My camera goes everywhere with me — especially on our Airstream trips. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable carrying around a camera bag that just screams, “There is an expensive camera in this bag.” I wanted something more discreet and not so obvious yet stylish at the same time. I scoured the Internet trying to find an alternative. I wanted something that could carry all of my equipment as well as my personal belongings so I didn’t have to haul my purse along too. No luck, at least, nothing I liked was out there.
Then I started thinking about diaper bags. Most of them come with pockets galore (perfect for lenses, etc.) and some of them can be rather stylish as well. I found this diaper bag and just fell in love. Doesn’t look like a diaper bag, does it? Or even a camera bag for that matter. The only problem was that the bag was not padded — but it did come with a diaper changing pad.
I started thinking I could easily eyeball the sizes of the inside pockets and “cut out” from the diaper pad pieces that could snugly encase my lenses.
So that’s what I did. There were four pockets inside of my “camera” bag so I eye balled the size of those pockets and ran the diaper pad through my serger (this is what a serger is if you don’t know). Here is a picture of my serger. It is a Brother 1034D 3/4 Lay-In Thread Serger and I LOVE IT (threading it is a breeze). If you don’t have a serger, you could easily simply cut your pocket pattern out of the diaper pad and hand sew the edges or run through a sewing machine.
Here is a picture of the inside of my new camera bag complete with the modified padding inserts…
Another cool thing about using a diaper bag for a camera bag is that it comes with these awesome bottle holders, which are perfect for lenses and they are padded!
Since this bag is so stylish I thought I would upgrade my camera strap to a beautiful orange rose strap that I purchased from here.
All in all I am very pleased with my decision to use this diaper bag as my new camera bag. It has all the pockets I need to keep me organized and keeps my camera equipment easily accessible.
I am going to steal this idea! I have looked high and low for a stylish camera bag that would actually hold everything and have found nothing but your bag is PERFECT!
So happy to hear that!
I love what you did & you’re right I have searching for great camera bag endlessly. They are either too manly & boring or really girlish & i’m not that girly fir me Vera Bradley bags are so ugly 7 those tye are the only kind I could find. Thank you sooo much for the great idea!!!!
Really happy I inspired you!!
I know this is an older post (just catching up). Whenever your diaper bag wears out, you could try something more substantial from Maxpedition.com. I use their versamax carry bag. I recommend it.