Traveling with Camera Gear SUCKS!... But here's how to do it

►GEAR

[mattih]

ugh worst part of filmmaking is travelling with today is my first trip in like 6 years where I'm not filming anything! well... except some family clips hah can never fully leave the cameras at home

[BigFlavorFilms]

Throwing my two cents and experience out there on the "media badges". We like to keep things lean so we generally only fly with 2 large Pelican iM2975 cases (packed to the extreme gills and VERY heavy), a 1535, and a couple of backpacks. Every time we've flown with gear we were asked to see our passes. I literally made my own. I designed it in Photoshop to match my brand, added logo, photo, name, "World Media Pass", even added a QR code that links to the website (never know). Took that to FedEx-Kinkos on a USB stick and had them printed (two-sided) and even added a holographic sticker over our photos to look "official", then laminated, edges cut clean and rounded, hole punched for a lanyard. Boom. We've never been questioned, ever. Best move ever if you are legitimately working in video or photography. We've saved quite a bit of time and money doing this!

[BartJohnsonProd]

Tip for the media badges: they usually require an expiration date. They never assume anyone would make their own badge with an extirpation date! I just put a big "2018" at the bottom and it works! Then I just reprint and laminate my own badges again the next year! Just finished making my 2019 credentials!

[drivingsports]

We belong to a number of press organizations, but none of them issue ID. With Delta they required a "press pass." So we made just made one of those with a laser printer and a laminator. Oh, just as I typed that.... at 3:42 you mention that.

[Sool]

Dude you are awesome!
Just allow me to add a tip here: never travel plugged in, USB, adio, xlr, dmx, everything, un-plug, and never ever update firmware right before travel. That.

[THEMATT]

Tooo much gear?Just by a personal jet!



Potato Jet
(Edit: So you can easily fly UP)

[GlenAndFriendsCooking]

Reminds me of those shoots I did on Mount Everest... Fly YYZ-HKG-KTM-LUA, and that last flight from Kathmandu to Lukla everything - eveything - was weighed and placed in a specific part of the airplane... Then I had to hire an army of porters to carry the gear (50 pounds for each porter) on their backs from Lukla to Base Camp. That took a week and half. Nothing got lost, but there were long periods of time when I had no clue where all the gear was. And yeah, socks, underwear, long johns stuffed in with all the camera gear.

[jimjimgl]

I mark each case or bag with bright gaffers and number each piece. Makes it easier when moving around to make sure you have those 10 pieces. And the bright tape also helps identify your gear. I was once on a plane that stopped midway to Patagonia and glanced out the window and saw one of my cases being taken OFF the plane. I saw it for sure because of the bright pink tape. Thanks for this video. Part of photography/video that lots of people just don't consider.

[chico]

i enjoy watching this stuff more than any vlog whatsoever, even if the topic doesn't interest me. you're the most UPlifting person on youtube buddy!

[MichaelOrtega]

Since I discovered YOUR channel, I fell very intrigued. Love your personality as all the cinematography advice and tips. Don’t ever change! I have seen over half of all your videos and I definitely learned a lot!

[JacobWolfman]

OMG MEDIA RATES ON AIRLINES! I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A THING! You've just saved me THOUSANDS! THANK YOU!

[ianchen]

I don’t even own a camera and I keep coming back to your vids just because how upbeat and cheerful you always are in your vids. Thanks, love your vids.

[ThorstenBergContentCreator]

Hey, Thorsten here, I'm an Airline Captain and YouTuber, I loved this video. I agree 1000% with the backup. As well I do a copy in5o my Dropbox, but it can take a lot of time. Loved the aperture trick and I'll try the media pass. Regarding the batteries, it is exactly because of fire fighting that the battery has to be in the carry on bag. Only water can cool down a battery thermal runaway, and in the cargo compartment the fire suppression system is based on oxygen deprivation using Halon gas. Tell me what you thing about my videos.

[MustafaAlNuaimi]

you can travel for free if you tie balloons to your house.

[tungle]

I too have 2 WD 4TB drives, but bad habit of copying from one drive to the other. Next time: card to drive! Thanks for the advice, I never thought of that.

[rodrigomacias]

4:43 "We try to constantly figure out how to consolidate the gear into the least amount of cases"

*Image of a gigantic pile of cases full of gear appears*

[pro.tharan]

Great advice all round, wish this had come out before my recent trip! The tip on the batteries is a life saver, investing in some LiPo bags for drone batteries and covers for terminals will make TSA people smile! (Which is hard to do on a good day)

[jonjoy-gaba]

if you haven't heard of it before, you should google "hedge backup software for filmmakers." it can copy directly from you source media to 2 separate hard drives at once AND it verifies that all the data transfers. anyway to reduce anxiety on a shoot is always good :)

[flickcine]

I just did a video on data wranging and should have mentioned the 'Don't copy a copy. Copy from the source' thing. Totally slipped my mind. So very, very important! ALL the info in this video is great! And it's all stuff no one really tells you, especially the Lithium Ion batteries. That was the top issue we had when I was working in rentals and sending clients interstate or overseas. Also, sometimes airlines will turn you away even if you follow the regulations for batteries but you just need to be pro and confident. Sometimes having a print out of the policy will help. ALSO, taping over the recognition elements to the battery is important

[Blockdigit]

I think the Media rate only applies in the US. Because I checked my 2 go to airlines Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific and I didn't see anything regarding to media/ camera items. Still I found this video very useful.