Why I Carry a Camera Around Everywhere
Have you ever been in a situation where you think, “man, I wish I had a camera”? I think we all have run into that scenario. There’s one solution. No, it’s not pull out your iPhone and take a picture. We’re ture photographers here. Just carry a camera around with you all the time. That’s what I decided to do about a year and a half ago. I’d slip a camera over my shoulder on the way out the door, just in case. Over time, it became part of my routine, as normal as grabbing my keys or wallet. No matter where I was going or what I had planned, I started to notice how often those everyday moments would turn into unexpected opportunities to take a photograph.
I know it seems a bit inconvenient to carry another thing around. I started carrying a camera everywhere out of a mix of curiosity, discipline, and just a need for more contient. I had just made a commitment to post a picture a week on instagram for a whole year. At first, it felt excessive. Who really needs to lug a camera just to go to the grocery store? But before long, I realized something: the more I had a camera with me, the more I actually used it. And the more I used it, the better I got.
See, early on in my photography journey, most of my shooting happened during “photo outings.” I’d block off time, pack gear, scout locations, and plan shots. And while that has its place—and it’s still something I enjoy—it’s not always realistic. Life is busy. Days fill up. And when photography is confined to special occasions, it becomes a rare thing, not a regular habit.
But when you’ve got a camera slung over your shoulder as you walk into a coffee shop or when you’re out running errands, you don't only look super cool, you start to see with a photography eye. You notice the way the light hits the side of a building, or how a stranger pauses in just the right spot on the sidewalk. You start composing images in your head before you’ve even raised the viewfinder. And before you know it, you’re making photographs in the margins of everyday life.
That change—learning to see photographically at all times—was the single biggest improvement in my work. Not a new lens. Not a better sensor. Just more reps. More time behind the camera. More chances to make mistakes and figure things out.
Carrying a camera everywhere broke the cycle of waiting for inspiration. It made me more present, more curious, and honestly, more confident in my ability to find something beautiful in the seemingly mundane. Because there’s always something worth photographing—you just need to be ready for it.
So yeah, these days, I carry a camera everywhere. It might be a compact point-and-shoot film camera, or it might be my main setup. But it’s always there, quietly waiting in case something catches my eye. Not every photo is a masterpiece, and that’s fine. It’s not about getting "the shot" every time. It’s about staying open to the world and staying sharp as a photographer.
And if you ask me, that’s worth the extra weight.
Thanks for tuning in for this blog entry. If you like my work, check out my portfolio and my print shop.
Until next time–Happy Shooting!
