Has anyone from USA traveled to Canada with production gear? What customs say
 

What should I anticipate from Canadian Customs traveling to Toronto with camera gear.

Dress like "survivor man"

Smile when you bend over for the man

Squat & Cough!

Well, it's not North Korea.... are you really worried about what Canada is going to think of some lenses and electronics?

Bring that picture of you with the Stanley cup and you'll be fine.

Read this:

US Customs & Photographers Who Travel With Their Equipment

Fill out the 4457 form!

Don't shove anything up your ass. They will see it on the xray

Just say you are a big fan of Strange Brew and use hoser and eh alot in your vocabulary

Yes they question you. When I traveled from US to Montreal with a video camera for an adult convention I was stopped and questioned at customs. I think I flat out told them I'll be taking videos of models and after a bunch of suspicious questioning they let me in.

This was in 2003 or so, I dont know if anything has changed since then

Tell them you are coming there to film their mothers.

Tell them you are freelance, you are NOT being paid for the assignment ! :2 cents:

tell them exactly what you're doing and where you're going np. cameras, condoms, forms, etc. they will ask a million questions but soon you'll be on your way. its nice country canada just very cold most of the time

That's probably a good idea. In all seriousness, I've travelled back and forth a lot, same business but with server equipment - only trouble has been on the US side.

Yup... Keep it simple and you'll be fine

Hobby, freelance sometimes get paid.

Some of our customs agents are women. Make sure you offer them starring roles in your next production. They love flattery like that.

If you're worried...

Buy tickets to a hockey game and cross the border wearing a hockey jersy. When the ask why and where you're going make sure you flash the goon the hockey ticket.

If they should happen to check the trunk with your equipment be honest and say you're a photographer.... BUT tell them you just left/forgot the equipment in the car.

Remember that border guards are racist meathead goons that have a gun and the ability to make foriegn policy. Kiss their ass and act like a (polite) stupid white tourist looking to spend a tuckload of money and they'll leave you alone.

And for fucksakes do NOT have any weed or paraphanalia in your car.

If you have your forms & passport ready probably nothing...you might have more trouble dealing with US border guards on your way back though :1orglaugh

Thanks lot guys