{Screenshot from my Pinterest page}

One of the things I liked least when I was starting out in photography were the camera bags.  The gear was so exciting, the subjects amazing, but who wants to show up at an engagement shoot in downtown DC with a boring black bag?!

Then there are the times you want to downplay.  When I was starting out (actually, even today!), I was toting my expensive Nikon D300 (at the time) around to playgroups, I didn’t want to look too much like a “photographer” — I was a momtog, but I wanted to be a mom first, photographer second there.  Ditto taking my camera to parties, school events, and more.  I used to throw it into my oversized purse or a diaper bag and hope for the best, and while I was lucky, I was also seriously stressed out!

Then one day I noticed on Facebook that another Washington, DC area photographer (I forget who now, I’m sorry!) was “hoping for a Kelly Moore handbag for Christmas”. And I clicked the link and it was love at first site (I believe I was looking at the very popular Kelly Moore Hobo Bag).  But I was concerned because the bags seemed a little small (by that point I had upgraded to a D700 and more expensive/heavy/long lenses, and I wanted to be sure I could keep the lens on the camera while in the bag).  Next, I saw a Facebook post about an Epiphanie handbag (warning — annoying flash website), and as they say on the site, I had an Epiphanie.  I also had a UPS delivery a few weeks later with my Epiphanie Ginger bag, which I really love for style, and like fine for carrying my equipment.  (Details about my Epiphanie Ginger bag: I feel the bag lacks adequate padding and I don’t like the texture of the interior lining.  But organization and style I LOVE).

Anyway, the other night, I was “window shopping” online for camera bags, searching through forums on ClickinMoms.com to see what other photographers were suggesting/using/wanting, and I came up with the whole list of chic camera bags.  Hope my sacrifice of a few hours’ sleep/obsession with awesome camera bags list saves someone a little time!

You can also see this list on my Pinterest page (complete with pictures — I’ve included a screenshot of the page below).

Here are the links, in case Pinterest isn’t your thing:

• Epiphanie Camera Bags
• Kelly Moore Bag
• Jo Totes
• The Joy Bag
• Ketti Handbags
• Jill-e Bags
• Capturing Couture
• Black Rapid
• Crumpler

If you know of a great camera bag I’ve left off this list, leave me a note here or on Facebook, and I’ll add it to the list, with credit. 

Happy shopping,

- Danie

Suggestions/reviews from readers:

• Land’s End Canvas Route 66 Khaki Bag From C.L. Davis, a photographer in Claremont, California (check out her blog!).  She adds: “Added plus – buy it in khaki and carry it when photographing events and people will ask if you are with “the press.” Kinda funny.”

In particular, I’d like to thank (and review/endorse, I suppose), in no special order:

Matthew Maury, of Stuart and Maury realty, who I am quite certain didn’t believe for a second I would have the house ready by early April like I said I would, but gave me the benefit of the doubt (as well as the names of a number of the people below).  Incredibly easy to reach (once answered my text message at almost midnight), and a fountain of information about the Wood Acres real estate market in particular.  http://www.matthewmaury.com

Dan Millen Handyman Services, especially Steve, the project supervisor, and A.J., who was actually out here doing all the work, everything from touching up paint, switching out light switches, etc to a major overhaul of the upstairs hall bath earlier in the year.  http://www.danmillenhandyman.com/

Arthur Haris, High Rise Building, for coming out at the last minute (on a Saturday morning!) to clean the windows — excellent job both cleaning and also leaving the worksite clean when he left.  cell (301) 943-3620

Healthy Home Cleaning Systems, Dale.  Carpet cleaning in the Bethesda, MD / Washington, DC metropolitan area.  This guy can get out anything that can be gotten out of a carpet, and is easy to work with, even around young kids.  He’s been cleaning our carpets for a few years now.  (301) 980-9668

Rod Wilson, H&W Contracting/Painting.  Rod has had his crews out to our house and my in-laws’ house on several occasions, including painting almost every room of our home about a year after we moved in.  He came back to do some touch-up where we had messed up paint, and actually charged us less than his original estimate when he realized the job wouldn’t take as long as he thought.  Oh yeah, and they do great work, too!  Will be painting our entire new house as well.  cell (703) 868-6763

George Baldwin, Baldwin Landscaping.  Fabulously easy to work with, helped us get our yard cleaned up after the long winter…. http://www.baldwinlandscaping.com

Lissy Bower, Persimmon Tree Designs.  For helping us, among other things, finally come up with an arrangement of our furniture in the fireplace room that we love so much it might be my current favorite room in my wonderful house!  persimmontreedes@aol.com

Butch Rall, Pride n Painting. Powerwashed and repainted the exterior of our house.  Great crew!  301-565-5334.

Last, but certainly not least, my family and friends, for dealing with all the ups and downs of the process, and (more or less) patiently listening and helping out where possible.  My little children were the two best kids ever!

When I was working at Borders a few years ago, I read dozens of books on this subject, but I think the only advice that really seems to fit almost anyone’s situation is: have a plan, whatever it is, and BE CONSISTENT.  If you have a rule that half of all money earned goes into short-term savings (STS) — aka, saving for something that can be purchased in a matter of weeks or a month or so — then you have to enforce that rule; that money does NOT go for bubble gum or movie theater tickets. If you tithe (10%) to the church, there’s no borrowing from that section to help pay for the bike your STS are going to.

Now, my kids are both 3 and under, so I cannot exactly preach about my own successes (nor, however, do I need yet report any failures!), but I stumbled across this product this morning that strikes me as a great way to help kids visualize what they are doing with their money.

Money Savvy Generation

The answer to helping kids "visualize" how to save money?

There is also a pig and a football.

Enjoy the website — it’s a real wealth of information, ideas, for kids of all ages (their product lines start at ages 4 and up….which still leaves me wondering what to do with my 3 year old… ).

- Danie Smallwood, Photography By Danie

Easter was especially fun this year, with a little girl to dress up (never thought I would enjoy doing that as much as I do!  Thank you Naartjie for making such adorable little girl clothes!”) and a little boy who, while not the most skilled at finding Easter eggs, was at the very least passionate about it!  Most importantly, we found all twenty eggs that the Easter Bunny (and Santa Clause, according to little Goofy) hid this year – whew!

Happy Spring, everyone!

Unfortunately, my daughter has developed a diaper rash that flares up again every time I have to use wipes.  At home, I try these super-soft bamboo washclothes with just plain water, but that is just a bit inconvenient when we’re out and about.  I’ve tried just about every wipe on the market, and was ready to give up when I happened upon a little store in Encino, California — A Mother’s Haven — where they recommended the Gaia Bamboo Baby Wipes.  Though dubious ($8.50 for 80 wipes?!), I was also getting desperate, and after using them for almost a week, I no longer regret a single penny.  Smaller and thinner than most wipes, they’re still very soft, have a pleasant scent (which I usually avoid, but still) and most importantly, they don’t irritate that sensitive little bum at all.

I am a very happy Mom!  Thank you so much to A Mother’s Haven for recommending the Gaia wipes!

[A Mother's Haven will ship; otherwise, the wipes are an Australian product, so their Australian store recommended their Canadian distributor, ChotoBaby.com.  Somebody tell me if you know where to find them locally!]