This is something they definitely don’t teach in photography school: how do you go to the washroom while shooting an event?
A photographer-friend recently had all their camera gear stolen while covering a business conference. They left their equipment hidden under a coat, under a table, beneath a large tablecloth, with the chairs pushed in tightly around it. It didn’t matter. While they were in the washroom, someone stole everything.
Whenever you’re photographing an event with lots of people around, never leave your gear unattended, no matter how well you think you’ve hidden it.
Washroom Options
The best solution is to have a trusted person watch your gear while you use the washroom. This only works if they stay within arm’s reach of your equipment the entire time. Make sure they understand never to turn their back on it. Most people underestimate how quickly a thief can make something disappear.
The other option is to take your gear with you. You can pack everything into your camera bag and bring it into the washroom, or simply wear your cameras inside.
Once there, find a reasonably safe place to set your gear down. A dry counter near the sinks may work if it remains within sight. A baby-changing table can also keep equipment off the floor if it’s close enough. Otherwise, you may have no choice but to place your cameras on the floor near a toilet or urinal.
Public washroom floors are dirty. Your cameras spend hours in your hands and pressed against your face. Do the math. Yuck!
For men, use a stall rather than a urinal. We all know what the floor is like around urinals. Inside a stall, your gear won’t be stepped on, kicked, or, uh, splashed. Put a layer of paper towels on the floor before setting your cameras down.
If the washroom has an accessible stall, consider using it. It provides more floor space for your cameras or camera bag.
Some venues also have family washrooms (single-occupancy washrooms) designed for parents and children. These can be ideal because you have the room to yourself.
At some business conferences, event staff have access to a “secure” room for purses, laptops, coats, and other belongings. Treat the word “secure” with skepticism. These rooms are often less secure than advertised, so use caution.
So true! I’ve been very lucky to never get stolen, and left many times my gear unattended: to go to toilets, to shoot long award ceremonies (I mean dozens of awards in the course of a dinner, for example), venues with things or activities to cover in different rooms, or even different floors.
A couple of times I did go to toilet with my two cameras (both with flashes and lenses, so very bulky and heavy) and it was not fun.