Ditty Bags! A quintessential part of every photographer’s stock, a ditty bag holds our essential necessities for a shoot. I don’t know what you guys call it but I got used to the term years ago and always lovingly refer to mine as a ditty bag, even though I get the strange looks from my ’20 something assistants. When researching the reason for the name I found this great little article about ditty bag: The Ditty Bag is “a small bag in which a sailor keeps small tools and equipment, also personal articles” according to John Rogers in Origins of Sea Terms: A modern Glossary of seagoing terminology. They did and still do have one main purpose: to hold a sailor’s personal possessions and some tools of the trade. They have even been referred to as a “housewife” because they held all the essentials for repairing clothing, personal belongings as well as everything that was needed on deck!
Ditty Bag-O-Rama~~
Nowadays they are used frequently in the film industry. Gaffers and grips have them around their waists. I technically don’t own an actual “ditty bag” but I still refer to any bag that isn’t my housing my cameras and lenses as my ditty bag. B and H makes a really nice one here. And you’re welcome to invest in a nice one like this. I just buy cheap canvas type duffel bags. They get thrown around a lot and I’m okay with not having them on my person when I’m shooting. If you’re an assistant though, it’s a nice thing to have so you can keep all those essentials at arm’s reach! But let’s take a look at what I keep in mine because I’m sure you are all DYING to know!!
My Ditty Bag Includes:
1. A couple different types of tape (gaffer, duct, masking)
2. Dust off. Great for keeping lenses, uh, dust free! Good for when you’re shooting on the beach on a windy day and you want to do everything you can to keep the sand out of the camera.
3. My handy gloves. Let’s face it: I’m a skinny girl. I get cold very easily. These gloves are great because they keep my hands warm but leave the two most important fingers I need to shoot with exposed! YAY for Etre gloves! I can’t rave about them more!
4. A bottle of Rosco’s Fog juice. One time someone who’s opinion I didn’t really respect told me that they weren’t a “fan of fog machines”. I vowed to use them as often as I could possibly get away with! In fact, I use them so often that I just buy the juice instead of renting it along with the machine. I should just buy the damn machine!!
5. 2 25’ extension cords. SO important, I can’t even tell you!
6. About 50 AA and AAA batteries. Again. You just don’t want to be stranded without them especially when you need….just one……
7. Flash light. Yep. Good to be able to see in dark places.
8. Gels that go over lights. Imagine that! I’m so damn old school I still use color gels!!! Haha….bet you’re going to click on that link…..
9. A manila folder full of blank model releases! Learn to use them cuz I’m terrible at it!
10. A couple of A clamps. Good for holding shit together. Better than a paper clip and a piece of gum, MacGyver!
11. SP Studio Systems 5 in 1 Reflector kit. Why the hell not!
12. An 18% grey card to measure my white balance. Again, learn to use one cuz I just rely on my assistants to figure that out. ; )
13. Camera manuals, pocket wizard manuals, profoto lighting gear manuals. I keep them in a big plastic bag. Its nice to know you can trouble shoot something when you’re out in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception to call the guys at Samy’s and ask the Dumb Question of the Week!
14. Paper cups. Just good to have on hand.
15. Breakfast bars. I try not to encourage my models to eat but if they’re fainting…….( I’m Just KIDDING. Jeez, you guys are so serious!)
16. Bobby pins, hair ties, rubber bands, body stockings, nude bras, hair brush, comb, etc. Yep, the stylists should have all these things but it’s always good to have back up!
17. Latex gloves. Just good to have around.
18. Pot holders. Ditto. Hot lights, Hot heads. Just good to be able to throw one on in case of an emergency.
Related Posts
10 Movies Photographers Should Watch
A list of Inspiring Movies for Photographers. I get my lighting inspiration from movies. I →
Top Model Interview with Sarah Deanna
Video Interview with Top fashion model Sarah Deanna to discuss her career, her new book →
All The Young Dudes w/BTS Video!
Melissa Rodwell photographs a Rock-N-Roll style boys story for Jimon Magazine issue #4 →
The Final Image + Video
The importance of seeing the final image in your mind before you capture it. Someone asked →
Workshop in Berlin!
The format is going to be relatively the same with a few small changes. Saturday will stay →
Breaking a Model Down to Get the Shot
One dispute that seems to come up for me, over the years that I’ve been a fashion →
Antonio Marcus
February 24, 2010haha… fog juice! I have “Diffusion in a Can” when I need to blow some smoke around!
Paul O.
February 24, 2010I have everything on that list except for:
Fog Juice, Paper Cups, Bobby Pins, and Breakfast Bars!!! HAHA!
Laura
February 24, 2010So funny, I love this list… Your site is such a useful resource for me! Thank you!
Alex Weltlinger
February 24, 2010What about a trusty leatherman?! I don’t leave home without it…
Mark Dumet
February 24, 2010Can’t forget the KY JELLY
admin
February 24, 2010Settle down there, Mark! ; )
Karim Parris
February 24, 2010I’ve been searching for # 3 for a long time. I too have most of the things on the list but I am next to useless if shooting in cold weather for more than 30 minutes so I will surely be getting those gloves.
Dunhill
February 24, 2010Fuck the ditty bag, I can find all that shit in my moms purse!
Mark Dumet
February 24, 2010Yeah, those gloves are killer!
David Leslie Anthony
February 24, 2010Gels??? That’s NOT “old school”. That’s being a real photographer who creates the photo on set, rather than “make it up” in photo shop.
admin
February 24, 2010That’s right, David! And I still swear by my trusty, crumbled, wrinkled but beautiful gels! xo
Billy
February 24, 2010A sewing kit, fingernail polish remover, lint roller, fishing line, mirror are always useful. I have one question on the list, nude bras. What size(s) are suggested to keep?
Kitty Maer
February 24, 2010+ lotion & baby oil gel, nude thong, safety pins, emery boards.
Kitty Maer
February 24, 2010Almost forgot! Clear plastic bags to tuck under butts in case they have to sit on something damp or wet.
KKL
February 24, 20102 things about “Dust off” that i wouldn’t suggest to use.
1) Travelling, can’t bring them on flight.
and 2) which is more important… most compressed gas dust cleaner contain a substance called “Difluoroethane” (no.. it is not compress air… it’s hardly any “air” contents in it) it is also used as lens coating (or using it to coating lens). so it is actually not good for the coating for many optics. (if i remember correctly i think i actually seen text saying not to use in optics or camera equipment in fine print. i don’t have one here, cuz it is very hard to get these in china..so i can’t confirm).
So.. i usually just keep one of those blower balls with me… they are lighter and smaller anyway…
Roger Mann
February 25, 2010So where’s the baby oil? Nice to see someone else who takes stuff ‘just in case’. My back problems are testament to this compulsion.
Nice post Melissa, best of luck to you in Dubai.
Gerry
February 25, 2010great post as usual, interesting to see what you carry around in the bag
for the blower discussion, the compressed air is not recommended for sensitive equipment but i find these rocket blowers to be effective and safe – http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=rocket+blower&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
In addition to being environmentally friendly, and safe for electronics, as long as their is air around, they never run out
Ernie
February 25, 2010I keep trusty binder clips (different sizes) too. Binder clips are the best in making things tight.
Adam goodwin
February 25, 2010Another great post Melissa!
The only thing I would add would be ‘Headache Tablets”
Hopefully other can learn from my misfortune of a past shoot. I had the worst migraine in history. Even had to rush off to the loo and be sick. Very embarrassing too. Its easy to get a throbbing headache when you jump up and down for 9 hours in the studio. Take a whole pack in case one of the team feels sick
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Adam G.
Goldie Green
February 25, 2010I agree w/ the pain meds! Last week I shot boudoir for 6 hrs straight and my head was killing me! Wishing I had taken a few breakfast bars! Great post now I have a few extras to add to my bag. Thanks Melissa
Kenny
February 25, 2010So. Which Ditty Bag do you use?
Kenny
February 25, 2010oops. scratch that. i missed that part. (always read the ENTIRE document!)
Florian
February 26, 2010Replace the breakfast bars with coffee and it’s perfect
Christopher Gregory
February 26, 2010Flexible drinking straws!
Saves the lipstick.
Don Becker
February 27, 2010Instead of $30 Etre gloves, why not just cut the appropriate finger tips off of regular gloves? leather gloves especially should not shed nor unravel.
karl bratby
February 28, 2010thanks for sharing, gotta get me some of those awesome looking gloves…
Chris Bacarella
March 1, 2010Melissa,
You hold your camera the same way I do when taking verticals!!
Tell me people give you crap for it too? haha… But hey, your producing wonderful images so even if other photogs do give you crap, screw em!
Anywho, i thought this was a great post as it made me add a couple things to my ‘Ditty-Bag’ list that i really havn’t thought about until now. So thanks for that, i appreciate it!
.Chris Bacarella.
BebopDesigner
March 1, 2010Brilliant post! I don’t have the gloves nor the granola bar. But I do want to get me more and more wireless hot shoes and flash guns… I’m having so much fun.
Cheers
fajne czapki
March 2, 2010Gloves are superb!
Steve Xavier
March 2, 2010Those gloves are awesome!
Andy
March 4, 2010Thanks for the post Melissa!
I have a question that I think many photographers are asking themselves (or at least should be asking themselevs) – how to become the assistant of a photographer that they admire. Because, after all, textbooks can only get you so far. And what is more valuable, more educative than the first-hand experience of working and assisting an experienced photographer? Many great photographers have assisted other great photographers which in turn assisted other old masters.
But how can one find these positions? Should one call the agency (which will most likely ignore your call)? Should one personally stalk the photographer (and threaten them into it)? How do they usually find their assistants? And have you personally assisted any other photographer and did this have an impact on you?
Todd
March 5, 2010I always carry Imodium AD or its generic equivalent, too! I can deal with a headache, but I cannot deal with “digestive problems” in a remote location!
Paula
March 6, 2010where is the chainsaw ?
Grüße Paula
vaL
March 7, 2010I like this post, very touching because it is the same as I do. thanks for the post
Daniel Meadows
March 8, 2010I’ve got to admit, as my eye scanned across the image I thought ‘Ditty Bag’ was photographer speak for ‘abduction kit’
Deta Deswi
March 9, 2010I like your list,,, Hahahahaha
Steve Jones
March 13, 2010Yep … loads of extension cables and gaffa + masking tape … can never have enough!
I’ve started taking straws to shoots, so the models can drink after their make-up is done!
karl grant
March 15, 2010Pens ! the low point was when we were a team of 8 & no-one had a pen and the model had to sign the release with an eye-liner pencil
Michelle Black
March 15, 2010Aw I love this post Melissa you’re too cute
And… YAY for Nikon
Jen
March 17, 2010Ditty bag, awesome. I have an old “hussif” that belonged to my grandfather. I sew and was planning to make myself a sewing hussif at one point. I had no idea why it was called a hussif until I researched and found out it was a shortened term for “housewife”. It’s definitely too small for all of that stuff though.
I’m thinking I need to sew myself up a nice ditty bag for camera stuff. I don’t have much but it would come in handy. Hair elastics are a must, I think I have 2 or 3 in my camera bag. I started carrying them after a particularly annoying day of battling my long hair in the wind while trying to take pictures!
Jamie Knop
March 19, 2010To an on looker they would surely think why the hell is 99% of that stuff necessary. A couple of random things I take not included here that are handy are Swiss army knife, Mars bar and instant flask of Bovril for when its cold
Jamie Knop
http://www.jamieknop.com
Wil Fernandez
March 22, 2010Good list – one thing to add that is on my list…PAM! (non stick cooking spray) Works wonders when you need an area of skin to really pop.
Kris
March 24, 2010They have bags, like the one you linked to B&H at wal-mart, in the craft section… They are open at the top just like that, with several different pockets, they come in all colors too, for about $15, just in case anyone is interested…
Vlad
April 3, 2010Word of advice on item #2. I learned recently from a technician at Leica that the aerosol cans of compressed air are not recommended for use on lenses. The propellant can be of abrasive nature to the lens coating and what you don’t want is your Nikon or Hassy glass to get damaged by this chemical. A Rocketblower is a much safer choice for this application.
Cheers.
Jack
April 5, 2010Ditty bag (I use it for quite a wile now, but I didn’t know how it’s called
) is often as important as camera bag. Mine is quite simmilar, I just don’t store fog juice in it (cause I have a bunch stored with smoke machine), and… Well, I have much much more bars inside 
Anthony Shelton
April 11, 2010This is my first visit on your site and I have to say I LOVE this article! Your humor made it really worth the read (and the excellent content, of course!).
Thanks for posting this! Now I need to get to work on my “Ditty Bag”…
-Anthony
GL
April 14, 2010“Ditty bag” certainly sounds better than “fanny pack”. Properly purged and regularly refreshed, this is a great concept for any profession, vocation or vacation — a personal “glove compartment” of sorts. Reminds oldies (like me) of Batman’s “utility belt”, which contained just about everything!
Tony
April 16, 2010I have to admit, your blog have got to be one of the most interesting blog I have ever run into. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and thoughts with us. It is truly valuable. In fact, after this, I’ll have to go prepare my own “Ditty” bag inspired by you! XD
Keep it up!! Loving your blog and your work very much!! ^^
Tony
Thomas H. Robinson
April 28, 2010I’m going to have to put together my own ‘ditty bag’ though… I think I’ll call it a ‘ditty sack’ since I don’t think I could fit all that in a bag.
Medium Man
June 28, 2010Great post — just found your blog. Unlike many blogs, your’s is heavy on content — well done!
Another suggestion on the gloves: you can get the “softie” type gloves for darkroom use (lint free) in new colors now. Also known as “inspection” gloves and “archival” gloves. These are great because they leave no lint/residue whatsoever, and can be used to clean optics as needed. Plus, you can buy a 10 pack cheaply…like $10.
Keep up the great work.
JS
February 2, 2011Nice to know I have some of the same things. Sooo I do know what Im doing…Kinda…
Cam
May 17, 2011melissa, just recently discovered your blog while researching videos of photo shoots to show my class of high school photographers and it is so fun to read!! dubai, what’s in your bag, shooting in hollywood hills, so unpretentious and informative. Glad I found it, thank you for putting in the time in such a busy schedule to write.