Photo How To

Regular maintenance of your photo equipment is a crucial but oft-ignored task if you don't want to suffer a malfunction when shooting far from home, and the process involves more than superficial cleaning. This tutorial from the Be More, Do More, Have More channel is a very helpful guide for giving your gear the delicate care it deserves.

Instructor Shawn is a professional photographer based in Bristol, UK who is very passionate about travel; hence he's developed a list of best practices for maintaining his gear so he doesn't have to worry about a breakdown while he's on the road. He also likes keeping his equipment looking like new, and this is a secondary goal of the 15-minute video.

Shawn's advice is based upon 12 years of experience, and he kicks off the episode like this: "Whether you're a beginner of a seasoned photographer these practical tips will help prolong the life and resale value of your beloved camera equipment."

Keeping a camera in tip-top shape should be your primary concern but Shawn doesn't want you to ignore lenses and other accessories that must also remain in perfect working order. He covers the gamut from banishing dust with a blower and the safe way to use a microfiber cloth, to protecting lenses with lens caps, filters and hoods.

The thoughtful discussion even delves into the best way to organize your gear in a camera bag or backpack so that nothing gets damaged in transit or while you're scrambling in the field. Shawn begins with basic camera and lens care, and then turns his attention to the camera's all important sensor.

Shawn provides a variety of other common-sense tips that you definitely don't want to ignore. And here's the deal: These recommendations are super important, whether you just bought the mirrorless camera of your dreams or you're shooting with the trusty old DSLR that been a faithful companion for years.

We also suggest watching the tutorial we posted earlier from the Be More, Do More, Have More YouTube channel in which Shawn demonstrates how to restore ugly, degraded rubber on the barrel of a lens that's faded, white, and chalky.