Decluttering 10 Years of Videography Gear: What Stays and What Goes

​It is amazing how much equipment accumulates over a decade. 




Recently, I took the time to sort through a pile of production gear that I used heavily for almost 10 years but haven't touched in more than six. Moving to a leaner, more mobile workflow means it is time to reclaim some physical space.


​Here is a look at what is officially leaving the house and what is being tucked away into storage.




​Saying Goodbye: The Throwaway Pile


​Letting go of equipment is not always easy, especially when it holds memories of past jobs and travels.


- ​The Red Hard-Shell Luggage: This one hurts a little to let go. This red suitcase has serious sentimental value. It traveled the world with me on countless work trips, protecting my event videography gear across multiple continents and venues. Unfortunately, the locking mechanism is completely jammed now, making it unusable. It has earned its retirement.


- ​The Black Omnipro Suitcase: A reliable soft-shell companion for transporting gear, but the corners are torn up from heavy use. It is time for it to go.


- ​The Legacy Cables: The massive bundles of heavy-duty BNC video cables, long-run audio lines, VGA cables, and an endless sea of RCA composite cables. They were the absolute backbone of my multi-camera setups a decade ago. Today, they are just dead weight.




​The Keepers: Heading to Storage


- ​While the bulky items and outdated cables are going to the bin or recycling, I am holding onto a few practical pieces. These are going straight into storage to keep my daily workspace clear while remaining accessible for future projects.


- ​The Lifesaver Adapters: I am keeping a large, assorted collection of BNC, RCA, 1/4-inch, 3.5mm, and XLR adapters. Anyone who does live streaming knows that when you need to patch into a venue's unfamiliar soundboard, having a deep stash of adapters on hand is vital.


- ​Lighting Gear: I am holding onto two light stands, two softbox hoods with diffusers, and a set of four Philips LED bulbs (19W, 2300 lumens, Cool Daylight).


- ​Green Screen: The folded green screen cloth is staying. It packs down small and is always useful to have on standby.


​Clearing out the old gear makes room for new projects. It feels good to sort through the physical history of my work, appreciate the miles that red suitcase covered, and keep only what serves a practical purpose moving forward.


~ Adrian Lee @adrianvideoimage

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