This is something they definitely did not teach you in photography school. How do you go to the washroom when you’re doing event photography?
A photographer-friend recently had all their camera gear stolen when they went to the washroom while shooting a business conference.
When you’re shooting any event where there are a number of people around, never leave your cameras laying about when you run to the washroom. My friend hid their cameras on the floor, under a coat, under a table, under a big table cloth and pushed all the chairs in. It didn’t help as everything was stolen (presumably by venue staff) while they were in the washroom.
Washroom Options
The best option is have a trusted person watch your cameras while you go to the washroom. This will only work if the person can truly be trusted to always stay within arm’s length of your gear. You must impress upon them to never turn their back on your cameras. Most people don’t realize how quickly something can be stolen from plain sight.
The other option is to take your cameras into the washroom. You could first put all your gear back into your camera bag and then carry the bag into the washroom. Or you might just have to wear your cameras into the washroom.
Once in the washroom, you have to put your gear down somewhere reasonably safe. There might be a suitable dry area near the sinks but only if the sinks are close within eyesight. You might use a baby changing table to hold your gear up off the floor if the table is close to you. Otherwise you may have no choice but to put your cameras on the floor, probably near a toilet or urinal.
All public washroom floors are dirty. Your cameras are held in your hands up against your face. Do the math. Yuck!
For men, use a stall rather than a urinal. We all know how bad the floor is near the urinals. In a stall, your gear won’t get stepped on, kicked, or, uh, splashed by others using the washroom. Put paper towels on the floor of the stall for your cameras.
Use the handicap stall in the washroom if there is one. Yes, I know this violates society’s rules but the handicap stall is larger so there’s more floor space for your cameras or camera bag.
Maybe the venue has a “family” washroom. This is single washroom intended for a parent and their child(ren).
Some business conferences have a “secure” room for event staff to leave their purses, laptops, coats, etc. These are never really secure so be careful.
So true! I’ve been very lucky to never get stolen, and left many times my gear unattended: to go to toilets, to shoot long award ceremonies (I mean dozens of awards in the course of a dinner, for example), venues with things or activities to cover in different rooms, or even different floors.
A couple of times I did go to toilet with my two cameras (both with flashes and lenses, so very bulky and heavy) and it was not fun.