Photographers spend a lot of time talking about the kind of gear they have, want, etc. But what makes a photographer is what they do with what they have. I've compiled some good tips about the relationship photographers should have with their gear.
1. Keep your batteries charged
Nothing kills an impromptu photo session faster than a flat battery. Keep them charged and have extras on hand.
2. Clear your memory cards
Like dead batteries, full memory cards will seriously impede unplanned photography. Ideally, as soon as you get back to your computer after a photo session, dump all your cards. Also, re-format your cards in-camera if your camera has that capability. This will ensure that your card's file structure remains in optimal condition. This will avoid corrupted photos.
3. Keep your gear clean
You expect it to work when you pick it up. Keep it clean. A dirty lens is the fastest way to degrade your image, even if you do everything else right. However, that's not all I mean. Keep the entire exterior of your camera clean and free of dust and grit. If you have a DSLR, your sensor will get dirty over time and you'll begin to see "sensor spots" in the solid-colored areas of your photos. I clean my sensors with special swabs but there are a variety of professional services that can do it for you. For all-around camera cleaning, I love my Giottos Rocket Blower. Note that camera manufactures never recommend non-professional sensor cleaning. Here's a good article on sensor cleaning.
4. Keep it all in one place
There's a beautiful bird right outside your window but where in the world did you leave that short lens? If you're like me, this has happened to you. If you're not like me, you've probably already figured out that the best thing you can do is keep all your gear (or at least the stuff you use all the time) in a bag. If you don't have a bag, I highly recommend you get one to keep your gear safe. However, my point here is keeping your gear together is a good idea.
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