I had the delightful opportunity to test out a Jo Totes camera bag in August, when I took it with me to the Blogher 10 blogging conference.  In fact, the Black Rose was my carry-on bag for that trip.  This bag, designed for ladies, is incredibly roomy, versatile, and very cute.

The box it came in made me giggle.  I’m a sucker for things like that.

Though it is not officially rated to house a laptop, I was able to carry my small MacBook in it.  In addition, I packed my Canon Powershot G9, a loaner Digital Rebel XT with standard lens, batteries, charger, cards, and all my personal items, such as wallet, phone, hand sanitizier… you get the picture.  It’s roomy!

And speaking of that room on the inside, it’s also customizable.  The Rose comes with several velcro-functional inserts so that you can create sections as you see fit to house your equipment.  Additionally you’ll find pockets on the inside – a few open ones that you can slide small items into and out of easily, as well as a larger, zippered pocket.  There is also a large, zippered pocket on the backside of the exterior.

I have only had one problem with The Rose, likely a fluke.  It has attached handles, which are fabulous and I like to put them on my shoulder or carry with my hand, but when I needed more comfort and versatility I used the included shoulder strap.  However,  on my second trip using it as a carry-on, on my way home, the metal clasp on the shoulder strap broke. Oh, no!  I was upset because I love the bag so much, and I wanted to be able to keep using it both ways.  I emailed the company representative, and to my delight she said she would send me a new one, free of charge.  That is customer service I can definitely appreciate.  The strap arrived and I have not had any problems since then.  My Black Rose has accompanied me on other trips with the new strap in tow, and performed fabulously.

The Rose I selected was black, but they also come in other colors, all of them with the beautiful sash and rose detail on the front that makes me feel just a little flirty and cute.  Okay, a lot.  And several people asked me about it as I carried it around the conference during times when I wanted to have my laptop accessible.  And wait until you look inside!  How adorable is this pattern?  It makes me do the goofy grin.

If you’re looking for a camera bag that does its job well and makes you even cuter than you already are at the same time, definitely check out The Rose.  I would recommend it as a gift or a purchase for yourself, because it is affordable, roomy, customizable, versatile, and adorable. Make sure to check out all the styles and colors at Jo Totes, and find the one that fits you best.