews sometimes also are not big enough to slide the bags into. And more importantly, it really doesn't prevent anyone coming from behind and operating on the bag using razors while you are sitting on top of it!

The trick for us is not to have it necessarily with us, but for us to be able to see it. In fact, for EVERBODY TO SEE it. So, whenever possible at the side of the church on front, that's where we put our stuff. The advantage of this is I can see it, the thief sees it, but everybody sees it too. So, if you are a thief, and you approach it, everybody can see you.

Just make sure that the bags and stuff are well arranged in front so it doesn't look like an eye sore or a pile of thrash bags.

At the reception, we use the same principle. Don't hide it. Make it easy for you to see/check it. So, it's usually not somewhere in the back, but again, it's in front. My best 2 spots is underneath couple's table or at the cake table. These tables usually have a skirt or cloth mantle that extends down to hide the table lengs so that's where I keep my bags. This is very useful to me especially when I am operating solo. In this case though, the bags are hidden, but still in front of me. Since the couple are the stars of the show, if I keep it where they sit, I always have an eye on my stuff even if they are hidden underneath their table. It's also easier for my partner or assistant to check things and not get disracted because the stuff is where most of the action takes place, so there are 2-3 eyes looking at the same direction, even if the photographer is working.

If there's many of us and we occupy basically a table, then our stuff is with us on the table.

The only thing I am worried at the reception is securing or mp3 recorders if we also do the video. Different venues have different arrangements. It could easily be nicked as it is hanging on our lightstands or taped to the speakers, if the speakers are hanging low and we can't look at it all the time, At the church, I am not worried because that lightstand with an mp3 recorder is like a sore thumb and if you are going to get it, you are easily seen. Besides, we try to put these mp3 recorders also near the front speakers, so it's easy to spot.

So, so far, so good. Nothing lost yet and hopefully nothing will. I'm more worried by equipment failure than being nicked.

Marco this is a good thread to start.

That's why we are trying to finalize with Malayan Insurance the insurance for photographers and their gear. This product will be available, ( I hope I'm correct)this time third week of September. Photographers will be protected for events such as theft.

I'll be making a separate final post on this topic next week.

This certainly is a good one... I just hope they compensate quick, just in case the worse thing, coverable, really happens. :)

Hey Mel, those are great tips.