Resealable baggies make a secure pouch for exposed film or full memory cards.
Get into the habit of always packing three or four Ziplok plastic bags inside your camera bag. They fold up easily and can be stowed away in a slim space so you won't even notice them. But when you need one, you will sure be glad you have them.
Baggies (resealable plastic bags) have a tremendous number of uses in photography. Use them to store extra memory cards, exposed film or empty film cartons, wrappers and other trash. If you carry different sizes, a large one will protect your expensive equipment from moisture when it rains or when you are shooting in a damp or dusty environment, like a choppy sea or a gravel pit.
Going someplace damp or dusty? Protect your lenses with a water-tight baggie
You can protect each piece of equipment in your camera bag using separate baggies(or use plastic wrap for large items) and only remove it when you are ready to use the gear.
Cut a hole for your lens to poke through and protect your camera while shooting in damp conditions
Place your camera in a large baggie, cut a hole for the lens to poke through, and you can shoot in a downpour or a gritty atmosphere while keeping your camera protected.
Place your entire camera bag in a large plastic garbage or grocery store bag when you need to keep it dry.
Poke arm holes in a big one and you have a makeshift raincoat for yourself, but you knew that already, didn't you?
Package and protect your prints in plastic baggies
THEY ARE REMARKABLY USEFUL FOR PACKAGING PRINTS
Since they come in so many sizes, they are also handy as protective envelopes for packaging your prints, even those in photo mounts. The 7" X 10" size bag comfortably holds a 5" X 7" print in a photo mount (cardboard frame) or a stack of 4" X 6" prints, and the 10" X 14" size is great for 8" X 10" prints in a cardboard mount or frame. This latter size is also ideal for packaging individual "Memory Mate" mounts, which are so commonly used for inexpensively framing sports team photographs. (The more common Memory Mate holds one horizontal 5" X 7" team picture and one vertical 3.5" X 5" individual player picture.) If you're shooting sports teams, players who receive their sports picture pack on a rainy playing field or at the arena in a plastic bag won't have to worry about it getting wet.
Looks safe enough for your camera, doesn't it? But if the wind kicks up the sand or if you take to the sea in a boat, you will be glad you had a plastic baggie to protect your camera and film.
TRAVELING? STORE YOUR FILM IN A BAGGIE
Place your film in a clear plastic bag and stow it in your hand luggage when you are traveling to make hand inspection at airports easier, thereby avoiding exposure to potentially-damaging X-rays. See X-rays and film. (Digital media cards are unaffected by X-rays.)
Baggies are incredibly handy at the beach. Photographers can use them to shield film or digital cameras, film, filters, batteries and other gear from both water and sand. You can even conceal your entire camera bag in a large plastic bag if you are going to be in heavy seas where everything on board your boat may get splashed or sprayed.
When you are dressed in protective survival gear to go whale-watching, be sure your camera is well-protected, too. It can't survive salt-water spray unless it's made for underwater use.
WHERE TO GET BAGGIES CHEAP
Most shipping or packaging supply outfits sell bulk quantities of resealable plastic bags, making them economical as well as practical for protecting prints and a bunch of other uses in photography.
Be sure to test a random sampling before you buy a huge supply in bulk. You'll want to be sure they seal quickly and properly, and that they are strong enough to withstand normal wear and tear, or to not split under pressure from the corner of a camera.
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