I can bond with anyone over one thing: bags. By my boyfriend’s standards, I have too many. By my own, I never have enough. Large, small. Sporty, classic. I have a bag for pretty much any and every need. But, when I officially started my own photography business a few months ago, I couldn’t find a single one in my collection that allowed me to cleanly carry every tiny piece I needed for photo shoots.
Imagine Derek’s surprise when a diaper bag arrived on our door step.
I found Lily Jade designer diaper bags months ago while attending the Go Blog Social conference at Berg Event Space in Kansas City. The owner and creator, Meggan Wood, clued me in to everything that made them so special. Based in Austin, Texas, she designs each handbag with maximum beauty and flexibility for fashionistas, moms and fashionita-moms alike. Regardless of the shape you choose, each bag includes a removable insert that quickly converts the stylish handbag into an equally stylish diaper bag for carrying all that life throws at you.
That removable insert is key. With ample pockets for storing lenses, lens caps, cleaners, mounts, chargers and more — it was quickly obvious that the Lily Jade collection offers an amazing solution for photographers in need of an excellent camera bag that can complement any outfit. I chose the Elizabeth in brandy and gold for its durable leather and large size, then customized it with an inexpensive padded sleeve for extra camera protection at the center. The magic of the Lily Jade removable insert took care of the rest.
After nearly 3 months of use including weddings, road trips, styled indoor shoots, lakeside shoots and more — my Lily Jade camera bag looks as good as new. With a versatile 3-way strap, I can easily carry my gear in hand, over the shoulder, cross body or on my back — all while beautifully accessorizing my look unlike traditional bland camera bags. Magnetic closures and snaps throughout allow for fast access to everything I need along with the peace of mind of knowing everything is securely fastened inside. In addition to the awesome silky red interior and pocketed insert, the bag includes a matching quilted changing pad which has easily converted to a padded camera mat. No more sitting my gear on the ground — unprotected — while adjusting on the fly!
On my recent road trip from Kansas City to Portland, Oregon, I had to have as much of my gear as possible while also packing some atypical extras. What I thought would be an overwhelming challenge was exceptionally simple with my Lily Jade. I felt like Mary Poppins while unpacking the unbelievable contents of my single camera bag:
- Canon 6D + charger
- Small(ish) 50mm lens and much larger 24-72mm lens + countless lens caps
- 3 SD cards + 1 card reader
- Lily Jade pocketed insert and camera mat
- Padded camera insert
- 15″ Macbook Pro + Macbook charger
- iPad 3 with case + iPad charger
- iPhone + 2 iPhone chargers
- External hard drive + cables
- Various other cables for in the car and on the road
- Stack of business cards
What’s scary — there was even room to spare. The organization of the bag made it simple for me to blindly find cables and accessories as they were needed. And, when a great photo opportunity popped up, I could quickly grab my camera, get the shot and return it to the bag knowing it was supported and protect with or without a lens attached. All of my gear made it through the week-long trip in perfect condition and returned home just as organized as it was when we’d left.
I still remember the details Meggan shared with me on the day I met her and her bags. “It’s so much more than a diaper bag,” she said emphasizing that even women without a need for diapers can love these bags. Wow, was she right. The versatility and practicality of the Lily Jade line combined with the simply beautiful style of the bags make them a must-have for style conscious photographers, moms and more. Explore the collection for yourself and find your own unique use for these gorgeous and diverse handbags at lily-jade.com.
This post originally appeared on Prettyography.
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