How To Take your Camera To A Festival And Survive

Choose the right camera

Let's start at the very beginning. If you only have one camera, then obviously that's the right one to take: but if you're lucky enough to own more than one, picking out the right sort of device is essential groundwork. You need to be able to shoot after dark and still capture the colours, tones and details of costumes, so a large sensor will stand you in good stead. A reliable flash is essential for the same reasons. The camera needs to be light, portable, and possibly pocketable for times when you need to throw your hands up and dance the night away - yet also provide you with the creative flexibility to capture the range of scenarios you might encounter.

A high-end compact would be a great choice, or a mirrorless camera with a short, fast prime lens and a multipurpose mid-range zoom to give you options. If a DSLR is what you've got, then choose a short prime or again, a mid-range zoom so you're not toting huge lenses around the festival.

It’s all in the accessories

Keep a close hold on your gadget with a handstrap or neckstrap: gone are the days of these essentials being available in any colour, so long as it's black. Olympus do a fabulous range of super-chic leather options which won't cramp your carefully-chosen festival threads, yet which will give you the security and comfort you need.

Keep it clean

Festivals can all too quickly turn into mud baths - especially if the Great British Summer has anything to do with it. Make sure your precious is protected from the worst of the rain and ooze with a makeshift rain jacket made from a carrier bag or - better yet - a hotel shower cap. It won't look particularly chic but then by the time your camera needs an anorak, you won't be that stylish either. If you own a tough camera, so much the better: being able to rinse your muddy camera off under a tap is definitely no bad thing.

Get creative

It's all too easy to return from an event with the traditional set of group shots that don't stand out from the crowd - so make sure your shots are still being talked about for years to come. Get up on tables (check they're safe first!) to capture a unique perspective. Take acetate sweet wrappers to cover your flash and throw coloured light onto late night portraits. Shoot a welly-eye view of proceedings. Whatever you capture, make sure it's worth the effort.

Stay safe

It sounds obvious, but don't leave your camera unattended in your tent - although festivals are usually jolly places, you never know what might happen, and it's all too easy for someone to poke their head into your tent, grab your gadgets and run off with them. This is why packing a lighter model will make your life easier: you don't want to be lugging a full complement of lenses around with you the whole time.

Sharing AND caring

If your camera offers wifi image upload direct to your tablet or mobile, you can use the mornings (especially if you're waiting for your friends to surface from their tents) to get your best work up onto Instagram before the rush. And all from the comfort of your sleeping bag! Try to limit yourself to two or three pictures from each night and look for the festival hashtag to make sure your shots are seen by the crowds. Most importantly, remember to check if your friends are actually meant to be there before you upload: if any of them phoned in sick to make sure they got to the festival, they won't thank you later, no matter how good your photos are...

If you're heading to a festival this summer, make sure you tag us into your work - we're over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and we can't wait to see what you've captured