From the get-go, HoldFast’s allegiance lies in this: steadfast dedication to professional photographers and the systems they utilize. Committed to paving the way, HoldFast gear accentuates style while also performing comfortably and efficiently. Responsible for creating a new genre within the industry, we’re changing the way photographers look and feel while doing their best work.
In this series, you’ll hear stories of HoldFast gear and the photographers–the pioneers, the adventurers, the originals–that use them. This is How You HoldFast.
We’re never shy about saying it: HoldFast was built to outfit the grand adventure. HoldFast has been on countless excursions and exploits, each greater than the last, which some of the industries best and brightest talents, united by more than just their stance behind the lens. The common bond is also the sense excitement that emerges when there’s an opportunity for jump at the unexpected.
Mike Tuzio considers himself a ‘hobbyest’ photographer, doing most of his work while traveling. It should be of no surprise, then, to learn that Tuzio first encountered HoldFast while watching Bill Weir–a loyal HoldFast enthusiast–on The Wonderlist.
“Every episode I was jealous of his camera bag and shoulder straps. Eventually I came across his Twitter page where he had a shout out to the company, and then I checked out the website almost daily to see if the SightSeer and MoneyMaker combo was in stock,” Tuzio says. “I purchased the Sightseer 2.0 first and the minute I got it, I couldn’t wait to order the Money Maker and complete the system.”
It didn’t take long for Tuzio to purchase the final piece for a rounded-out system. “Once the Money Maker came, I set it all up, filled the Sightseer with my gear and couldn’t believe how light it felt on my back. I probably just walked around the house with it for a decent amount of time,” Tuzio explains. “The first time I tried it on I knew I made the right call.”
Tuzio had spent years searching for the right gear to prove useful to his travel and wildlife subject matter. “I needed something that was easy to access. I was spending a lot of time looking for a camera bag that would allow me to haul gear, but be easily accessible. Prior to my HoldFast set up I mainly used backpacks. Backpacks are not very easy to get into. If I wanted to grab say a lens out of my backpack, I would have to remove it and then sort through it to find what I needed.”
The combination of the Sightseer with the Money Maker was perfect, its quality and organization capabilities far exceeding both Tuzio’s expectations and prior gear investments.
“What I love most about this setup is the ease of use. It’s easy to access my cameras on my sides, every piece of equipment I can reach and identify without even having to think about it. The dividers inside the Sightseer make it super organized. I love how much gear it can haul and still maintain its organization,” Tuzio raves.
“The absolute best feature about the Money Maker is that everything is completely out of my way! I hated using neck straps because they just felt awkward bobbing around on my chest or even single shoulder straps felt like they could slip off. I love how the moneymaker keeps my cameras out of the way while still being easy to grab when I need them. With the Money Maker, everything is secure and easy to reach for so that I can keep my hands free when I’m traveling.”
While it obviously didn’t take long to make Tuzio a believer in all things HoldFast gear, the pivotal moment came when he was, of course, traveling.
“I knew this bag was a real game changer when I was on a trip to Costa Rica. We were on a hiking trip with a guide and I had the two camera set up with a wide angle and a long lens. At one point, our guide found an orb-weaver spider. It crawled onto his hands and I was able to quickly swap my long lens for a macro, and get a few quick pictures without being worried about it running away,” says Tuzio. “I knew if I had any other bag and setup there was a good chance I wouldn’t have been able to make that happen. Compared to other gear I have used in the past, HoldFast is in its own league.”
HoldFast aims to make it easier for photographers to do the work they do by allowing them to haul and carry their gear where they actually need it: right on them. It’s proven a successful strategy and design implementation, as Tuzio explains.
“Shooting mainly travel/nature and wildlife there is a lot of unexpected events that I want to be ready for. For being a relatively small bag, the using the Sightseer means I have three lenses, my small laptop, various random accessories, and a small drone, not to mention a camera on each side. Being able to carry this much with me means I never run into the “I wish I had this on me” moments which ultimately, has allowed me to be more versatile. I can also quickly change lenses or grab a filter incase the unexpected happens!” says Tuzio.
“I think this setup has changed the way I shoot my work. The best part about it is that I’m ready for anything.”
Contact Info
Instagram: @MPTuziophoto
Email address: mtuzio@outlook.com
