Photography and bad backs

So I'm a tall guy.. Around 6 foot 4. I find everytime I photograph wedding or event it takes me about 3 days to recover.. I put this down to having to bending over slightly to get to people's eye level constantly throughout the day/camera around the neck, bag over the shoulder etc

Is there anything you guys do to help alleviate the stress on your body.. Just thought it might be an interesting discussion on the OH&S side of photography

Massages and painkillers?

I'm actually interested in this too. My back is still hurting from shooting a festival for 7 hours last night with a sling bag permanently on my back. I'm about to head out and start shooting again for about 6 more hours too!

Start going to a gym. It helped me a lot.
I used to stay in bed all Sunday after a 14-16 hours on Saturday. Now I wake up on Sunday after a good sleep and ready for another wedding(if I wanted).

I can go for a hike or big bike ride the day after a wedding. My secret... a very good chiropractor (who also happens to be my fiancée)

Try bending your knees rather than your back. I too have a bad back and have found it's bending more than anything that aggravates it.

tomj wrote in post #16118634
Try bending your knees rather than your back. I too have a bad back and have found it's bending more than anything that aggravates it.

Or maybe kneel?

Bending to get eye level kills my back too. Its too little to kneel and bending the knees just a few inches starts to kill after a while as well. The other one that gets me is my two fingers, pointer and middle start to get sore because of holding the camera and pressing the shutter for hours on end.

Not sure what camera strap you are using but the old style strap can be an absolute pain on the back. I started using a black rapid strap and its been SO much easier on my neck, shoulders and back.

Kronie wrote in post #16118772
Bending to get eye level kills my back too. Its too little to kneel and bending the knees just a few inches starts to kill after a while as well. The other one that gets me is my two fingers, pointer and middle start to get sore because of holding the camera and pressing the shutter for hours on end.

Not sure what camera strap you are using but the old style strap can be an absolute pain on the back. I started using a black rapid strap and its been SO much easier on my neck, shoulders and back.

Sounds like a career move is on the cards?

My advice is.....

Try using a ground mat (similar to a gym mat) and perhaps even using knee pads like those the rollerbladers use. A light foldable stool is also cheap and can easily be attached to your camera bag and used with the tripod at the right height seated.

Its might seem wierd but will make sure u use proper posture and comfortable on your knee as well as investing in your health. Id prefer 100 people laughing at me for doing that, than doing the right thing and suffering back pain, trust me, I know how that feels!

A somewhat helpful feature would be the tiltable LCD on the cameras. Sadly that won't be the greatest in the sun and also unavailable on pro bodies.

What about just trying to widen our your stance? Photographers tell subjects (usually men) to do this all the time to get even head placement between a couple. It should also work for the photographer...

In some forms of photography, being taller can be a huge advantage. I'm 6'2", and I shoot mostly motorsports. There are times where having a few extra inches helps greatly!

When I shoot podiums, I will get to winners circle early and bring my Pelican case. I'll put it down around 5 rows back in the media pit, then walk over and stand on it when it's time. The extra 12" or so from the case plus my height means it takes a lot for someone to get in my shot!

Lowner wrote in post #16118888
Sounds like a career move is on the cards?

Hardly. A sore back after 10 to 12 hours of shooting is normal for me. I work out but that is a lot of bending and kneeling and being on the move.

specialize in tall people's weddings. tall people must be sick of short photogs by now.

maybe?

haha

Nobody's said it..had too!
Buy a Hasse and never lean down again..
cheers
D