When Peak Design got in touch with us to round up a gang of creatives to try out their new City Line range, a few names immediately sprang to mind. One of the first off our tongue was Shaun Peckham.
Photographer, videographer, director, film enthusiast – Shaun is a man who wears many hats, and a face that everyone in Manchester seems to know some way or another. From honing his photography skills on the lager-soaked surfaces of Warehouse Project, Shaun has gone on to develop a full-time career as a photographer and DOP working across fashion, lifestyle and whatever other fun side-project springs to his mind.
We managed to catch Shaun somewhere in between his apartment and second home, Come Through Lab, to see if he was down to get involved with our assignment for Peak Design. A few hours later, we found ourselves following him about his day – riding bicycles across the city, developing film from a recent shoot, and keeping Peak Design’s City Line bags on deck at all times.
Who are you?
My name’s Shaun. I’m a photographer and DOP, and I’ve been living in Manchester for the past six years.
What were your first impressions of the Peak Design bags?
I’ve always loved the Peak Design brand, not just for camera bags but also for the smaller accessories that they always seem to think about before anyone else. If you need something to clip to, a more accessible pocket or somewhere to put something, they seem to have it sorted.
Did anything stand out to you immediately?
For me, the City Crescent is the perfect mix between an everyday bag and a camera bag. It easily fits a laptop, hard drives, my everyday camera, notebooks and all the other things I tend to carry around with me.
What do you typically carry in your work bag on a normal day?
My usual workday, on set or not, usually consists of a laptop, at least four hard drives, a water bottle, camera, batteries, chargers and usually a notebook. My headphones are a necessity in there as well.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what five items would you pack in a Peak Design bag?
My five items if I were stuck on a desert island would be my camera, a roll of film and three Kinder Buenos.
How essential is a well-designed bag in your line of work?
I think having a well-designed bag in this line of work is absolutely essential. There’s always something to carry or something that needs protecting. The most important thing for me is making sure that everything is accessible quickly, especially on a shoot day. Peak Design definitely has that covered.
Are there any features that you really love?
I really like how accessible everything is. There’s always a pocket or somewhere to put something without having to dig through the whole bag. I’d use it pretty much every day, especially when moving between shoots, meetings and travelling.
How organised of a person are you, and do you think Peak Design could help you be more organised?
I’d say I’m pretty organised, especially when it comes to work. I like knowing where everything is. The different pockets and ways of organising the bag definitely make that easier.
How does the build quality of Peak Design feel compared to other bags you’ve owned?
The build quality feels really solid. Everything feels like it’s been made to be used and thrown around a bit. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into the materials and the small details.
Can you see yourself using the bag outside of work? Where and for what?
Definitely. That’s probably one of my favourite things about it. I could use it travelling, going out on my bike, getting coffee or just having my camera with me for the day.
If you were packing it for a weekend away, what would go in it?
I’d probably have my camera, laptop, a couple of hard drives, headphones, chargers, water bottle and a change of clothes. Probably a notebook as well. I always end up bringing one even if I don’t use it.
In your view, what makes a great bag?
For me, it’s something that’s comfortable, practical and doesn’t feel like you’re carrying loads of stuff. Everything needs to have its place but still be easy to get to. And it needs to be able to take a bit of a beating.
If you had to describe Peak Design bags in one word, what would it be, and why?
Thoughtful. There’s just a lot of thought in the small details. It feels like they’ve actually thought about how people use their bags day-to-day, rather than just making something that looks good.
Find out more about Peak Design’s City Line range at peakdesign.com
