When at a wedding... where do you keep your gear?

[SurplusCorn]

So, when doing weddings, obviously you have bags and gear to carry around with you... Where do you generally keep it, or do you always have everything within reach?

[Bartek]

We both wear a crumpler bag with all the lenses/flashes on us at all times. Backup gear is in the car :)

[lovebugg]

I keep my gear on me at all times, camera/back up camera, lenses, flash, and extra cards in my belt. All other gear is in my trunk. Just like Bartek,

[Zonieart]

I keep extra cards and batteries with me. All my other gear is stored in the car. My wife is my business partner, and she makes runs to the car from time to get gear that's needed and serves as a backup shooter if necessary. She also backs up all the cards on the Epson P5000 when there's a break in the action.

[samnz]

After my brother in law's wedding, we cleaned up the venue just after midnight. Underneath the wedding cake table sat a Large bag of very expensive video equipment. We knew straight away it was the videographer's.

I assumed temporary ownership and rang him first thing next morning. Asked him if he was missing any equipment. "No - well, I haven't checked yet", was his reply.(???)

As it was, he had two lots of gear. The bag left behind was his 'backup'. Extremely embarrassed and grateful was he :)

[aranthe]

I've also asked the DJ if I can store some gear by him since that's the next most safest place.

~Alli

[johnstoy]

Checking with the DJ is a good idea...

Recently, a relative (uncle) left an "L" lens on the table after the wedding... I knew it wasn't mine and referred the B&G to their uncle.

Carrying the 24-70mm f2.8L and the 70-200mm f2.8L IS, and a camera on a bracket with the 580EXII, and battery pack is tough enough... Soon to be adding a second camera will be even tougher. The DJ might be the answer.

[billash3]

I search out the DJ first thing at the reception and stick my gear close to his. If no DJ, I put my stuff in the kitchen or get with the wedding coordinator.....

[jongobongo]

I do the same as many others above, keep all gear in bags with me at all times. If I need to set it down, I keep the bags near the DJ and lock the bags with this laptop cable.
This is the one I use... Targus PA400U DEFCON 1, it has a motion detector that I can use, but I arm it so that if the cable is broken, the alarm immediately goes off.

Last year, there was a rash of thefts from photographers at weddings last year.

[daikatana]

I leave it with the DJ.
If no DJ then I leave under the table where the couple has allocated my seat.

All the shooting gear is on my person all the time so if someone wants to get my stuff they can probably get away with 8 Sanyo Eneloops and 4 3rd party Canon batteries....and maybe a diffuser ;)