How To Not Drop Your Camera: Use The Strap!

If you're reading this, it's pretty likely you have children. Now, you know your kids: they may suddenly shriek or scream. They may cling or pull at you because they want some attention. Balls and toys are flung across the room on a daily basis, right?

Every one of those things represents an opportunity where you might drop your camera: give yourself some backup in case something like that happens!

First, you have a strap for a reason. Use it.

If you’re going to use your camera for more than one shot, then put the strap around your neck! That’s what it’s for, after all.

It may feel foreign at first, but you will get used to it very quickly. It drives me nuts to see people taking pictures at all kinds of angles with a strap dangling off the camera instead of around their neck.

Now, there are occasions where the strap is not going to be around your neck, and that’s okay. Maybe you’re only getting one quick snapshot, or your taking it out of the bag to check something or carry it upstairs. If so, do this:

How To Not Drop Your Camera: using the strap

Loop your right wrist through the neck strap before you pick it up. Your camera is in your right hand because that’s where the shutter button is. Then hold your camera firmly with your right hand. The strap will not affect your usability, but it is a safeguard against that lens landing on the floor.

If you are bumped or your child startles you, the camera may fall from your hands, but the strap will catch on your arm or elbow before it hits the floor.

Having a camera dangling off your arm is far better than hearing the crunch of it hitting the ground. As someone who has dropped their fair share of cameras, just believe me on this one.

It only takes a few times to make looping that neck strap around your arm a habit. When you’re around rambunctious kids, it will never be more work than it’s worth.

This is Part 2 in a mini series about how to NOT drop your camera.

See part 1 here: Step By Step Directions for How To Put A Camera Strap On Correctly.

See Part 3 here: Holding the Camera Properly.