It all started when I decided to put one of my Nikon lenses on the Fuji -X-H2. All I needed was the Fringer, my go-to adaptor,  that I knew I had.

It was somewhere. I knew it. But where?

I went through all of my Pelican Cases, camera bags, drawers, and more.

Sure, I could ask St. Christopher, as I just wanted to find it.

Finally, I found it under some cables, in a Nikon centric Pelican case. Whew!

It set me on a path.

In my mind there are 3 main ways to store your gear for access. As photographers/videographers, we pick up lots of bits of kit along the way, knowing it will be a right tool at the right time. Now, where to put it all??

So, the big re-org began!

First stop : camera bags (I don’t think I’m alone here when I say I have a lot of camera bags. Or just enough!), and hard shell cases.

Airplane sized hard shell cases got the brand treatment.

Nikon for one, and Fuji for another. Main gear used most often went into those. Yes, those are TrekPak divides to keep the gear sorted within the case

Then lens cases: by using older camera bags, I was able to put the lenses used now and again into those.

Yes, a tag listing contents helps. one for each bag. I start with one main list of gear included in each bag and a date. Trust me, it’ll save you time/

Then the rarely used lenses got put into a larger hard-shell case and put away into the closet. A contents tag helps when I need to sort through those.

Action cameras, including batteries per unit, chargers, and mounts were put into another bag.

These bags also got smaller bags within with each model put into those. That way, when the need arose to use an action cam, one bag could be accessed, and then brand/model chosen.

One bag is dedicated to speedlights: 3 units, batteries, reflector, chargers, triggers.

My Godox AD300’s and AD200 are packed into a larger hardshell, with folding soft boxes, as they are mainly used for a studio lighting type of set-up, so a traveling situation. Hardshell protects the lights/

Light stands and larger soft boxes are kept in zippered long cases.

Tripods, and monopods get their own zippered case.

OK, that utilizes the extra bags you know you have.

BTW, one of my favorite video lights for  studio interviews is the Lowell Rifa using an LED insert, and all that comes in its own case, complete with stands.

There are 2 main Nanlites LED panels I use for video, that have their own custom case.

Then we get into plastic drawer bins: Each bin gets a label, and then you make sure you keep up to date keeping the current needs, and divesting of the things you never use again. C’mon we all have those!

These are perfect to extra straps, chargers, mounting tools, and in a larger bin grip gear (clamps, clothespins, etc.) Even intl converters and chargers get their own bin.

These are usually stackable and the drawer design makes the bits accessible.

The extra for this organizational tool is a label maker,

and tie tags. Labels for the drawer bins, and tags, seen above for the bags and cases.

A new addition to my organizational tools have been the camera cubes by Peak Design.

These cubes come with dividers that can be custom set for your gear.

For instance, I have dedicated one medium cube to microphones only. This keeps each set in its place; make sure you keep all your connecting cables and fuzzy cats in the cube.

Another small cube stashes all of the content creation tools: Osmo Pocket 3, phone mounts, stands, extra batteries, extra media cards, and a card reader.

My third cube, large, is kept available to load with assignment gear: 2 camera bodies, 2 lenses, batteries, Black rapid 2 cam harness.

And huge advantage with the Peak Design cubes is that they fit into their latest backpacks. More on that in the next post. There are 2 new ones, and customizable for your specific needs. PLUS each cube comes with loops and the excellent PD securing C-Clips to secure into your backpack, or if you are so inclined, to simply attach a strap to use as your main cam case.

Before I walk out the door, the proper cubes are chosen and secured into the backpacks. Access is easy. Using the camera cubes is a perfect way to sort out what you pack, depending on assignment, or travel.

Their new travel line-up has a dedicated 20L backpack, and another with a piggyback backpack. In the second one you can pack gear AND clothes, or just gear. When I say piggyback, I mean you can zip one backpack onto the larger one, or keep as one large deal.

Is there a big bag of cables? C’mon- Who doesn’t have one of these?

However, I have discovered a cable organizing case that keeps my most current cables, and spares.

I also have a big unused small duffle bag, filled with extension cords, strip hubs, etc, kept in a closet for the odd time I need to connect an old piece of tech.

As in never.

Before I do a post on what I put into camera bags for assignments and walkabouts, this should hopefully get you on a path to knowing where your stuff is.

Like the Fringer I finally located.

Small note: any of your gear that has batteries- either just take them out if they are alkaline, and store near the gear, and if they use rechargeable batts remember to charge every 3 months.

These power supplies are good, but they don’t keep a full charge for ever.

Part of your gear maintenance.