It’s Friday, and some of the photo walks are probably getting underway for Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk. It’s a big event as thousands of photographers and people will be out exploring their city with their digital cameras. I wanted to help you to avoid a complete and utter Worldwide photo walk FAIL. In other words, I want to help you have the best photowalk ever, and not have it ruined by silly little things that could go wrong. Yes, I know, the photo walk only requires a camera and going out and taking pictures; however, there are aspects of photography and walking that could seriously impact your success on the upcoming and future photo walk events. These issues could happen to anyone, even the most experienced of photographers. Imagine if some of these issues happened with Scott Kelby? Image he had to report back on his blog or on Photoshop User TV that his worldwide photo walk was totally ruined, he failed, and looks forward to next years walk. Exactly, that would be totally unacceptable and sheepish. So, the same goes for you and your blog or flickr account. You don’t want it to be empty after tomorrow. You don’t want to go home early. So, just follow this list and you’ll avoid a WWPW PhotoFAIL.

**I know that this might not be good for climate change, but a good idea might be to print this out and put it on the back of your door. Or, write a few post-it notes and stick them on the back of the door.

Photowalk tip! Don’t forget Your Camera

I know, this sounds silly but imaging you drive out to the meeting spot and your camera was left at home. Worst yet, you took public transportation and realized your camera was not in bag. This won’t be like high school, and you can borrow someone else’s pen if you forgot yours. People should be traveling light with only one camera (and maybe a camera phone for bonus creativity). Forget your camera and your photo walk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Charge your Battery(s)

Hopefully you’ve never experienced the dreaded low battery warning on your camera at the start of a photo-shoot, photo walk, or photo-opportunity in general. It’s haunting and it will ruin your day. Ensure you camera battery is charged or charging so that it’s ready for the photowalk. Even better, would be having a charged back up battery. Less worry will allow you to use that energy for creative photography. Just remember, if you’re charging your camera battery, make sure to put it back in your camera before leaving or your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Check your Camera Settings

It will only take a few minutes to check your camera settings at the start of the photo walk. The reason for this check is because the last time you used your camera might have been when you needed ISO 800 or 3200. This could be a problem that you don’t realize on your LCD review screen until you’re home from the walk, or you might not realize until near the end of the walk. Suddenly, the world could come crashing down on your photos. The shot you figured would be the Grand Prize winner, suddenly your Photo walk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Don’t Wear Flip Flops

Seriously. Don’t wear Flip Flops for a photowalk. Wear comfortable shoes for a number of reasons. You’re going to be walking around your city, and possibly into areas that could cause issues for exposed feet. You want to be as comfortable as possible on a long walk and Flip Flops are not going to give you comfort. Also, you may need to get into awkward positions to get the shot or angle you want and the flip flops will be falling off or just becoming a problem. Think ahead, and wear appropriate footwear. No one want’s to be around someone that’s complaining on the walk. If you’re uncomfortable, your feet are killing you, or you cut your foot because you wore flip flops your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Have an Extra Memory Card

This might not be something super important at first glance. Although, the photowalk is engaging and you’ll probably be taking as many photos as you want. On a good photowalk, you are not thinking about how mach more room you have for pictures. You don’t want to have to pick and choose if that really is worthy of a photograph of not. Taking a lot of photos, especially if you’re thinking to try HDR for the Photowalk, you could fill your memory card halfway through your walk. This is when your extra memory card will come in handy. Maybe you have a few extra cards that you could bring along incase you’re super click happy (there is nothing wrong with taking too many photographs). If you know there is not a camera store on your photowalk route, you might want to consider grabbing another memory card. If you run out of memory card space and the photowalk is not over, your photowalk just became a PhotoFAIL

Photowalk Tip! Set Your Alarm Clock

Some of the photowalks are starting in the morning on Saturday. Image Scott Kelby sleeping in for his photowalk. Not going to happen. He has set his alarm clock. I actually don’t know what time his city’s photowalk is set for; however, I know that he won’t miss it. Set your alarm clock so that you don’t end up sleeping in and turning your photowalk into a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! Clear Your Memory Card

Having 1 or 2 memory cards will help here, but it’s not hard to ensure your memory card is so fresh and so clean. Make sure that you’ve downloaded all the pictures on your memory card before your photowalk start time. You don’t want to get to the meeting place, turn on your camera, and realize you have 20 photos left on your memory card and you forgot to load those images onto your computer. You’re going to be faced with a decision: Format the card and lose those previous images OR allowing your photowalk to become a PhotoFAIL.

Photowalk Tip! The Positive Mindset

Surprisingly enough, the wrong mindset could ruin your day. Watch out if you’re angry, upset, annoyed, irritated or just in a negative frame of mind. The wrong mindset will not help your photography. I’ve tried taking photos when I am in a horrible mood and the results were just as horrible. So, go to your worldwide photowalk with an open mind. Know that it’s a day of celebration and take your photographs with a fun, joyous, and happy attitude. What I mean, is that your photography should come form a place within you that loves exploring the world and photography. Some scenes you shoot may require you to expose the grunge or sadness of a scene, but it still comes from a place of greatness within you. If you’re going to the photowalk with a grumpy attitude you’re probably not going to find it. You’re going to find a PhotoFAIL.