Dear friends,

Last month in London I managed to knock out my phone, my maps, and my ability to pay for anything… all before hosting our photo walk and traveling back home internationally right after. A small disaster, fully preventable, and very on brand for me when I’m rushing.

It reminded me how much I rely on a few simple things to keep my days running. So this week I’m walking you through my EDC, or every day carry, the little kit that lives in my bag and has saved me more times than I’d like to admit.

Before we get into it, I want to ask you for a quick favor: if Process has been useful to you, would you mind sharing it with a friend or two? There’s a button below that makes it easy. It’s the best way to help keep this thing going, and I’d really appreciate it. Thank you. <3

Share Process ☼ On Photography, by Wesley Verhoeve

How I Was Reminded

Last month, when I was visiting London to host the Proces Photo Walk I found myself in a bit of a pickle. My phone stopped charging, subsequently died the morning of the walk, which prevented me from being able to access Google Maps, and since I use my phone for 99% of my payments on the go it also prevented me from using public transportation to get anywhere. Oh and I forgot to bring local currency. All quite silly and totally on me and preventable.

It showed me what I already knew but had failed to plan for when I was in a rush: no matter how digital we get, physical backups matter. I am usually quite prepared, and with each experience I learn something and tweak when I bring along when I leave the house. Whether I’m shooting a corporate gig, hosting a photo walk, or just out with my camera for the day, I have what they call an EDC, or “every day carry” with me in my bag.

This isn’t a “best EDC for photographers” list. It’s my personal kit, built over 10+ years of learning what I need when things go wrong.

(A note: Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you. It helps support Process and keeps this newsletter free. With the holidays coming up, a lot of these make great smaller gifts for the photographers and creatives in your life.)

How I Carry Things

Most things I carry with me live in a Viperade VE180S pouch, which itself lives in whatever bag I am carry with me, whether it’s a tote bag or my camera bag. It’s even compact enough for a jacket pocket in fall or winter, and holds more than you’d think. I can grab this and know I have what I need.

For bigger commercial shoots or photo walks with multiple bodies and lenses, that’s the Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+. For street photography or lighter days, it’s the Moment Rugged Camera Sling 6L.

Power & Data

Anker 737 PowerBank – This one is for shoot days on location only, and a non-negotiable. It can charge my phone and my laptop I’ve worked full days in places without reliable power because of this thing.

Iniu Fast Charge power bank – Smaller backup for all other days. It can charge my laptop and phone.

Rolling Square inCharge X - This is a small cable that is in my pouch always, and can charge via USB-A, USB-C, Lightning and Micro-USB, which means I can use it in various situations for various devices. It’s small and short, which can be a limitation but it makes it very easy to carry always.

Samsung T7 external drive – For backing up cards on location or moving files between computers. With me at all shoots on location and all tethered shoots. It’s tiny, it’s sturdy, and it fits 2 terra bytes of files.

Tools & Fixes

NexTool S11 Pro multi-tool – This is a tiny multi-tool that includes small scissors, a blade, screwdrivers, file, bottle opener, pliers, and more all in one. This thing lives in my pouch and I use it multiple times a week to open a box, a bottle, tighten a screw, fix my bike, or the other day to pull a house key out of my neighbors door after it got stuck. And it has come in handy on set countless times too.

Masking tape – For shoot days only. I use this constantly on set to mark where tripods go when they get moved. Also works for emergency camera strap fixes, cable management, anything that needs a temporary hold. Cheap yet useful.

Sharpie – These markers are great for labeling film, marking cases, writing notes on gaffer tape. Always black, always permanent.

Duct tape, zip ties, mini magnet – These all live in the pouch every day and get more use than you might expect. The magnet came in handy when a tiny screw fell in between two floor boards and it would come in handy if a key would fell between street grates when I dangle it from some twine. The duct tape and zip ties have fixed multiple bikes (temporarily) when in a rush to get somewhere.

Mini flashlight – For seeing into camera bags, reading camera settings in dark venues, or finding something you dropped under a table. This thing is crazy powerful and lives in the pouch every day.

Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLock Mini Carabiner – For clipping things externally when the pouch is full or you need quick access.

From left to right, top row to bottom row: Nextool S11 Pro, Rolling Square InCharge X cable, tin with sewing kit, tin with meds, credit card sleeve with band-aids, duct tape (the grey) + self-amalgamating tape (the black), mini magnet, twine, zipties, mini lighter, mini flashlight, Rolling Square Aircard. All of these go into my pouch and are with me everywhere I go.

Capture & Organization

Muji notebooks – For to-do lists and meeting notes. I use these every day and also use them as a scrap book for any tickets or stickers or whatever else I come across during my work day, which makes it very fun to look through again later. This lives on my desk and comes with me to studio and location shoots. Cheap, I buy them in 5-packs.

Leuchtturm1917 notebook – This is for tracking my habits (more on this next week) and diary entries. Different purpose, different notebook. This stays at my desk, unless I am traveling

Lamy Safari pen – I love fountain pens. This one is cheap at around €20, the starter model if you will, but I have no desire to upgrade because it’s great.

Pritt glue roller – My favorite discovery of the year. For sticking things in my notebooks. Photos, tickets, receipts. Keeps everything in one place without tape residue. I carry one with me pretty much all the time. Re-fillable!

The Rest

Cash – Local currency, wherever I am. After London, always.

Bandaids, painkillers, allergy meds – Essential after a full day on your feet shooting an event or walking 15km leading a photo walk. I keep them in these little tins inside my pouch. (See earlier picture)

Rolling Square AirCard - This is about the size of a credit card, slightly thicker, and works like an Apple Airtag. I have it connected to my phone so if I were to leave the pouch or whichever bag it is in somewhere I can immediately see where it is on my phone. Just a little piece of mind. (See earlier picture)

This kit is the result of years of finding myself without the right thing at the wrong moment. It’s personal to my needs and the situations I find myself in. Your EDC should work the same way. Start with what you actually reach for, what you think you might need, and know it will probably be a little different from mine. Build it slowly, one solved problem at a time, until you’ve got a setup that fits how you actually work.

Your Turn - Process Giveaway

What’s in your bag? I’m curious what tools you’ve found you can’t leave home without, whether it’s for photography, creative work, or just getting through the day. Drop a comment below and let’s see what we can learn from each other.

Leave a comment

I’ll pick one commenter at random to receive a mystery goodie bag from my studio, which could be a few rolls of expired film, a misprinted zine, a test print, a camera strap, whatever I pull from the drawer that week.

With the year coming to an end soon enough, I can’t believe how time has flown this year. I am already very excited for next year. More on that next week, including a new video we made!

Talk soon,
Wesley

PS If you happened to find yourself here but weren’t yet a subscriber, hit the button below and receive Process every Sunday:

A Few Ways To Support This Work

If Process adds something to your week, here’s how you can help keep it going: grab a copy of my photo books or the Process Workbook series from my webshop.

Everyone who orders something physical this week gets a free copy of the very limited edition Creatives In/AMS preview zine.

Process Photo Club members get €30 off my book NOTICE, all three Process Workbooks free, and more. Not a member yet? Join here for instant access.

This Week’s Camera + Tools

Camera: Canon EOS R5 + Canon RF 24-70 mm f/2.8 L IS USM.

Process is supported by MPB.com, my personal go-to for buying, selling, or trading used gear. Everything comes with a 12-month warranty.

Lab: My film is processed by Carmencita Film Lab. They’re the best and put so much love and care into their work. Use code "PROCESS" for a free upgrade.

🗃️ Browse the Process Archive.