fashion+function=a new camera bag

*EPIPHANIE CAMERA BAGS FOR WOMEN*

I've been working for almost two years on a line of camera bags for women. The idea first came to me when I found myself constantly wrapping up my $2000 camera (not to mention the $1700 lens) in a hand towel, and throwing it into my purse. Because who wants to carry an ugly old camera bag IN ADDITION to your regular one?! I started talking to other photographer friends. And they all had their own stories about what they used to wrap up their cameras: sweatshirts, pot holders, wash cloths, bubble wrap. I realized there was definitely a need in the market place for a camera bag that was as FASHIONABLE as it was FUNCTIONAL. So I embarked on the VERY LONG, SOMETIMES FRUSTRATING, BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT journey of MANUFACTURING my own camera bags.

Pictured here, are three of the five different styles. On the interior, they all have velcro-removable panels so that you can arrange each compartment to fit your specific bodies and lenses. It can be a straight-up camera bag. OR, it can be just a purse with a compartment for a camera. This makes it perfect for PROFESSIONALS and/or SCRAPBOOKERS. Not to mention just GIRLS WITH NICE CAMERAS. It's really that flexible!

So we're aiming to have the website done in about a month, which is when I'll post details and measurements and all that jazz. But for now, if you'd like to be on the FIRST TO KNOW list

CLICK HERE

SPECIAL TREATS AND DISCOUNTS WILL APPLY. And THANK YOU. Because if I'm honest, I kind of feel like I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve today. I've held this project so closely for the longest time. And now it's out there for everyone to see. Please be nice.   :)  

And we'd love to hear your stories today about the craziest thing you've ever used to wrap up your camera?

***UPDATE*** (12-26-2010)

We've been in business for over a year now. Please visit us at EPIPHANIE BAGS.

Comments

[Toni]

It's so time that someone came up with a cute and stylish camera bag! I can't tell you how many times I've looked and looked at purses in the store trying to find a good fit for my camera!

Just yesterday I wrapped up my camera in my daughters head scarf! It was already in my purse so it was handy.

[Laura]

This sounds awesome!
I've been looking for a camera bag forever! I want a camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag, and can fit other stuff in it, too. My favourite of the three is the brown one. I'm hoping there will also be one with a cross-body strap..?

[mnkathy]

Brilliant!
I don't wrap my camera in anything unusual, but do carry tampons next to my zoom lens. Classy, eh?

[kristina]

this is cool!!!! i really do not like the camera bag, it is big, heavy and everybody knows you carry a camera! i feel quilty about carrying expensive camera in my purse. your product is really cute and stylish and i think many girls out there would like to have something so nice!

[Yvonne]

Such a great idea. Nearly every camera bag out there screams "camera bag!" [steal me] and/or has no provision for you to carry much else in it, meaning you automatically need a second bag. My solution (with pos cameras and bridge/advanced non-slr cameras) is to find as simple and compact a camera case as I can and slide that into whatever handbag or shoulder bag I'm carrying. But it's actually quite difficult to find something that is (a) non-bulky and (b) able to be easily opened and the camera removed/replaced without necessarily pulling the case out of the bag you have it in.

So I'd suggest a supplementary line of "in bag" camera cases. They wouldn't have straps or loops or handles. They'd have enough structure that they'd hold their shape inside another bag and you could easily pull the camera out or slide it in with one hand. But they wouldn't be overly bulky or rigid. Any flap or closure would be such that it wouldn't get in the way when in use. Oh, and no velcro to catch on your clothes/bag lining/other possessions! Down the track, maybe? I'd buy.

[Marcie]

Fantastic!! I'm sure there'll be a huge market for these. I'm usually carrying a purse and a camera bag...always wishing I had a way to combine the two. This is perfect!!!

[Puna]

What a perfect product! I've been waiting for a while...I just got back from a trip this weekend and could have definitely used one of those! My camera has been wrapped in washclothes and in my backpack as well as wrapped in my daughter's saddle pad. It's on my Christmas list for sure.

[Christy]

I've resorted to taking some photos with the Iphone that sits in a holster on my hip! When I do lug around the big one? Last week I wrapped it in the dog's sweat shirt! (we used to live in Ontario and now live in the Southern US----I had to re-purpose!)

[esther]

I love the turquoise color, and the shape of the red one, but maybe the brown one holds more?
I can't wait to see the other designs. Thanks for answering my unspoken need!!

I didn't know how to pack my camera for it's first day out, so I put it into the bulky bag that came free with the camera. Then put that into another bag with my going-out stuff and the baby's things. It looked like I was packed for a 40-day trip rather than a 4 hour outing to the beach!

[wherepineswhisper]

I love ball caps. There's always one in my truck. And one day when I absolutely, positively had to leave my camera in the car for a few minutes, I realized that my cap would cover it perfectly. So now the camera travels with a chapeau of its own to protect it from smash-and-grabbers.

[Pam]

I don't wrap my camera, I do stuff it between my shirt and a zipped jacket or sweater. I carry my gear in a beautiful vintage camera bag that is really just a very square very hard box on a strap . It has no divider and the lining is gone.
My things rattle around sometimes, and makes me nervous. I guess I should wrap it all in something first, huh?

[camerashymomma]

cute designs! i love that turquoise color!

i don't wrap my camera in anything particular. usually it's bobbing around on my carseat, clunking around my neckstrap, being bruised on various things unless it's tucked in with my wallet in my purse. terrible disrespect, i know!

[Shireen]

Awesome. Just subscribed. I just throw my camera as-is in my purse. I know..*shudder*. But, it's been ok so far. I've wrapped my lenses up in my daughter's wrap a couple of times HA.

[Barbi]

I have not wrapped my camera in anything but I am usually carrying the camera bag and a purse or I just don't bring my DSLR, which sucks! : ) I always have a digital point and shoot but I want to carry my DSLR more so this is SUCH a great idea. I love red so a red one will be on my Christmas wishlist. And if I don't get one, I am sure one will find its way into my possession. All the best in your new endeavor!

[Gayle]

I love them! I think a lot of us will have one of these bags on our holiday wish lists!

[mcj]

Oooh, very much needed (and they look great!). In general, I use a Land's End diaper bag for my dslr: roomy, zipper at the top, lots of pockets, and I keep the lenses in the interior "bottle holder" pockets.

It's a good workhorse, non-ugly bag, but I've been sorely wanting something more stylish and fun!

[Alicia]

OMIGOSH!! They are soooo lovely! I wish they were available NOW!! It is a huge pain lugging my camera around in the bag I bought for it or finding a bag I can shove my camera bag into (hard to do!). I cannot wait to see more about these camera bags!

[Rachel]

LOVE those bags! Great idea. I was just telling my hubby that I'd like a pretty camera bag to carry around. Much better than wrapping a diaper around my camera... classy, no?

[Shawna]

I confess, I've never wrapped up my camera in anything and I ALWAYS tuck it carefully into my utilitiarian "slingshot" style camera bag. BUT, I don't carry a purse so it's only one bag anyway.

I can't imagine anyone not liking your bags though, they are very stylin'. Like a previous commenter, I'd love one with a cross-body strap.

[Justina]

I knitted a camera cozy thing for my camera. It's bulky, but it gives me peace of mind. I'm so excited for these bags! Can't wait to get my hands on one!

[Michelle]

I'm so excited to see these! I hate having to carry a big "steal me, i'm a camera" bag around. Usually throw it in the purse and put the lenses in my jacket pocket or something. Unless my husband is with me and he gets to carry the lenses in his pockets. Congrats on sticking with it and finishing this awsome project!

[Leah]

These are gorg - e - ous. I love bags, all kinds, but I still haven't been able to find the right thing for toting my camera to the office (just in case inspiration hits). I dislike the bulky look of most camera bags, and while some may be able to pull double duty as a work tote, I've found nothing that is quite as nice looking as most of my purses -- this looks like the winning combination!

As for crazy, I typically sandwich my camera between a couple of moleskin journals and my wallet. Sad, but absolutely true. Then I spend the entire day trying to make certain I don't bump my purse on anything. (Needless to say, with this arrangement, I prefer to use my 50mm, it's the least expensive lens I own.)

I am so looking forward to the launch of your bags -- my birthday is in November, so maybe then?

[Jessica]

I take lots of pictures at hockey games, so I sometimes wrap mine up in a hockey jersey. :) Your bags look great! I would also be a fan of one with a cross-body strap.

[carolyn]

I would love to see a BACKPACK style bag (I like to go on photowalks and having to arms free to work or manage a busy toddler is OH SO NECESSARY!)

I've wrapped my camera/lenses in diapers since the diaper bag often carries the camera!

[carolyn]

(2 arms free is what I meant to type!)

[Christy]

Amazing! About time there was an awesome camera bag for us ladies! Perfect timing to as I am in the market for a new camera bag (well it is on my Christmas list).

Thanks a million!

[haems]

i LOVE this idea. i've been holding out on buying a camera bag because i can't find anything remotely stylish! can't wait for these bags to become available!

[Kari]

There is such a need for this! Thanks!!

[Lori (A Cowboy's Wife)]

These look fab!! Can't wait to share it to my readers once launched! If you decide to run any campaigns, holler! And good luck with it all, I think you'll have no problems selling these beauties!

[Bond]

OMG this is just what I need! Please please please say it's going to be available in the UK?

[Christine]

Love the red! so cute!

[joy]

Wonderfully brilliant idea! And I love supporting women in business!! I was hiking in Northern Michigan & stuffed my camera & lens in a backpack, but didn't want them banging around. So,,,, lacking anything to wrap them in, I put my dog's stuffed toys in with them!

[Lori (A Cowboy's Wife)]

p.s. it won't let me sign up for some reason. can you manually add me to the list? :)

[Lu]

I am so tired of looking for a decent camera bag. I tell you! Looking forward to seeing yours.

[Brenda]

My camera bag is a Burton snowboard bag. Not well padded, but it has lots of room. It's not classy looking.. it's just black, but it's a backpack, so when traveling it stores well under the seat in front of me.

[Nannie of 3]

These are gorgeous bags...thank you for doing what nobody else has had the foresight to do. Probably the craziest thing I've wrapped my camera gear in was disposable diapers just to cut down on the load to carry and protect it in the diaper bag. But like most, towels, sweatshirts, and socks.

[toviah]

just what we all want and need. nice work!

i can't sign up, though. tried from two different computers and no luck. :(

[amelia]

I am so excited- there really is nothing feminine about my bag!! Yeah

[Sally Ann Sloley]

i can't wait!

[Vanessa]

I love it! I know what I'll be asking for when Christmas comes around.

[Claire]

Must. Have.

[Tara Bradford]

These bags are great! Are they leather? Looks like a good alternative to the boxy camera bags (and to carrying an expensive camera around in an expensive handbag, worried that one or the other will be damaged).

[djbeat]

i've been carrying my lenses in my baby's toque. & when i get lucky - i'll use the hood from my husband's wetsuit - neoprene rocks... i'm not sure if i am protecting them or protecting my expensive hand bag FROM them...

*sigh*

[Mama DB]

I just plunk mine into my purse, along with chapstick, pressed powder, pens, wallet, matchbox cars, etc. I should probably take better care. I'm not a fan of the camera bags out there currently so I'm very interested in this post!

[Tanya]

SUPER FAB! want/need the Turquoise one asap...I'm currently carrying my camera and lenses in my diaper bag...lenses wrapped in diapers :)

[Amie aka MammaLoves]

I'm embarrassed to say I haven't wrapped it up in anything yet. I just throw it in my bag (I know. I know.)

Love this idea!! So excited to be in the know.

[Elicia]

these look fabulous! most of the time i just have my 35mm slr in its leather case in my bag.

[~Ev~]

Love it! Love it! Love it!

[Kerri]

Oh how I love these! They are beautiful AND functional - genius! :)

[The Zadge]

OMG - I MUST have the red one!!! Going to buy the d700 this week and it will look great inside of it!!! What a great idea!