Some jobs are necessarily more demanding of the human body than others, and one of those professions is photography. If you’ve never done it, then you probably don’t think about the heavy equipment that has to get lugged around and the uncomfortable, borderline dangerous positions that a person must contort their body in just to get the perfect shot.
We came across a new article in Popular Photography that addresses some of the ways a photographer can keep injuries at bay. Whether you’re a professional photographer or simply an enthusiast with a camera, you’ll want to keep these in mind so that you won’t sustain the type of damage that can have serious medical consequences.
The first thing you want to be careful about is how much equipment you’re carrying at any given time. Try to minimize how much weight you place on your frame, only taking what’s necessary for the shoot. Have an appropriate bag that’s capable of letting you hold that weight comfortably.
A backpack that fits well will be very important in that regard. Make sure the backpack is cinched up tight. The closer it is to your body, the less likely the entire thing will be to pull you backwards, placing strain on your spine. When it comes to actually depositing items within the backpack, try to achieve balance. Don’t let one heavy thing tilt your body off to the side, as this can cause its own issues. As far as how much you should place in at any given time, one doctor interviewed at the link above notes the preference of the American Chiropractice Association to not go beyond 10% of your body weight.
There are certain instances where you can’t help but go beyond that limit, however, especially in a professional setting. You might have multiple lenses or even multiple cameras that you need to switch out, along with other equipment, and carrying all of that won’t be easy. The one option you do have is to go with the type of bag that is actually rolled along the ground rather than draped over your shoulder or placed on your back. That way, you’re not subjecting your body to excessive strain.
Before you start a shoot, you should go through a series of stretches designed to aid those portions of your body that are stressed during photography. You should also be willing to take breaks or alter the manner in which you shoot if you’re holding up a camera in a single position for lengthy periods of time. Fatigue can creep in quickly, and you want to avoid this however you can so that things don't progress to the point where you need to undergo a cervical spinal fusion surgery.
For more tips, follow the link above.
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