Now that we are into October, we are getting close to that time when it starts to rain constantly out here on the West Coast. If you are planning on taking photos when the weather is less than satisfactory, it is important to make sure you are prepared. Below are a few ways to help make sure you are ready for whatever the weather throws at you.

Weather Covers
There are a variety of weather covers on the market ranging from disposable to heavy duty re-useable. Rain covers are quite compact so they are easy to keep in your camera bag or in the trunk of your car for those unexpected showers. If you plan on re-using your rain cover, it is important to make sure they dry out properly after use. When you get home, either spread the cover out on a towel or hang it over your shower curtain rod and let it air dry.

Photography Gloves
The cold can easily cut your time taking photos short especially if you are not warm yourself. Optex makes a great set of gloves called Freehands that have a Thinsulate 40 gram lining and a water resistant polyester shell. The forefinger and thumb tips can fold back exposing your fingertips giving you better dexterity when using your camera.

Umbrellas
It may seem incredibly obvious to use an umbrella when it is raining but they can be cumbersome especially when you are using a camera. Keep a small travel sized umbrella in your kit for those “just in case” moments. If it is all you have with you to protect you from the rain in a pinch, you won’t regret having it with you! On a side note, showing a bit of the umbrella in some of your photos can give a first person perspective for something a little different!

What if you are caught in a rain storm with nothing to protect you and your gear gets wet? If this happens to you, take out the memory card, battery and remove the lens. Let the camera air dry as soon as you get home. If it got very wet, get some silica gel packets and put your camera in a Tupperware container or Ziploc bag. The packets help absorb any moisture that may have gotten into your camera.