Being a full time mom and photographer, I carry my camera around with me everywhere. I'm serious. When I first started lugging about my DSLR I was embarrassed to whip that thing out in public. Why? No clue. Maybe I was scared people would think I was weird or something. But over the years and having the desire to "get the shot" outweigh public humiliation, I've been able to get over that embarrassment. Up until I started having kids I would just pick out one of my camera bags, throw in my wallet and phone and call it good. Now I can't ever seem to leave the house without at least the bare necessities of having a potty training toddler. (Don't even get me started on the newborn stage and all they need!) I hated leaving my camera at home with the idea I might be missing shots, but there was no way I was carting around a huge diaper bag AND a camera bag. I knew I needed to solve this problem before I even had Jones. I ended up converting a Skip Hop diaper bag into a hybrid Newborn/Camera bag arsenal. But since I'm past that stage of life for the time being, I thought I would share how I did a reverse conversion - this time transforming a camera bag into a diaper bag. 

     One of the problems I ran into was a way to divide the space. Baby stuff in one area and camera in the other - without having to dig through either to get to the other. It may seem like a trivial problem, but I would weigh out in my head how "worth it" I thought a shot was in regards to having to empty out my entire pack. I kept my eyes out on photo group pages that I was apart of, surfed the web for ideas and browsed Amazon when I had a second. All the time looking for suitable matches for my needs. And then I found it - some lady was selling her bag that was delivered in the wrong color. I tried to buy it, but we were too far apart to meet up. So I looked it up on Amazon. (You can find the listing HERE [PS this isn't sponsored]) 

     Enter the GoGroove Camera Bag. 

     What made this bag so special was first off; the size. I am not a big person. I'm on the shorter side of the world and have a smaller frame. Not to mention this was going to be my everyday bag. I didn't want something huge and lumbering. The second and arguably most important selling point was the DUAL COMPARTMENTS. Aka - TWO SEPARATE areas in which I could retrieve things from without disturbing the other. 

     The top is a nice, spacious compartment that takes about 2/3rds of the bag. Since my stage of life looks like trying to potty train my 2 and a half year old, it's packed full of potty training essentials - (diapers, wipes, new outfit, doggy bags, candy) among other small camera necessities each in their own pocket/zip pouch (mini tripod, remote control, microfiber cloth, candy.)

     There is even a back pocket that is the size of the entire back of the bag. technically it's a laptop or tablet sleeve, but since we're talking baby stuff here, it is the PERFECT SIZE for a changing pad! Woo! 

     The front pocket is the perfect size for wallets, tissues, chapstick, stuff for mom. Plus, more pockets! When fully zipped up with the front buckles fastened it makes this area secure and safe. 

     Now time for the bottom compartment. This is where the magic happens. Simply unzip the pocket, and open up the camera door. Inside is a slide out camera bed, thing. The makers were also a genius and made this pocket accessible from either side! I find it easier to get my camera out of the right side when I'm wearing it. 

From there you just slide out the camera, or do what I do and unfasten the velcro sides to slide the camera out without removing the insert. It's big enough to hold a body and a lens. Unless you want to have your lens and body disassembled, space will only allow for "smaller" lenses. I primarily have my 50 mm or 28 mm - depending on my mood. If I'm dying to shoot with my 35 mm I usually pack that in the main compartment with Jones' stuff. 

     Here's a view of the top full of Jones' stuff with the bottom insert removed and completely empty. No contamination or fallout! 

     This last feature I didn't even realize it had until I was unboxing my Amazon order! Technically it's for keeping your passport and/or wallet. But I use it for my phone! I can easily reach my phone while wearing my bag and I don't have to take anything off my shoulders! Which is especially awesome since most of my maternity clothes come sans pockets and I have to stick my phone in my bag. 

     So there you have it! The best camera bag to diaper bag conversion I have accomplished yet! Look for a future post when I talk about converting a diaper bag into a camera bag!