Travel

So, we travel, A LOT. Flying with tens of thousands of dollars in gear is stressful. I've personally found that Southwest is the easiest way to fly, with gear.

Two free bags, no size or weight limits for media, preboards provided to stow the camera and lenses before general boarding… on my last trip, I flew with what was easily 350 pounds of equipment. Round trip cost for luggage? $300. That's a bargain! The same equipment would cost $1,320 on Delta.

I have found that, generally, most airlines will (at minimum) allow media to preboard and stow the camera. 

A couple of trips for traveling with equipment: 

• The first 2 overhead storage bins are usually smaller than the rest. A regular sized camera bag won't fit.

• Ask for a preboard at the gate. 

• Bring some media credentials. You will need them to get the media rate for luggage, and for preboard.

• Use curbside check-in. Spend a few bucks on a tip and let curbside do the heavy lifting. They'll take your gear to TSA. They'll print your boarding passes.

• If you fly regularly enough, keep your Pelicans set up with your regular fly gear, and an inventory in each case.

• Bring a snack! Throw some nuts in your camera bag. It's great when you get a break to eat, but every trip is different. You could be delayed and need to hustle right to your shoot after you land. 

• Bring a battery backup for your cell.