travelling gear photography

Ultimate Travel Photography Gear List

One of our most frequently asked questions is “what kind of travel photography gear do you carry with you when you travel?” We always answer this question with big smiles and ‘well, do you have an hour to talk camera gear?’.

We run Divergent Travelers as a professional travel blog and this means we carry large amounts of gear with us everywhere we travel to around the globe.

It might seem obnoxious to the average traveler, but this is our job and we need this equipment to bring you great content from our travels.

As a couple, we tackle content creation as a team. I handle the majority of the photography and David handles the majority of the video filming, creation, and production.

We’ve spent years learning how to use our travel photography gear and are constantly adapting and growing our skill sets to better showcase the world of travel on our site, social channels and for our clients.

This travel photography gear list is not the be-all, end-all of travel camera gear lists. These items are the ones we prefer to use based on our styles, needs and wants when in the field.

When you grow as a content producer, you’ll start to learn the things you prefer to have over others and it takes time to build the kit that is perfect for your needs.

With that said, we love our equipment and can stand behind recommending each piece to anyone that is looking for something new to add to their own kits.

We’re going to break this post down by what we currently have in our camera bags but we’re also going to tell you some of the other equipment we’ve carried with us before as well.

Table of Contents

The following list of equipment is what I am currently carrying in my travel camera bag. It’s taken a long time and a lot of trial and error to get it narrowed down but this current setup meets most of my needs while on the road.

Camera Bags

First off, before I tell you what is IN my gear bag, let’s talk about WHAT gear bag(s) I have. Honestly, I have a love/hate relationship with camera bags and despite my best efforts, have yet to find the perfect bag for me.

I am not giving up hope, but so far the search has been in vain. I currently alternate between 2 bags depending on the type of trip and location we are visiting.

• Vanguard Alta Sky 45D Camera Backpack – this is my ‘major’ gear bag. It is designed for camera gear and this thing holds A LOT of camera gear. It has served me well in Europe, Africa, Antarctica, South America, Asia, etc but truth be told the fit isn’t perfect for me. I have a short torso (hence my lifetime woe of finding backpacks that work) so when this bag is loaded with gear, it sits on my lower back strangely. I am able to adjust it in the shoulder straps and hip belt, but alas, still gives me back issues when I spend a day hiking with it loaded down. The upside, is that it is small enough to use as a carry-on, so I exclusively do, and it holds all the gear I need, plus my Macbook Pro.
• Pacsafe Venturesafe X30 Backpack – this is not a camera bag, it’s a hiking backpack but it works fine. It fits me really well and I have converted it into a camera bag by using camera inserts I removed from another bag. The limiting factor here is that I can only carry a small amount of camera gear with me. My camera insert holds 1 spare lens (not my telephoto) and my camera body with a lens attached. If I squeeze things just right I can fit a couple of filters, batteries, charger and my strap in there but it’s a tight fit. It’s great for trips when I won’t need a variety of lenses or accessories.  I also use the hydration slip as a laptop sleeve.

Other bags I use for travel photography and find incredibly useful, depending on the job and destination, include:

• Think Tank Holster 50 V2.0 – I LOVE this holster sling bag for working in the field. Particularly because it has a solid, shaped form that doesn’t collapse AND it fits my camera when a telephoto lens is attached.
• Think Tank Holster 20 V2.0 – This bag is made exactly like the one above, except it houses shorter lenses. I often carry two bodies with me in the field and this is a great way to protect your cameras when doing this. When we were traveling in Antarctica , I used this setup exclusively when we made landings and went on zodiac trips.

Over the years I have tried so, so many camera gear bags. We’ve written about this journey and highlighted many of these bags in the below articles too. If you’re on a similar journey, be sure to read these as well.

• Best Camera Sling Bags: Top 5 + How to Choose the Right One
• Hiking Camera Backpack for Travel: Top 5 + How to Choose
• How to Choose the Best Camera Backpack for Travel

• Sony A7Riii Body – After shooting on Canon for my entire photography career, I decided to make the switch to Sony and moved to a mirrorless system. This was a steep learning curve but now that I’m in the groove I absolutely love the decision. The technology in these bodies is unmatched and I find that this has changed the way I shoot photos, in a good way.
• Canon 6d DSLR Body – I love this full-frame body and the Canon 6D performs very well in low light conditions too. At the beginning of 2020, I switched to a mirrorless Sony system, but I kept this body and a couple of Canon lenses. It is a great backup camera or second body when needed.
• GoPro Hero 9 Black  – we actually take a ton of photos with our GoPro cameras when we travel. They allow you to capture unique perspectives in situations where it isn’t easy or possible to use a DSLR.
• GoPro Hero 8 Black – We love our GoPro cameras. You can’t go wrong with a camera that can be used on any adventure and the GoPro can take on any adventure you throw at it.
• GDome Underwater System – this is the most fun piece of equipment we have right now. Ever wondered how we capture those awesome over/underwater photos ? This little device, paired with our GoPro, does just that.
• iPhone 11 Max – yep, we use our phones to capture moments during our travels too. Mostly, we will use our phone to create stuff for social media and editorial use. The technology on the newer phones is so good that it’s a tool we do not overlook to grab shots on the road.

If you’re looking for advice on what cameras to buy, be sure to take a look at these articles too:

• Best Camera for Safari: How to Choose & What to Avoid
• Top 5 Best Wildlife Photography Cameras
• How to Decide Which GoPro to Buy
• Best Drones for Adventure and Travel Photography from A Real Drone User

My Lens Collection

Lenses are the most important part of your travel photography gear kit. Your photos will be affected by the quality and types of glass you use on your body.

Having top quality lenses should be your first goal in buying the equipment as it will give you the best chances of capturing sharp, quality images.

• Sony 16-35mm f2.8 GM Wide Lens – this lens rivals the below for an everyday lens for me. With it being wide, it gives you a bit more room to be creative and capture things, especially in tight spaces. I use this lens a lot.
• Sony 24-105mm f4 G OSS Lens – this is my everyday walk-around lens. I shoot the majority of my photos with this lens. I am not crazy about it being f/4 but the compromise is a bit more zoom length. This is worth it for me as travel photography requires flexibility when walking around.
• Sony 200-600mm f5.6 G OSS Lens – Instead of going with the 100-400 in Sony, as I intended to keep the Canon 100-400 lens, I opted for more reach. This lens is crazy sharp but heavy. I can shoot it handheld, but not all day like I could the 100-400. I use it with a monopod or tripod and exclusively for shooting wildlife.
• Canon 24-105mm L Lens – kept this lens for my Canon system as a backup.
• Canon 100-400mm L Lens – this lens has a fabulous, high-quality telephoto zoom, so I kept it around when I switched systems. I don’t take this lens on every trip, but I’ve used it a lot to photograph wildlife in Africa and Southeast Asia .

If you’re looking for advice on which lenses you should purchase, be sure to check out the following articles:

• Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography (Canon/Nikon/Sony)

Lens Filters

Filters are absolutely necessary for creating great shots. They help you control the light that enters the lens and cut glare in your photos.

There is a massive variety of filters and they come in a wide spectrum of quality and use. When it comes to filters, you get what you pay for. These are the filters I carry and use.

• B+W Circular Polarizer MRC 77mm – if you are only going to carry one filter, then hands down it should be a circular polarizer. This filter will reduce glare and pump up the color in your photos. If you have ever wondered how I get those eye-popping shots of the water, this is the key.
• B+W UV Filter MRC 77mm – I use a UV filter on my lens to mainly protect my expensive glass investment. This filter will also reduce light flare in the lens but I use it for protective reasons.
• ND4 , ND6 & ND8 Neutral Density Filters – I do carry a small collection of ND filters with me but this is not an item I use very often. They come in handy if you want to take long exposures of a waterfall, river or the ocean during daylight hours.

For more advice on choosing filters, be sure to check out these articles too:

• Best Polarizing Filters: Top 5 + How to Choose the Right One
• Best ND Filters: Top 5 + How To Choose the Right One
• Best UV Filter: Top 5 + How To Choose the Right One
• Best GoPro Filters: Top 5 + How to Choose the Right Ones

Photography Accessory Collection

• Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 – this little accessory has been a game-changer for me when it comes to hiking. I used to struggle with where to put my bug camera when I was carrying a pack. With this clip, I can attach my camera to ANY backpack leaving my hands (and hips) free to move. I do not go anywhere without this item.
• Vanguard VEO 2 265CB Carbon Tripod – a tripod is essential to capture sharp night shots, sharp depth of field and long exposures. Traveling with one is a pain but it’s essential to creating good content. This particular tripod is lightweight and packs well. We carry two of them with us on most trips.
• Vanguard VEO 2 AM234 Aluminum Monopod – we also never leave home without this item. It is great for stabilizing the long telephoto lenses and video equipment.
• Sony RM-VPR1 Remote Switch – an essential for timelapse, long exposures in Bulb and HDR. Note, these are not universal, so be sure you do some research on which one your camera needs before purchasing.
• SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards – we both carry lots of fast memory and only use extreme pro cards that write at 95mbps. They deliver top quality and write faster than I can click the shutter button.
• Batteries – I probably have no less than 4 spare batteries on me at any given time. Not because I go through the battery, these things actually hold a charge forever and last a long time, but because you never know what could happen. Batteries die, they drop to the ground and shatter, they go missing and they fall apart. Always pack spares.
• Optech Sling Comfort Strap – I adore this strap and it goes a long way for my comfort when I am carrying my camera around all day, every day when traveling. It has a neoprene padding that has never rubbed or chaffed me. It distributes the weight well and I can’t live without it.

For advice on choosing the best camera accessories, be sure to read the following articles:

• Best Camera Accessories for Any Photographer
• Choosing the Best Camera Strap: Know Your Options

Other Camera Gear I’ve Used

• Canon 60d DSLR Body – this body served me well for a long time and was used to capture many of the photos you have seen on our blog and social channels over the past couple of years. I’ve only been shooting on the Canon 6D for a year, so everything prior to that was captured on this bad boy. Great camera. The current model is Canon 90d .
• Canon Remote Switch – this switch works for the Canon 60/90d camera body for long exposures.
• Canon Rebel T2i Body – was my first DSLR body. I outgrew it pretty fast so I didn’t carry it very long but it is a really great starter camera. The current model is the Canon Rebel T7i .
• Opteka 6.5mm Wide Angle-Fisheye Lens – it is crazy fun and I used it a lot in Africa to capture astrophotography. It’s formatted for a crop sensor though, so I won’t be using it on the Canon 6d body.

Travel Video Gear

Now that you’ve seen inside my photography gear bag, we’re going to take a look into David’s camera gear bag. He produces the video that you see on our website and social channels with a wide variety of video gear.

We carry our gear separately and always carry all of it on the plane. Some people check their drones, but I think that is crazy.

Vanguard Alta Sky 51D Backpack – this bag has proved priceless for us. It’s the perfect bag for every piece of equipment that David needs to carry when we travel. It holds EVERYTHING. Drone, camera, accessories, and laptop. It’s too big for me to carry but it works well for him and we highly recommend this bag for the function and quality.

Travel Video Cameras

• DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone – we capture all of our aerial photography and video with this bad boy. It was top of the line when we bought it and it produces exceptional quality.
• Sony FDRAX53/B 4K HD Video Recording Camcorder – This is one of the best professional video cameras on the market. Shots full 4K and is easy to use. It has lots of manual adjustments that allow us to capture some pretty epic video clips.
• GoPro Hero 8 Black – this is the best GoPro yet! We just added this camera to the kit and after using it a couple of times already, we love the quality. Really looking forward to having it in the kit.
• GoPro Karma Grip – the ultimate in stabilization for the GoPro. We recently added this to the video kit and so far we are loving it. Very stable, very high-quality content coming from this device.
• iPhone 11 Max – oddly, we don’t mind using our iPhone to capture quick video clips, do FB live, Snapchat and Instagram Stories. Yea, it’s not a fancy video camera but it produces pretty good quality and it very handy.

Travel Video Filters

Filters really go a long way to capturing quality in video footage. We use the same types of filters for a video that we do for photography but since the lens sizes are different, I will list them out for you.

• Polar Pro Drone Filter Kit – these are the best filters on the market for the DJI drones. We made the mistake of buying cheap filters when we first bought the drone and it ruined all our footage. Don’t skimp on filters, you really do get what you pay for.
• B+W UV Filter 72mm – used to protect the lens glass and reduce light flare.
• B+W 72mm Circular Polarizer MRC – this filter will reduce glare and pump up the color in your photos.
• Polar Pro Polarizer for GoPro Hero 4 – for the same reasons you want the polarizer above, this makes the colors really pop on GoPro photos.

Travel Video Accessories

• Drone Controller Monitor Hood – this thing is brilliant in blocking the sun from the iPad screen when we are flying the drone.
• Drone Controller Range Booster – if you’ve ever had connection issues when flying your drone, you wouldn’t leave home without these!
• GorillaPod Flexi Tripod – this little guy comes in handy when we want to do timelapse with the phone or GoPro cameras. On occasion, we will use it to fix the DSLR too.
• Go Pro Sport Pole – must-have for capturing selfies with your GoPro. We also use it to film underwater from boats and docks.

Photography Storage & Post Processing

• MacBook Pro – we each carry a Macbook Pro 16 inch with 750GB RAM and 1TB HD. These computers are massive workhorses and handle the load of processing all our photos and video from our travels. They’re lightning-fast and allow us to be processing and multi-tasking at the same time. We love them.
• Adobe Premiere Pro – all of our video editing is done with this software. We pay the monthly fee to Adobe to use it from their online source.
• Adobe Lightroom – rather than using the online version, I own the hard copy and have it installed on my Macbook.
• WD 2TB My Passport External Hard Drive – we have several of these things and use them to back up and store all of our photos and footage
• WD 1TB My Passport External Hard Drive – while we have a couple of 1TB, I prefer the 2TB size above because I store both RAW and edited files.
• WD Nomad Rugged Case – we never worry about our hard drives for anything with these cases. They keep out the dust, moisture, and sun. We don’t even worry about dropping them, this case is awesome.
• Universal Power Strip – one of these is absolutely necessary to keep everything charged.
• Portable Power Bank – this comes in handy to keep the phone and GoPro charged if we have a long day of filming.
• Skross World Travel Adapter – this is the best adapter we have found for plugging in our 3 prong power strip.
• SmugMug – we use SmugMug to store and showcase photos. It’s a great platform and if you’re interested in signing up, the link will get you 20% off your first subscription to the service.

So there you have it, this is all of our gear that we carry and travel with us all around the world. We use this equipment to create quality content and showcase the globe. Everyone has their own needs and wants when it comes to photography gear bu this works for us.

Keep in mind there is no one size fits all with camera equipment but if you’ve ever wondered what we use to create our content, there you have it.

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Travel planning resources, about lina stock.

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

9 thoughts on “Ultimate Travel Photography Gear List”

Excellent tips for travel photography. I am reading your blog and i get the really awesome photography tips and i am also canon 6d cam. It’s a really full frame camera is very useful for travel photography. I found this much useful information on your blog. Thanks for posting something worth reading. Great work.

Thank you for sharing. I love traveling and have been looking to upgrade my gear this sure helps! I am hoping my days of editing average pictures with presets are behind me 🙂

Glad you enjoyed the article and our insight on gear. Cheers!

I’ve been using Canon for many years and I agree, they produce high-quality video and image.. the Canon 60d works great.. A Gopro is definitely a must-have for adventure travel too and the 18-200 lens.. I had the Sigma 18-250 and I wouldn’t buy it again..Some people say good things about the Tamron 18-270 because they give you a 5 year warranty… but I’d go for Canon. Thanks for sharing!

Great article, thanks! Photography is a big thing for my husband and me. What software do you use to edit your videos? (And where do you find your background music?)

Glad you found it useful! We edit our videos with Adobe Premier Pro. Music is sourced from many various sources.

Thanks for your website, it is really great 🙂 I really love to travel too because it an amazing experience!

Thank you for sharing this! I haven’t seen such a comprehensive gear list yet! I am about to purchase an 80D (I think, I’m terribly indecisive).

You’re welcome and glad to hear you found it helpful. The Canon 80d is a very good product. Go for it!

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24 Essential Pieces Of Gear For The Travelling Photographer

When you’ve booked the photography trip of your dreams, or a client has sent you halfway around the world to shoot your next assignment, you won’t want to be without these essential items. It might seem like a pretty long list but thankfully many of the items are simple, small and inexpensive. Bookmark this list for reference before your next trip!

This list evolves. Items may be added, and some items may be replaced as I learn about new things, or manufacturers discontinue previous products. On occasion, despite the name, there have even been more than 21 items on it :p

Quick Reference List

Further down is a detailed explanation of why each of these items is on my list but if you just need quick links then here you are!

• Panasonic Eneloop Batteries with Think Tank Battery Holders
• LaCie Rugged Drives
• At least one short prime lens
• Kikkerland Travel Adapter
• Power Strip
• Anker 6-port USB charger
• Anker Powercore Lite 20,000
• Peak Design Tech Pouch
• Memory Cards & Reader
• Tabletop Tripod
• Camera Rain Cover
• Nemo Design Fillo travel pillow
• Headlamp and Flashlight
• Digital Luggage Scales
• Travel Tripod
• Non Branded Camera Strap
• 12v Inverter
• Customs Documentation
• Strobe Documentation
• Cleaning Gear
• Roller Bags by Think Tank Photo
• Peak Design Travel Backpack

1. Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries

I’ve no doubt that there’s at least one item in your kit list that needs AA batteries, and maybe AAAs too. When you get to your destination, the last thing you want is to have to waste time going in search of batteries.

I used to have a real mix of rechargeable batteries but when Panasonic’s Eneloop brand came along a few years ago I threw everything else out and switched over to these amazing NiMH batteries. What’s so special about them? If left unused, they last forever – well, as near as makes no difference. Gone are the days when a set of unused rechargeables would lose power over time. With the Eneloops I can grab a set that I haven’t touched in 12 months and know that there is still juice in them for the job. In fact after a year of stagnation, Panasonic says they maintain 85% of their power which is extremely impressive. These days I pretty much always throw another 4-pack in my shopping cart every time I make an order from B&H Photo .

The best battery charger I have ever found is the Nitecore D4 , and I keep all my sets of batteries in the awesome Think Tank AA Battery Holders which, despite their name, also work very well for AAA batteries too!

2. Rugged Hard Drives

It goes without saying that you’ll need a way to backup your images on the road. Once again, if you’ve spent the money to get somewhere there’s no point in trying to save a few bucks by buying the cheapest drive you can find. Go straight for something which is built to last, and for me that means using the excellent LaCie Rugged drives . I’ve been using these things for over a decade, and even though some of them have dents that make them look like they’ve been to war, they just keep on ticking.

At the moment I’m using a Rugged RAID, which has a pair of drives inside it, and also a Rugged Thunderbolt drive. Both of these drives have a built-in Thunderbolt cable which is great, because that’s one less thing to have to remember.

My advice is to always have at least two external backup drives and either use Lightroom or Photo Mechanic to import your cards to both of them, or use Carbon Copy Cloner to mirror the drives every evening. Whilst you travel, keep one on you at all times, and another in your checked luggage to protect you from thieves.

3. At Least One Short Prime Lens

It used to be the case that the prime lens was king when it came to sharpness and contrast. Much has changed in the last few years though, and more and more people are piecing kits together with zooms instead of primes. My go-to kit is the Canon 11-24mm f/4 L , the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L II and the Canon 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS II . In three lenses I have an 11-400 mm range and all of them produce images with sharpness that rivals, and sometimes exceeds, prime lenses that I have used.

So why am I suggesting you still pack a prime? Well, to start with let’s define my suggestion a little more. When I say “short prime lens” I’m thinking particularly in the 24mm – 50mm range. I’m also thinking of lenses that are faster than f/2.8. So maybe a 24mm f/1.4 (my usual pick – also great for astrophotography) or maybe something much cheaper like a 50mm f/1.8.

There’s two reasons, and the first is low light usage. I almost always find myself shooting in very low light at some point on a trip. Whether it’s inside a church or other interesting building, or outside wandering a city at night. Whilst it’s true that high ISO shooting has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, it’s always nice to able to get a higher shutter speed if it’s needed.

The second reason for having a fast prime is that a wider aperture offers a very different look than most zoom lenses – a much shallower depth of field when used wide open. Note that this does not have anything to do with it being a prime lens, it’s just that a zoom lens with such a wide aperture would be hugely expensive and physically impractical, so they just aren’t made. If you (or your client) have spent a great deal of money getting you to a far-flung location, you’ll want to come away from that with a broad selection of images. Adding a prime lens to your kit is a quick way to widen that selection and bring back something with a different look to that which is achievable with with zooms, particularly standard kit zooms with maximum apertures in the range of f/3.5-4.

If you are using a kit lens like a 17-55 then a 50mm f/1.8 would be a great choice and these can be had for well under $200 for Canon, Nikon and others. M4/3 users have many great options like the 17mm f/1.8 Olympus lens and Fuji users should look at the 35mm f/1.4 .

4. Plug Adapters Of Course…. But These Ones Are AWESOME

Plug adapters don’t have to be big bulky things. I have three of these and I can fit them all in my pocket simultaneously! They cost under $10 from amazon and you should just go out and buy a handful right now. The ones I have are branded Kikkerland, but you can also find the exact same thing branded APC and a few other things as well. They originate from Japan, and it used to be the case that you had to import them directly from the manufacturer but thankfully some Western companies have finally started to see the value in this design. They are so small and flat that you can easily stick them in pockets all over your bags. So far I’ve not been to a country where I haven’t been able to use these successfully. An absolute must-have item!

5. Power Strip

Hotels and motels with only one power socket happen. On safari you might be in a camp with a generator that will only have one outlet as well. If you bring some kind of power strip with you then you’ll only need to use a single plug adapter on that strip and then you can charge 5 or 6 devices at the same time.

The key thing here is to remember that if you want a true international solution then you need something that is rated to take up to 240v. In N.America we only use 110v but many places use more than this and a 110v power strip will get instantly fried in those places.

Unfortunately it’s not always that easy to figure out if your strip or block will work abroad, so it’s important to do thorough research into your chosen product before you travel – or in this case, let me do it for you.

The Anker PowerCore Cube is the perfect travel solution for photographers. Not only is it rated for 90V – 264V, the cubic design also makes it easy to charge multiple camera batteries at the same time. Something that’s not always possible with side-by-side sockets. It even has three USB ports for keeping phones and smaller camera charged.

One important think I need to mention is that on the device itself, and in the manual, it says “Input:125VAC”. This makes it sound as though it’s not rated for 240v overseas, but I spoke to Anker directly about this and word from their product engineers is that the 125VAC marking are simply to satisfy some US regulatory standards. They told me that this is absolutely rated for 90V – 264V, meaning you can use it anywhere in the world. Simply pair it with one of the previously mentioned plug adapters and you’re good to go.

6. Anker USB Charger

Every year I seem to add another thing to my bag that charges via USB. When you get to your hotel it can be a struggle to find enough power sockets and we’ve all experienced the situation where the one nearest the bedside table is actually under the bed so your phone ends up charging on the floor beneath you. The fact is, a lot of places were designed before our reliance on such devices.

These Anker USB chargers have a power cord attached to them so you can easily position the actual USB ports in a convenient spot on a table, and then run the cable to the wall outlet. It’s a simple product but it does the job admirably and also means you won’t leave any USB devices behind in your room because you plugged them in under a bed or desk and didn’t see them when you were packing up. Yep…… speaking from experience here!! The latest versions from Anker even have USB-C power delivery, so you can use them to power a laptop such as a Macbook.

These items so far are what I would consider to be “the essentials”. If you’ve booked a once in a lifetime trip, perhaps even a photo workshop with me, then this stuff should be in your bag. The total price of it all is minimal when compared with the overall cost of your trip.

What follows next is what I’d call the “luxuries”. These are items that I take with me, and for ME they are essentials and come on every trip, but I’m sure that some people who don’t necessarily make a living from their photography might find them a little over the top to be called “essentials”. Nonetheless I do recommend them because for me there is nothing worse than having gear trouble when all you want to be doing is enjoying a new culture and making images.

7. Anker Powercore Lite 20,000 mAh USB Battery

The Powercore Lite 20,000 mAh battery pack from Anker is a newer model that is, as the name suggests, much lighter than previous batteries with such a high capacity. DSLR and mirrorless camera batteries typically have a capacity of under 2,000 mAh, so you could potentially recharge your camera ten times with this thing! Of course the caveat is that your camera needs to be capable of accepting a charge via USB, but that’s something which is becoming increasingly common these days, and it’s a standard feature on all the recent mirrorless camera that have come to market.

The battery can be recharged using either USB-C or micro-USB and two USB type-A outputs allow you to charge your camera and a phone or other USB device at the same time. For a lot of travellers this could mean you don’t need to take charger or spare batteries with you on a short trip at all! Even if you used it to charge your phone 3-4 times and your camera 5 or 6 times that’s certainly going to be enough for a few days. It’s pretty incredible how light and affordable battery technology has gotten in the last few years!

8. Peak Design Tech Pouch

The Tech Pouch is a brilliantly designed accessory organizer that’ll keep all your cables, chargers and small accessories organized. There’s even a pass-through for a charging cable so you can things outside of the pouch while keeping a small USB battery pack inside it.

I actually use two of these on my travels. The black one is used for charging and computer peripherals, while the green one is used for all my camera accessories like batteries, memory cards, shutter release cables, cleaning kit and filter accessories. One lives in my camera bag and one lives in my laptop bag.

The Peak Design Tech Pouch is available for $59.95.

9. Cards & Card Readers

There’s not much that needs to be said about this particular item. Each to their own with card brand choice, personally I have always used Sandisk Extreme cards and I’ve never had a failure. Just make sure you take a couple more than you think you might need, to allow for the potential loss or failure of one. I use the Lexar USB 3 reader because USB is a more universal standard than Thunderbolt and that way if my Apple laptop dies then I can connect the USB reader to pretty much any kind of computer I can find. One other thing I will note is that the USB reader lives in my laptop bag permanently. No excuses. I used to take the one from my office and use that on the road but you only need to forget that once to realize that it’s well worth paying the extra $30 to have a guarantee that there’s one in your bag.

10. Tabletop Tripod or Clamp

The tripod police are out to get you these days! It’s all too common to visit a tourist attraction or even a public space and see the “No Tripods” sign. Sometimes it’s not enforced and sometimes it is so you should always have a plan-B. There’s two options: A tabletop tripod or a small clamp system.

If I’m not sure what situation I’ll encounter then I take the tripod but sometimes I know ahead of time that the clamp is a better solution. The Really Right Stuff TFA-01 Ultra tripod is sturdy enough to take pro-sized cameras, unlike most of the cheaper options from the likes of Manfrotto. Yeah it’s not cheap but if it makes the difference between getting the shot and not, just one time, then it’s worth it for me. Don’t think of it just as a tripod for use on tables either, you can just as easily use it against a wall to brace yourself for a longer exposure. I pair mine with the RRS BC-18 Microball , and I’ve actually found that it holds heavier weights far better than the larger BH-25 ball head.

These days I’m also taking the Really Right Stuff Multi Clamp with me, but the Manfrotto Nano clamp is pretty neat too, and a bit cheaper. These work really well when there are safety railings around, and all these options are small enough that you can put them in your carry-on bag. That way if the airline loses your checked luggage with your larger tripod in it, you’ve got something to get you started. The RRS Multi Clamp has threaded sockets all over it for attaching a ball head, or the BC-18 Microball . B&H Photo actually sell what they call the Travel Clamp Kit , which is the Microball paired with the MultiCamp.

11. Camera Rain Cover

As well as various power solutions, you’ll notice many items on this list related to maximizing photographic potential on your travels. A good camera rain cover is another such accessory. In a lot of hotter climates, rain is a daily occurrence in the afternoon, and the dramatic skies of monsoon season in Asia are actually a good reason to choose that time for a trip. Wherever you are in the world, though, you’d be lucky to spend a couple of weeks there without some precipitation. Taking a rain cover allows you to experiment in these conditions, and while it is typically harder to get great shots in the rain, you often find something great that you would otherwise have missed.

The Think Tank Emergency series is the best camera rain cover for most people. Available in three sizes, these waterproof, lightweight, well-made, packable, and reasonably priced covers include an ingenious hot shoe mounting method that secures the camera in windy conditions. I always have one of these three sizes in my bag:

• Emergency Rain Cover Small – For cameras with short primes, wide-angle, and standard zooms such as 24-70mm, 24-105mm, 16-35mm, or 14-24mm
• Emergency Rain Cover Medium – For cameras with medium-telephoto zoom lenses such as 70-200mm, 100-400mm, 100-500mm
• Emergency Rain Cover Large – For cameras with a lens size between 300mm and 800mm

12. Nemo Design Fillo pillow

I’ve spent a very long time looking for the ultimate travel pillow, and I’ve finally found it with the Fillo by Nemo Design. This little pillow features a layer of memory foam that sits on top of an inflatable cushion inside a super comfy pillow case. Honestly, it’s nearly as good as the pillow on my bed. Can you tell I like this thing by my very enthusiastic video?

13. Head Lamp and Flash Light

If you’re on a photo specific trip then chances are you’re going to be up before dawn, whether it’s on safari in Africa or shooting landscapes in Iceland. Some form of illumination is a must-have item because you don’t want to drop a filter or a precious memory card and not realize it. I always have a headlamp on me and my current favourite is the USB chargeable Petzl Reacktik +, although the slightly cheaper Actik is also an excellent option. The main thing to look out for is finding one that has a red LED option. Red light doesn’t mess up your night vision so it’s a great feature to have when you’re shooting at night.

I find that having a flashlight is also very useful. A headlamp has a pretty wide beam, but a flashlight with a tighter beam can be used for light painting, and also for focussing on foreground objects in night time shots. Just put the camera in live view at 100% magnification and then shine the light on the object to focus manually. Works a treat! I pack at least one of these two items into my carry-on bag just in case the airline “misplaces” my checked luggage.

For my flashlight I’m currently using the Fenix UC35 . Like the headlamp, it’s USB rechargeable so I can always top it up from a car charger or even my laptop if necessary. At 960 lumens, it packs a serious punch!

14. Travel Scale

When I travel I like to enjoy the excitement and anticipation, and not stress about things like overweight bags and re-packing at the check-in desk. I keep a small digital scale in my travel “go bag” and make sure everything is evenly distributed around my luggage before I leave the hotel. They don’t cost a lot, weigh next to nothing and other people are always asking to borrow it!

I’ve written in great depth about flying with photography gear , and that post has links to baggage regulations for every major airline.

15. Travel Tripod

I have a couple of tripods but my favorite is the utterly brilliant Really Right Stuff TFC-14 . A small carbon fiber 4-section tripod which is far more stable than it deserves to be for something so lightweight. It’s a pricey option, but it’ll last a whole lifetime.

I do appreciate that many folks won’t want to spend that much on a tripod though so you might also want to check out the Benro Travel Angel II series or the Manfrotto BeeFree series . In my opinion it’s worth getting the carbon versions of these.

Travel tripods are typically 4 or 5 section tripods that are much smaller and lighter than regular tripods. These days I really appreciate the weight savings and love to use one if I’m not taking any of the big supertelephoto lenses with me. Always remember to use a cable release so that you don’t introduce vibrations from your hand into the system when doing longer exposures.

16. Non Branded Camera Straps

It’s best not to wander around places with gear that screams CANON or NIKON, it’ll only make you a target for thieves. Take the original camera strap off and replace it with something simple and black. For me, the huge wide neoprene ones are too hot for many Eastern climates and also unnecessarily bulky in my bag. I use the excellent quick release straps from Peak Design (read the Peak Design Leash review here ). They cost less and fold up small enough that you can stash a couple in your bag without even knowing they are there. They also work with the previously mentioned Field Pouch from #6.

The Peak Design Leash is available for $39.95

If you want something that offers a little more comfort, check out the slightly wider Slide the Slide Lite straps that I have also reviewed on this site. These ones range from $49.95 to $64.95 .

17. 12V Cigarette Lighter Inverter + USB

Powering your gear can be a challenge in some places and that’s why so many of the items on this list relate to that in some way. One thing you can nearly always be sure of is that somewhere there will be a car and that means there’s a 12v battery. I always carry this simple inverter with me wherever I go and it has saved my ass more than once when I’ve simply forgotten to put my camera on charge the night before. It’s pretty lightweight and it’ll also power your phone via USB so you can make use of the GPS and mapping apps to get to where you need to go. Some of the options on Amazon even come with crocodile clips so you can connect them directly to a 12v battery.

18. Customs Documentation

This is one of those slightly less than helpful situations where I have to preface this section with the caveat that this will vary depending on where you live, so it’s hard to be too specific. If you are traveling with very large amounts of equipment then you should use an ATA Carnet . Essentially this amounts to a passport for your gear. When you enter a country you have it checked to make sure that what’s on your Carnet is actually with you, and then the same is done again when you leave. This prevents you from selling any of it during your visit.

To get a Carnet, in theory you have to put up a huge sum of money as a guarantee that you will return with your gear. This isn’t hugely practical though so you can use an official brokerage company who, for a fee, will guarantee your gear for you. Carnets are valid almost everywhere. The process will take time at the airport though so make sure you factor this in.

Do you absolutely NEED a Carnet? The answer is probably no, especially if you are not a professional. The “official” rules for your country and destination should be studied before coming to your own conclusions but in general my rule tends to be that if I can carry it in my carry-on bag then I’ll go without it. If i need to start shipping stacks of pelican cases then it’s time to get a Carnet for that trip.

In Canada (where I live) there is one other thing you can do that I ALWAYS do. You can go to the customs office before you leave and fill out a form with all your camera and lens serial numbers. It’s called the Y38 form (“Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation”). The customs officer will then look over your gear, stamp it and sign it. Effectively this goes some way to proving that when you return back to Canada with the gear, they know you didn’t buy it while you were abroad since you have some proof of its prior existence in the country. NOTE: There are no guarantees though. You may still be asked to provide proof of purchase. I believe that a similar system is in place in the USA (Customs form 4457) as well, and likely in other countries too.

19. Documentation For Your Strobes

You only need to pay attention to this one if you plan to travel with larger battery packs and strobes. If you just use speedlights then you won’t have any issues, but for those of us who occasionally travel with something larger, there’s a whole world of frustration to get into if you forget to bring a few pieces of paper with you.

Whilst most flash manufacturers take great care to make sure their products are ok to fly with, the airport personnel you come across might not know this, or they might not speak the language that’s written on the battery pack. Even when they do, sometimes they just think they know better. Once when travelling back from New Zealand with a sealed Lead-Acid battery from an Elinchrom Ranger I was actually marched off a full 747 that was just about to leave. I was then driven at speed to the other side of the airport to the security department where they then proceeded to take my Ranger pack from me and refused to send it on the plane!

A similar situation also occurred in Japan but thankfully that time I was prepared with the paperwork in hand. Most manufacturers will supply you with the necessary details on the battery pack. I advise that you take 4 copies with you. Tape one copy to the battery pack itself, along with a copy of the instruction manual. In some countries though, security is not allowed to open baggage at all, so this doesn’t work. That’s why you also give a copy to the airline when you check in. Then you keep two copies in your carry-on bag as a backup. You may never need them, but having published this same advice on my own personal blog some years ago I have been inundated with people who have thanked me and “saved their ass” with this advice.

(Yes I did eventually get my Ranger pack back from New Zealand after about a month. I had to get the manufacturer to fax them details on the battery before they admitted that it was legal.)

20. Cleaning Gear

Don’t get stuck halfway around the world with a big speck of dirt on your sensor! All cameras these days have sensors that vibrate when you turn them on and off, and whilst this does keep the majority of dust particles at bay, every now and then something bigger will lodge itself in there and you don’t want that to be on day 1 of your big trip!

Personally I just take the standard rocket blower with me and an Arctic Butterfly brush . The brush spins under battery power to statically charge the bristles and then you can use that charge to lift particles off the sensor. There’s a ton of options out there when it comes to cleaning, all you need to be aware of is that you should take something with you.

21. A Laptop Bag

Most photographers struggle continuously with airline carry-on limits and this makes a good laptop bag very useful as your “personal item” alongside your main camera bag. My three current favourites are the Peak Design Everyday Messenger , the MindShift Exposure 15 and the Think Tank Retrospective 30 V2 . All three of these bags will carry your laptop and computer accessories, with varying amounts of additional space for camera gear.

Reviews: MindShift Exposure 15 review — Peak Design Everyday Messenger review — Think Tank My 2nd Brain Briefcase review .

22. Insurance

You should always have your gear insured whether you are travelling or not, but you must be careful that any policy you do have covers you for your intended destination. The type of policy you have will also likely be dictated by whether you are considered to be a “professional photographer”. Different insurance companies might have varying definitions of that as well. If you are not a professional then it’s usually possible to add your camera gear to a household policy but make sure you check with them to see if there are any geographical limitations.

You might also have to add a rider onto your policy to up the single amount that’s covered for one item. If you have a $10,000 lens you don’t want to find out that the policy will only pay up to $2000 per item. Read the small print and ask a LOT of questions to be safe!

Another thing to double check is whether your gear is covered when it’s locked in an unattended car. Some policies will not cover this and sometimes it’s just impractical to say that you just won’t do it. Move on and find another insurer.

Here in Canada I get a policy for professional photographers from a company called CG&B in Toronto. It has some very specific benefits, like being able to claim the cost of rental equipment should I need to rent if the airline loses my bags (again).

23. Roller Bags By Think Tank Photo

Think Tank roller bags have become the de facto standard in the photography world. Walk into a press room at a major event and you’ll see them stacked from floor to ceiling. They totally dominate the market, and for good reason! Whenever I can, I try to use a roller bag when I’m flying. Any way I can make the travel process a little easier! Lugging 40lbs of gear to gate 497 gets pretty tedious in hot countries. Having said that, sometimes it’s not a practical solution when you get to your location, but if I can, I roll!

Think Tank have a hug range of rollers to suit a variety of carry-on regulations, but the award-winning lightweight Airport Advantage XT really catches my eye at the moment, as well as the new V2 version of the Airport Takeoff which also includes backpack straps.

I really can’t comment on other roller brands since I’ve always been so happy with Think Tank ones that I’ve never had the inkling to try anything else in this department.

US Customers spending over $50 in Think Tank Photo’s online store can get a free gift at checkout after following one of the links to the store from this review–like this one . If you have any issues, please follow the instructions on this page .

24. Peak Design Travel Backpack

The Travel Backpack from Peak Design is unique in the photography world as it the only bag on the market that offers accessories to both customize it for camera gear and the rest of your travel gear. Adjustable in volume from 30-45L, a series of three Photo Cubes are available for your cameras and lenses, as well as additional packing pouches, a tech pouch and even a wash bag among other things.

If you just want to travel with one bag, this is the best bag on the market to achieve that goal. I have already done a full review of the Peak Design Travel backpack which you should read for more details.

Do you have anything to add to the list? Leave us a comment below!

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52 thoughts on “24 Essential Pieces Of Gear For The Travelling Photographer”

Come on… somebody must have something that I’ve forgotten to put on the list? 🙂

Had you thought about using the Pelican 1510 with Fstop ICu instead of Thinktank Roller Derby. that way you could put ICU in Fstop bag you had put in check luggage when you arrived ? is that a viable option ? Thanks

That sort of setup is definitely an option, yes. Similar to this setup: http://shuttermuse.com/lowepro-highline-rl-x400-aw-review/

What about shoes that are waterproof and comfortable for hikes? Also, are there some type of protectors for tripod legs if one has to place tripod in water to get that money shot?

Great Post Dan. I was just wondering about weight restrictions for carry on luggage. Most airlines limit this to 8-10 kgs which is not much. How do you get around this obstacle. Much appreciated Charles

This is a difficult thing to deal with. In fact, in two weeks’ time, I have a flight that only has 7KG or carry-on heading to Tasmania, and it has been a problem to plan for that. I think I must write a post about this topic because there’s far too much to say in a comment. Keep an eye out for it!

If you have not more than 128 GB worth of images on a trip an USB thumb drive is an alternative to a rugged hard disk, although a bit more expensive. But a thumb drive has the advantage that you can slip it in any pants pocket and have at least one backup always right on yourself, no matter what happens to your luggage.

Depending on your location you’ll might be able to get the Pixo C-USB, an universal battery charger which gets its own power from an USB connection. I think it is great since it saves me from packing yet another power supply. Also great for charging camera batteries from solar panels and the like: http://www.pixo.de/p/pixo_cusb.html

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing Marcus!

Two alternatives for items on your list: – The Black Diamond ReVolt is a headlamp also charging via USB, although with max. 100 lm it is not as powerful as the Tikka R+ (max. 170 lm).

– My EDC and travel flashlight is a Olight S10-2: very small, very convenient, very powerful (max. 400 lm): http://amzn.com/B00ELPPI6Q

More great ideas! Thanks for joining the conversation Marcus.

After re-checking my last travel list, one missing item came to my mind: a travel router, e.g. for sharing a WiFi-connection or for providing WiFi where only wired internet access is available. During my last vacation in New Zealand I used a travel router as an outdoor WiFi extender. For that I connected it to a powerbank and put it into a ziploc bag, which was then placed on a screen fence halfway between our ‘bach’ and the house of the landlords. My travel router was the Asus WL-330NUL. Although I’m not completely convinced by its current firmware and its build quality (the cable comes off a bit after some use, but that can be fixed with a drop of superglue), it’s still an interesting product because it’s versatile, lightweight and small: http://www.asus.com/Networking/WL330NUL/

BTW: ziploc bags should be on every travellers’ packing list 🙂

A router is actually something I considered adding to my kit list recently for creating my own WiFi network from a single wired connection in hotels. With ziploc bags should also be gaffer tape 🙂

Great article Dan, I’m heading to NZ in three weeks… I have most of this covered but will add a couple of extra bits to my kit. The Gura Gear cable cases look super handy (they actually look like they’d make great toiletries bags too!) and since I was in the market for a new laptop bag, I pulled the trigger on the My 2nd Brain.

BTW I absolutely agree with Marcus about ziplock bags… I carry a range of sizes like a set of Matryoshka dolls! It does have the unfortunate side effect of making me look like a drug dealer, but their handiness outweighs that by far…

Glad you enjoyed it Dan!

I carry a small roll of toilet tissue, a few first aid items, a small tube of sunscreen, and Clif Bars.

These are great suggestions as well. I guess I could do a follow up post on the “other things” that are not necessarily photogrpahy related. All those items you have listed are essentials for sure!

Bean Bag!!!

A great suggestion. This is an item on my essential wildlife photography gear list.

What I do is, have custom-made camouflage cloth bags. I carry them empty. At destination I purchase rice and filling them. I found rice to be perfect grain for this.

Great job and I really had to think to see if there was anything that I would recommend. All I could come up with is:

-shutter release -microfiber cloth -spare battery for make/model of camera.

Someone mentioned passport- something that I like to do before going abroad is to make sure that I have scanned the picture page and any pertinent visa’s and keep a copy on me and save one in a email file.

Thanks for the great posts and all the other tons of useful info on this site!

Thanks Tim!! Glad you like the site, and thanks for joining the conversation. Good suggestions!

Another useful and interesting article, but no way are most of the items ESSENTIAL. Essential means that without them you cannot do the job. For most of these that is simply not the case.

Thanks! Well if the items were truly essential to taking a picture then the list would, of course, just be a camera and a lens. But these items can be considered essential in a grander scheme. Think of it like a first aid kit. If I was going camping for a few days, I would consider a first aid kit an essential item to pack. No, I might not use the first aid kit, nor do I need it to begin the process of actually hiking to my camp destination, but it’d sure be a bad move to go on the trip without one. The items on this list, after a decade+ of photography travel, can be considered in a similar way. When I pack, they always come with me and every trip, a considerable proportion of them play important roles in allowing me to do the job.

Dan: I’m going to Italy for three week with my wife for our 30th anniversary. How many CF cards should I take and what sizes? Thanks, Craig

Hey Craig, the number of cards you need will depend on the file size your camera is generating per image. If you have a 50MP camera you would need much more CF card space than a camera that shoots 18MP photos, for example. So, what kind of camera do you use?

Canon 5D Mark III I’m taking 12 cards ( 6 are 16 and 6 are 32)

I just need to bite the bullet re backing up. I have an iMac not a MacBook . My wife doesn’t want to bring hers and I don’t want to buy one now. 3 of the 5 hotels will have a public computer and so I’ll use that with my card reader and La Cie Rugged to back up each night. I won’t be able to back up for a week when I’m at hotels without a public computer.

Wow, that is A LOT of CF card space! You will be fine. That’s way more than I have ever used on a trip. One suggestion I could make is that you take advantage of the second card slot in the 5D3 and put a high capacity SD card in it, then set the camera to shoot a medium/large res JPEG image to that card at the same time as shooting RAW files to the CF cards. Then just leave the SD card in the camera for the whole trip and that will give you another backup. Yeah, they’ll be JPEGs but still better than nothing, and because they are just JPEG, you should get your whole trip on the one card with no issues. As long as you aren’t shooting fast-paced action where it might slow the buffer down, then this setup doesn’t give any negatives really.

Great article and a timely reminder to have a look at my current gear. Noticed that the Anker 5 port USB hub is no longer available on Amazon. States that they aren’t sure if/when it will be back in stock.

Amy alternative website to find this on? Thanks again and keep up the great work.

Hey Todd, thanks for the heads up. It’s almost certainly because they will have upgraded to a new model. They do this about once a year. If you just search Anker USB on Amazon you will find the new one I am sure. I will update the links here soon. I know they were about to release a version that also included USB-C plugs.

Excellent tips, Dan! I’m really glad you’ve included the “laptop bag – personal item”, I had to learn that the hard way, but fortunately my equipment wasn’t damaged. I also liked that you thought about thieves and muggers with the whole non-branded strap tips. When traveling abroad is always best to keep a low profile, especially when you’re on the clock. Thanks for sharing!

Glad you liked it!

Thanks so much Dan for the list, some gear that I hadn’t heard of before that I’ll have to check out. I will say for me, the inverters and plugs are great, but I love having actually portable power packs. I have a small 10,000 mAmp that I use for all things USB (phone, go pro batteries, etc). And then on some trips I’ll take my ChargeTech power bank that has two power plugs on it that I can charge batteries, laptop, and basically anything. Thanks for sharing your list!

You’re welcome!

Great article! I noticed that the customs form for Canucks like you and I has changed names, it is now the BSF407-1 form. I really wish the form was available for download, so that it could be filled in ahead of time…But that would mean the govt would have to be more efficient… One thing I have changed, is that I now have ditched the laptop completely, and use a system involving a card reader, external hard drive, and a phone/tablet app that can see both the card & the external drive, and move files from one to the other. Of course, even better than that, there is a great hard drive (now on 2nd gen) with card reader built in & some slick wifi controls to transfer, post to the net, etc…It even acts as USB power supply if need. It is the WD MyPassport wifi. I will likely get one of these for my next extended holiday. I have a blog post describing my setup here: http://www.shawnmoreton.com/travel-photography-how-to-backup-files-on-the-road-travel-light/

Excellent list, you’ve given me some great ideas, thanks!

I am wondering about your Canon battery chargers. Do they normally come with a cable, or do they plug directly into the power outlet as shown in your article?

I shoot with Fuji and my charger has a rather long cable to attach the charger to the power outlet. In the past I have seen tiny, rigid “adapters” that are essentially the two ends of the cable joined together, with the cable bit removed, so it takes up much less space in your bag.

For the life of me I cannot find this product online, so I’m wondering do you know where I could find one? I think they would make a great addition to your list.

They plug in directly for my Canon ones. I like the sound of your rigid adapters, it certainly makes a lot of sense, but I’m not sure where you would find them… If you do happen to find them, come back and let me know and I can add them 🙂

Do you have any suggestions regarding travel monopods,and other gear for inexperienced but serious wildlife photographers? It’s not always practical or desirable to use a tripod when say, running down the beach photographing birds. I need a monopod that can is very lightweight which can fold down to a minimal height,yet extend to a decent height, and some kind of head for it. Thank you for any suggestions.

Hey there! Excellent question. In the past I have found that the gear by Really Right Stuff tends to have very large load capacity for their size. Their stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s the best, so you get what you pay for. They have a small monopod called the MC-14 which is very small, and also an MC-25 that is compact, given its load carrying ability. http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Tripods-Monopods/MonopodsandMounts

Its not photography related but often have I found myself on a long trek or backpacking in the woods to get a shot and i find that a FIRST AID KIT or at least a basic one is a necessity in most outdoors shoots, cause you know safety first too

That’s true, I have one on me at all times for outdoor shoots.

Someone does not understand the meaning of “essential”. If I am hiking I don’t NEED most of this stuff. Most of it is pointless ballast in the rucksack.

The title isn’t “hiking essentials”. I wouldn’t put this stuff in my bag if I was hiking either.

Bag of rice

For what purpose? Stability?

Hey Dan, You mentioned almost each and every which could be useful for a travel photographer, I also have curated a list of important gear for naive travel photographers, It would be great if you can read my blog too. Dan, Please give this blog a look.

Do you own Peppy Prints?

Well written and so wonderful post Dan!! ❤❤Thanks for sharing such a nice post with us and thanks for the value offered here!! I’m bookmarking this post 🙂

Yes, this is a Good one

Hi Dan, I flew to the UK this past June 2022. Before leaving I went to customs to complete the Y38 form (Articles for temporary exportation ) and the customs officer told me that this Y38 card is being phased out very soon. Once phased out, you will need to carry the original bill of sale for the equipment. Also, US customs has told me that those cards mean absolutely nothing to them. I told them it is stamped by Canada customs and the US recognizes Canada customs ! FYI

That is great information, Ian! Thank you for letting me know. I have to go to the UK soon myself, so I’ll make sure I have those with me in case the phase-out has happened.

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An Honest and Essential Travel Photography Gear Guide

• Post author By thebumpercrew
• Post date September 16, 2024
• Categories In Equipment , Fujifilm , Reviews , Travel , Travel Photography
• 4 Comments on An Honest and Essential Travel Photography Gear Guide

What’s in My Camera Bag?

Welcome to my travel photography gear guide, which includes information about my Fujifilm X Series kit, what’s in my camera bag, and why I use it.

Since the beginning, photography gear has been a favourite topic among photographers. “What camera do you use?” or “What’s the best camera?” are frequent questions.

I don’t consider myself a kit pest (someone who wants the latest or best kit).

I want a kit that fits a purpose and meets the needs of what I ask of it.

That’s why my travel photography gear is Fujifilm.

Read on to learn more about my journey with Fuji and how it suits me for travel photography.

Once you’ve sorted your travel photography kit, don’t forget to check out our top travel photography tips , three steps to better travel photography and composition techniques to improve your travel photography .

How did I use the Fujifilm X Series as my travel photography gear?

I took a Nikon camera kit to Paris for New Year’s Eve.

Fully laden, my bag weighed about 10 kilos, including the camera body, lenses and accessories.

That’s almost a sixth of my body weight! Camera weight was the first issue.

The second was the footwear I had.

I took some Converse All-Star shoes.

The combination of the camera kit’s weight, naff shoes, and the amount I walked led to painful feet and an unpleasant experience!

Anyway, once I returned, I thought there must be a better solution to the kit I used, so I started looking.

The Fujifilm X-T1 was out then but was expensive and beyond what I would pay.

Fast forward a few months to the Royal Navy’s annual photographic competition, the Peregrine Trophy, and I won one of the categories (unbelievable, I know!).

The prize was a £500 voucher for Calumet (now Wex Photographic), which I sat on for a bit.

One day, I was on their website looking at what I could spend the voucher on and saw an advertisement for the Fujifilm X-T10.

I dug deeper and found it was within my price range and sounded the perfect solution.

I got in touch with Calumet and reserved the camera.

It arrived on release day when my travel photography gear collecting grew.

I immediately fell in love with Fujifilm.

It put the fun back into photography for me because the camera was so pleasant to use.

When you buy a camera, all you usually have to go on are the specs from the manufacturer.

I have been fortunate enough to use cameras from Nikon, Canon, Sony and Fujifilm extensively in my professional career, from the freezing temperatures of the Arctic Circle to the humid jungles of Belize, sizzling deserts of California and everywhere in between.

In two years alone, I travelled over 130,000 miles globally with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Prime Minister.

And I can tell you that not all cameras are the same, despite some manufacturers’ specifications being better or worse than others.

There are many things to consider that you might not see until you hold the product, such as the ISO ability, menu systems, ergonomics, or build quality.

I used a Fujifilm X-T2 alongside a Canon 1Dx Mk2 while I worked at Downing Street.

There were differences spec for spec, but the Fujifilm X-T2 always beat it in terms of output.

The colour rendition, the focus, the sharpness – the list goes on!

Beyond that, Fujifilm uses a standard memory card, not a specialist memory card such as the CFast or even Compact Flash. This card would plug into the MacBook Pro I was using, leading to a simpler, quicker workflow.

I also used a Sony A9 for a few months, which I have to say is one of the best cameras I have ever used.

It was outstanding. However, it has downsides, such as the price and size (lenses included), which means it doesn’t meet my travel needs, similar to the Canon R5.

It’s an excellent camera with the same size, weight, and price issues that I don’t like.

Weight is my biggest issue; it ruins my shooting experience.

I’ve carried two full-frame DSLR cameras around for days, and it’s simply not a pleasant experience.

That’s where the Fujifilm X Series comes into its own. Is the Fujifilm X Series the best travel photography gear you can buy?

No, I don’t think there is such a thing as the ‘best travel photography gear’ because we all have different needs.

But the Fujifilm X Series meets mine. Since I became a military photographer, I’ve shot on Nikon D2, D3, D4, D700, D800, Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, 5Ds, 5D Mark IV, R5 and Sony a9.

Still, the Fujifilm X Series is about as close as I have found to be the most pleasant to use and carry while still being tough and able to produce quality results.

Why you should consider the Fujifilm X Series as your travel photography gear

As I previously mentioned, not all cameras are made the same.

When you buy equipment you’ve not handled, you can’t go on anything but what people tell you (like I am now) and the specs on a webpage.

As consumers, we tend to choose the one with the most impressive statistics, but let me tell you that capability and ability are two different things.

A camera with more megapixels and a higher ISO range doesn’t mean it can outperform another camera. It’s just not that simple.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a camera is better because the specs are better on a DP Review side-by-side comparison.’ equipment you’ve not handled; you can’t go on anything but what people tell you (like I am now) and the specs on a webpage.

As consumers, we tend to go for the one with the most impressive statistics, but let me tell you that capability and ability are two different things.

A camera with more megapixels and a higher ISO range doesn’t mean it can outperform another camera.

It’s just not that simple.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a camera is better because the specs are better on a DP Review side-by-side comparison.

Not essential to some but important to others, including me.

The Fujifilm X Series cameras are, in my opinion, the best-looking cameras on the market.

I have been stopped numerous times by people asking what film I’m shooting because they have been fooled into thinking my Fujifilm X-T2 is a retro film camera.

Fujifilm has got their styling across the whole X Series range, from their SLR-style mirrorless cameras to their rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras, but more on that next.

SLR-style mirrorless cameras, such as the Fuji X-T5 , have dials on top to control shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation, which add to their retro styling.

Camera Range

There is something in the X Series lineup that suits most people.

Not only do they have SLR-style mirrorless cameras, but they also have rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras.

I have a Fujifilm X-E2s, which is a rangefinder style.

It’s getting a bit dated now, but I like this camera style.

The viewfinder is to the top left of the camera, so it tucks nicely down the side of your nose, avoiding your greasy nose messing up the LCD screen!

The only problem with offering so many cameras is deciding which one to get, which can be confusing.

People usually bring up this topic when discussing which camera system to buy if they are starting.

If you look at the entire range of the big hitters—Nikon, Canon, and Sony—the number of lenses they offer probably outweighs Fujifilm.

The range of lenses seems to be a selling point for many, but it is beyond me why.

How many lenses could you possibly want?

Unless you are a specialist, you will have more than enough choices regarding Fujifilm’s lenses.

Beyond that, you can mount other manufacturer lenses on your Fujifilm camera, should you need to.

Remember, Fujifilm only offers mirrorless cameras and one mount for the Fujifilm X Series range because all its sensors are the same physical size. So, if you buy an X Series lens, it will fit your X Series camera.

Size and Weight

Often smaller in size, the entire X Series range of cameras are all mirrorless and have APS-C (cropped) sensors, which, when combined, reduce the size and certainly weight significantly compared to a full-frame DSLR camera.

It all adds up when you’re carrying a big, heavy kit.

Also, a pro-level full-frame kit will set you back a pretty penny.

For example, the price difference between the Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS III USM Telephoto Lens and Fujifilm 70-200 equivalent ( Fujifilm XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM Optical Image Stabiliser WR Lens ) is several hundred pounds.

And beyond the price, you will save 485g  in weight on one lens alone.

You could argue they aren’t comparable, but the point I am making is that a big kit costs money when you can get great results on less expensive equipment, which doesn’t have to be a Fujifilm camera!

It’s not all gravy, as they say.

The Fujifilm X Series operate with cropped sensors, which are smaller than full-frame sensors.

There are numerous points to note about the differences, but the biggest problem, in my opinion, is the difference in depth of field (DoF).

It’s suggested there is a one-stop difference in DoF compared to a full-frame camera.

For example, shooting on a cropped sensor camera at F2 will achieve similar results to F2.8 on a full-frame camera, which means your DoF will be deeper.

It’s not a massive issue, but one to note, nonetheless.

My Essential Travel Photography Gear List

This list should give you a few options if you’re seeking some travel photography gear for beginners.

I’m a minimalist travel photography gear guy, and below is all I take.

It’s small and light enough to carry to most places I go.

Fujifilm X-T5 Body

Finally, I leapt to upgrade to the Fujifilm X-T5 as my travel camera.

After several years of excellent service, I upgraded from my trusty Fujifilm X-T2 to the X-T5.

It packs a punch with its new high-resolution sensory and impressive in-body image stabilisation.

And you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Fujifilm X-T5.

For more information, check out my in-depth Fujifilm X-T5 review , which includes the specs, pros and cons, and imagery.

Fujifilm XF35mm F1.4 R Lens

The Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 . Read no further and buy one.

The Fujifilm XF35mm is my absolute favourite lens.

The 35mm is the one that is attached to my camera a lot of the time.

Despite the fixed focal length, it’s surprisingly versatile.

And it’s pin-sharp, too.

The only problem is that it sometimes suffers from chromatic aberration on whites, but don’t let that put you off.

It’s a minor point you won’t even notice. If you can’t stretch your budget to the F1.4, there is an alternative in an F2.

You can read more about the lens in my Fuji 35mm review .

Fujifilm XF23mm F2 R WR Lens

There isn’t anything negative to say about this lens; it’s simply too wide for my usual stuff.

I much prefer using prime lenses because of the wider apertures and size.

I’m all about wide-open apertures, so I use this and the 35mm over the variable focal length lens.

I ended up with the f2 because it came with my camera.

I bought it from a friend after I lost an X-T2 (ouch!).

The Fujifilm 23mm f2 is a great lens that produces nice results.

You can see and read more about it in my Fujifilm 23mm f2 review .

Read: Fujifilm XF23mm F2 R WR review + sample images

Fujifilm XF60mm F2.4 R Macro Lens

The Fujifilm XF60mm is my most rarely used lens.

Not because it’s poor, it’s far from it.

It’s another excellent lens from Fujifilm, but the focal length is a little long for the usual stuff I shoot.

But it is a macro lens, so it offers some versatility.

I once had some beehives, so getting detailed shots of the little honeybees as they wandered in and out of the hive was helpful.

This is for you if you’re interested in a Fujifilm macro lens.

The Fujifilm XF60mm is climbing my list of favourite lenses, though.

It presents a challenge and makes me consider what other shots I can get on such a focal length to enable me to use it more.

It produces solid results every time, so it’s in my bag for travel photography.

Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens

Looking back through my archive, I see that this lens is a winner in terms of use.

I’ve used it a lot.

Although it’s not my favourite lens, it is firmly established as one of the best for travel photography.

That’s because it’s a pretty versatile lens that’s small and light enough.

After all, it has a variable aperture.

The aperture is not my favourite, but it’s suitable because it’s compact and produces good results.

It also has stabilisation, which is sometimes handy, especially when shooting video.

Neither Fujifilm X-T2 nor X-T3 has IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilisation), so it can be handy in the lens if the body you’re shooting on lacks it.

I’d recommend the Fujifilm XF16-55mm F2.8 WR lens if you’re after something more serious.

It’s a pro-level lens and superb.

I used it extensively while working for the Prime Minister and wasn’t once disappointed. It’s solid the entire way through.

If you’d like to know about the 16-55, check out my Fujifilm XF16-55mm F2.8 WR lens review .

Fujifilm XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR Lens

The  Fujifilm XF50-140mm  is Fujifilm’s professional long lens, which I hav e used extensively over the years.

Fast, reliable, rugged, and one that consistently produces quality results.

Since becoming a professional photographer, this has been my favourite professional lens.

It can capture a perspective that cannot be achieved on shorter lenses and is surprisingly versatile.

If you didn’t know, the Fuji XF50-140mm is equivalent to 70-200mm on a full-frame camera.

Compared to the Canon 70-200mm, the Fujifilm XF50-140mm is almost 500g lighter (a third lighter!).

The XF50-140mm F2.8 is relatively heavy, which goes against my minimalist travel photography gear approach.

However, it’s such a great lens that it’s a must-have.

It provides the reach that my other lenses can’t achieve.

Despite the added size and weight, I consider it essential gear for travel photography, which is why it’s part of my kit.

Read: Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 Review

Sigma 56mm f1.4

I wanted a compact lens with a slightly longer focal length and wide aperture.

I considered the Fujifilm 56mm f1.2 but ultimately opted for the Sigma 56mm f1.4.

It’s small, light, good value for money, and impressive.

For more information on the lens, please read my Sigma 56mm f1.4 review , complete with sample imagery and specs.

Read: Sigma 56mm f1.4 Review

DJI Air 2S Drone

Since buying a drone, I’ve found it complimented the other photography I’m producing.

If you buy a drone, comply with the drone code when flying and fulfil the legal requirements before you take it to the skies!

You must register this device, so head to the Civil Aviation Authority website and read the latest requirements.

If you don’t already own a drone, I have no doubt it would complement your photography and rapidly become part of your essential travel photography gear.

Other Travel Photography Gear

The list above completes my essential travel photography gear, and the list below consists of other bits and pieces you might want to consider adding to it.

If you buy a camera or already have one, you’ll probably need some other accessories to accompany it.

Below is a list of things I sometimes have with me or things I’ve used or bought along the way.

Fujifilm XF16-55mm F2.8 WR Lens

As previously mentioned, it’s the pro-level standard variable focal length lens, which I used extensively.

Look no further if you’re after a pro-level versatile lens.

Godox Flashes

These were used to shoot the photographs for the Tro picfeel Canyon Review.

I’ve used them a couple of times, including at a wedding.

They are super easy to set up and use.

Nitecore Stick-it Wrapper

The Nitecore Stick-it Wrapper was the perfect addition to my camera bag.

Previously, I used lens wraps to protect my camera because I don’t use a camera bag.

Then, I discovered the Nitecore Stick-it Wrapper.

It’s the perfect solution to protect my camera in my day sack. It’s like a micro-fibre cloth, but better.

You place an item in it, wrap it up, and the wrap sticks to itself to stop it from opening.

Plus, it’s scratch-resistant, dust and moisture-proof and environmentally friendly.

Shutter Buttons

I don’t usually pimp stuff out, but I added a splash of colour to my little Fujifilm X-T2 after a colleague bought some for her Fujifilm X-T3. They are cool little buttons that screw into your shutter release button.

Undoubtedly, this is my favourite little accessory

I love how small and light it is to stick in your bag when travelling.

It can’t replace a tripod in all situations, but it is super handy in many places and can, in some cases, go where a tripod can’t.

I’ve had this thing wrapped around railings, handles, wing mirrors, etc.

I occasionally use a tripod, but I usually avoid them because they are big and bulky.

I’ve always stuck to Manfrotto.

Not for any reason other than that they were the ones we used during training and have always been robust and friendly.

I have the Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 carbon fibre 4-section, which is no longer available because it’s old.

I like the weight and trigger head.

Of course, you could get a heavier tripod, but something like that should be suitable unless you’re out in gale-force winds!

Memory Cards

I use SanDisk Extreme PRO cards.

Again, for no reason, they have always been the ones I’ve used when starting and have never failed me.

Memory Card Reader

I use a MacBook Pro 13.3″ with no memory card reader.

I ended up buying a multi-purpose one.

It’s small, light, cheap, and has SD, micro SD, and USB connectivity, so I can connect more than just the camera if necessary.

I generally plug the camera into my MacBook Pro, but the memory card reader is a backup.

It may surprise you, but I don’t use a camera bag, so I can’t recommend one.

I don’t use one for two reasons: 1) they come with too much padding, and 2) they don’t look as good as regular bags.

Ridiculous points, you might think, but hear me out.

I carry minimalist travel photography gear, so I don’t take enough kit to require space for a thousand lenses, nor do I treat my kit with enough disrespect that I need quarter-inch padding.

I don’t bring a pointless list of accessories, such as filters and flashes, that I know I won’t use. I take what I need, and that’s it.

I’ve been doing the job long enough to be critical of my equipment.

I don’t worry too much about needing what I don’t have on me.

I used to have an attitude of “better to be looking at it than looking for it”.

But when you apply that to your camera kit, it just weighs you down.

My camera and lenses are placed in wraps that came with various items of equipment I’ve bought.

I stick them in my backpack, whether my day backpack or carry-on backpack.

If we’re heading away for a few days, I use my Patagonia Refugio Backpack . It’s ace if you’re a good packer.

You can’t head out without some cleaning clothes, can you?

I usually have two with me, a small one and a larger one.

I can’t recommend any because I’ve only collected them over the years from various free sources. Ha!

But they should be part of your travel photography gear to clean your glass!

A Final Note

I hope you didn’t lose sight of the scope of this post. It wasn’t about telling you that the Fujifilm X Series is the best system money can buy because I don’t think it is.

It was to say to you that I think the Fujifilm X Series is a cracking travel camera series.

Small, light, versatile, and a camera system that produces excellent results.

It can also be a cost-effective alternative to the big hitters and their flagship cameras.

If you have questions or comments, please get in touch with me through Instagram or at [email protected] .

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my travel photography gear, your travel photography gear, or what you’re considering buying!

If you want to keep up with our travels, please subscribe to our mailing list. We won’t spam you; we’ll only contact you with exciting news and new stuff! Enter your email in the box below and hit subscribe!

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The Foolproof Travel Photography Gear List (8 Essential Tech Categories)

Post Summary: Our Current Travel Blogging Photography Gear List

Have you ever been curious about travel blogging or starting your own travel photography business ? Or simply wondered what travel photography gear we use?

Some of our most asked questions here on the blog and on  our Instagram have been around photography. What cameras we capture with, what lenses to choose, how we edit, etc.

Well, you asked and we answered!

This post is a definitive list of all the travel photography gear we use for our travel blogging process. We’ll break down the best cameras and lenses for travel photography, best travel photography accessories, backpacking, and more right here!

Before We Begin:

This list may look different for you depending on what your goals and interests are for your photography journey. In this post, we thought it would be fun to share a little bit about our gear with you.

Maybe it will inspire you to try a new lens or experiment with a new accessory! Whatever works for you – photography looks different for everyone.

Another thing to note – this is a collection we’ve acquired through many years of upgrading gear and saving up .

You DO NOT need everything on this list to take beautiful photographs! We have also provided affiliate links to these products, which means if you click, we can keep this blog running. Thank you!

Our Ultimate Travel Photography Gear List

Travel Camera Bodies

So, how do you choose the best camera for travel photography? We’ve discovered that many of our professional travel photography friends don’t actually shoot with the same gear!

Each of the big brands (Canon, Sony, Nikon, FujiFilm, Panasonic, Leica, etc) have their own unique features and capabilities. It’s important to read up on each (Youtube video comparison videos work great for this!) before making a decision on the brand(s) that are right for you.

Personally, we shoot with Canon and Leica. We’ll describe their uses and features below, and that will be the majority focus of this post.

Read More: Travel Photography: 8 Easy Practices To Enhance Your Images

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark IV : See Prices at B&H Photo Here

The Canon 5D Mark IV is our default DSLR camera body. With wifi capabilities, mobile app options, and a touchscreen LCD monitor, it’s been extremely convenient to use when traveling. This camera is able to shoot 4K video and 30 frames per second, but we personally have chosen it for it’s color profile!

It also has a weather-sealed body, which is essential for those rainy hikes in Washington !

Canon EOS R

Canon EOS R : See Prices at B&H Photo Here

The Canon EOS R series is Canon’s mirrorless camera . It has a weather-sealed body, which means we were able to take it on Pacific Northwest hikes and not worry about the rain ruining our travel photography gear!

The one downside of having a DSLR camera AND a mirrorless one is that a Canon Mount Adapter is needed to use the Mark IV’s EF lenses on R series.

The Canon R series uses RF lenses, so you’ll have to get this adapter to use the EF lenses you already own, or start your travel photography gear list with a mirrorless camera and only purchase RF lenses.

Leica Q2: See Prices at B&H Photo Here

The Leica Q2 is arguably the best camera for travel and street photography.

Its small size makes it easy to stow away in virtually any travel bag and makes it less intimidating to strangers when snapping photos. While it’s small, it packs a huge punch, with a 47.3MP full-frame sensor and a 28mm fixed lens creating true-to-eye images. (no distortion)

The price, however, is quite steep if you are just a casual travel photographer. For a more affordable compact camera for travel, consider the Fujifilm XT200.

Canon Powershot G7X Mark III

Because of our busy travel schedule, we wanted to get a camera that fits easily in a pocket and could take really good quality video. We occasionally use it to post on our  Youtube channel , but it’s also a fun way to grab candid moments and fun videos for our personal use.

We captured a fun video when hiking Mount Storm King trail in the Olympic National Park , and this Canon Powershot G7X is a super convenient way to capture video is a low-key and natural way.

Best Travel Film Cameras

Leica m6 film camera.

The Leica M6 is our go-to range-finder film camera. What makes this camera special is that the Leica M6 is a fully-mechanical camera, and also has a battery for automatic light metering. That means this camera will still work even when the battery is dead, so you can still continue shooting without the metering.

For more of our film camera choices, we’ve made an extensive list of resources below to learn more! The 12 Best Beginner Film Cameras (Under $500!) The 12 Best 35mm Film Stock For Incredible Images How To Store And Develop Film The 23 BEST Gifts for Film Photographers

Buying Used Camera Bodies

Don’t have the $$$ to buy them brand-spanking new? Try buying used through B&H , Adorama , or trade in your old lenses or camera bodies for a deeper discount.

We wouldn’t recommend buying off of Craigslist – we’re not saying it’s impossible, but with a piece of equipment as expensive as a camera, it’s smart to know exactly what you’re buying.

Buying through a trusted brand will give you more transparency. They will also let you know  exactly  the condition your used item is in, and that’s not always the case when purchasing from a private party. Be safe!

Best Lenses For Travel Photography

When choosing camera lenses for travel photography, we require a solid mix to fit a lot of situations.

Most of our travel photography camera lenses have been acquired over several years of collecting and adding to our arsenal as we expand our business.

When choosing travel lenses, think about the kind of photos you enjoy taking. Do you like being outdoors? Taking portraits? Shooting wildlife in nature like NatGeo photographers?

You certainly don’t need all of these listed – read on to the descriptions and consider what will benefit you and your personal work !

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 :  (versatile lens)- Used for large landscapes, wide angles – you can see examples in this post .

Canon 50mm  f/1.2 :   (prime lens) This one is primarily used for weddings and portraits, mainly by Berty.

Canon 35mm f/1.4 II :   (prime lens)   This one is my (Emily’s) personal favorite. I love the soft background it creates when I’m focusing on something up close. With this lens, you can really pay attention to detail with sharp precision.

Canon 17-40mm f/4 :  (Wide lens) Used for landscapes. This lens doesn’t really give you that soft background but it’s helpful when wanting to capture huge scenes like Yosemite’s Tunnel View or Hurricane Ridge . It also is helpful when shooting in our small apartment – it is very wide and captures the whole room.

Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 : (Telephoto lens) We used it when shooting the Total Eclipse in Oregon this past August and flying over the Tetons in Wyoming with Fly Jackson Hole .

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 : (Wide lens) – Used primarily for wide landscapes, like sweeping views or long skylines. We used it almost exclusively in our New York photography spots blog post.

The best 3 lenses for travel photography? Choose a combination of a wide lens, prime lens, and a versatile lens. This will cover the best range for almost any situation.

Travel Photography Kit Combinations

So, what’s a good camera and lens combination to have?

Maybe you’re looking for the best camera for travel photography beginners. Maybe you’re serious, but don’t have a huge budget to spend. Or maybe you’re seeking something light and minimal!

Here are our suggestions for the best combinations for all kinds of adventure travel photography.

Minimalist Travel Photography Kit

Looking for a minimalist travel photography gear set up? Here are some combinations to choose from if you’re looking to go light on gear:

Option 1: Seeking versatility in landscapes and portraits

• Body: Canon EOS R5 OR Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• Lens : Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L OR Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L

Option 2: Portrait Photography

• Body: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
• Lens: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L

Beginner Travel Photography Kit

Looking for travel photography gear for beginners? Here’s a great setup when you’re just getting started!

• Body: Canon EOS Rebel T7
• Lenses: Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 // Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 STM

Affordable Travel Photography Kit

Is the big price stage holding you back from buying gear for travel photography? Don’t fret, we’re going to provide you with some affordable options!

Here are the best affordable cameras for travel photography, including the lenses we recommend with them.

• Body: Canon EOS 6D (DSLR) OR Canon EOS RP (Mirrorless)
• Lenses : Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 // Sigma 35mm f/1.4

Note: while these are some of the best budget camera lenses for travel photography, Sigma lenses are NOT weather sealed . Keep scrolling to the camera maintenance section of this post for our recommendations for protecting your gear in rainy or inclement weather.

Best Travel Photography Accessories

These travel photography accessories enhance our content in so many ways.

Read Here >> The Best Travel Photography Accessories

Peak Design Camera Strap : Adjustable, and the universal anchors mean you can easily switch one strap between many cameras.

Camera Batteries : We like to have as many batteries as camera bodies + two extras that are always charged and ready to switch out.

Memory Cards : Really the bigger storage the better. SHooting fast motion? Make sure to get a card that processes over 170MB per second.

Card Reader : Get a card reader to transfer files to a computer when you’re on the go.

SandDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD V2 : This compact external hard drive doesn’t have a moving disc inside, meaning you can edit been on the bumpiest of car rides.

Lacie Portable Hard Drives : These are great, affordable storage options for on-the-go travel photography.

Pelican Memory Card Holder: This little case keeps memory cards safe, secure, and in one place. Oftentimes these cards can get lost in a bag or suitcase because of their small size, but with a case, it’s easier to keep track of them all.

Peak Design Travel Tripod : This is one of the best compact tripods for travel photography. It holds nearly any camera and lens combination, fits easily into your bag, and weighs only 3.4 pounds. (Their carbon version weighs only 2.8!)

JOBY Gorillapod Tripod (The Mini Version) : This company makes tripods for all camera sizes. We use it as a travel tripod when hiking and in places with uneven ground. Be careful though – we’re pretty rough with ours and have already gone through two sets. They probably aren’t mean for all the wear and tear we put them through.

Rode Video Pro Microphone: Used in our sporadically uploaded Youtube channel videos , this enhances the quality of the sound, and makes voices crystal clear! Example pictures in this blog post.

Camera Cleaning and Maintenance For Travel Photography Gear

If you learn anything from this post, it should be how to properly care for your travel photography gear. Here are some ways to keep your investments safe on the road!

Lens Covers : Make sure to purchase them in the right sizes to fit your specific lenses.

Cleaning Kit: This MOVO one comes with a zip pouch for easy traveling.

Bulb Air Blower : Traveling somewhere with a lot of dust and dirt? Keep an extra one of these air blowers handy to ward off those flecks from your camera lenses.

Camera Rain Shield: Concerned about your gear in the rain? Maybe you purchased some lenses or have a camera that’s not weather-sealed? Make sure to get a camera rain cover to protect your investment in the elements, especially of you’re planning an Olympic National Park photography tour .

Best backpack for photography and travel : keep scrolling to the next section!

Best Travel Photography Backpacks

Peak Design Everyday Bag : This is our current go-to hiking bag. It can hold 2 camera bodies, lenses, and opens up on both sides for easy access to your gear. The magnetic hook at the top latches firmly but opens easily, and it’s water-resistant for inclement weather.

Wanded PRVKE : This is the best travel photography backpack if you are flying on a plane! It holds a TON of gear, and phase built-in adjustable separators to customize your layout configuration. The roll-top expands and folds down easily for easy-to-grab times like sweatshirts and headphones.

Ona Bags : These bags were specifically designed with photographers in mind. ONA backpacks and bags are not only stylish but extremely functional. You can see more examples of these in our posts here.

Travel Photography Gear: Laptops

MacBook Pro 13inch w/ Touchbar: – This is what we use when traveling. It’s very compact and fits easily in any carry-on we’ve used. We love how small this computer is – it can practically fit into any bag we carry.

MacBook Pro 15inch w/ Touchbar: – This is Berty’s photo editing superhero. The colors are great and the screen is big so he can see what he’s doing.

This is one aspect of our travel photography gear that we need to update! For our next laptop, we’ll focus on one that has large internal storage and RAM to run powerful image editing programs like Lightroom and other Adobe Suite products.

Are there any other questions you have about our travel photography gear? What programs we use? Our editing process? Let us know what you want to hear and we can cover it in a future blog post!

Read travel tips.

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Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In My Camera Bag?

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Photography

Updated On: January 26, 2023

What kind of travel photography gear do you use? I t is probably one of the most common questions I get after being a professional travel photographer and blogger for the last 12 years . So, I thought I would break down exactly what is in my camera bag right now.

This list might be a little overwhelming but what you have to keep in mind is that this is my job. I carry far more gear today than I did when I started out. Most of you will only need a fraction of this photography gear and if you are just starting out as a travel photographer then you are going to want to check out a few kit suggestions at the bottom of this post I put together for first-time travel photographers.

Table of Contents

My Travel Photography Gear Guide

It is important to note that I was a Canon guy for a long time. I actually started with a Canon AE1 (which I still have by the way). But as technology got better and lighter mirrorless bodies came along, I decided to switch to Sony.

Why Sony you ask? Because I believe they have the best mirrorless technology, great native lenses and are really at the forefront of developing the genre.

Travel Photography – Cameras

Sony a7R III: Main Camera Body

I have been using Sony Mirrorless Cameras and lenses for 7 years now and have found they have really stood up to all the abuse a travel photographer can throw at them. I currently use the Sony a7R III as my main camera body and I have a second camera body that is currently the Sony a7R II . I haven’t upgraded yet, but when I do, it will be the Sony a7R IV . I don’t feel the need to upgrade every year, and find that my two cameras are doing great for me at the moment.

I always carry 2 camera bodies. I find having two camera bodies important so that I don’t have to switch lenses and I am covered if something goes wrong with my main body. I carry a long lens on one shoulder and a wide lens on the other. That way I am prepared for any situation.

The Sony a7R III is my main camera body. It is 42.4-megapixel full-frame camera. The A7R II used to be my main body, but when they upgraded the sensor, focussing speed, and added 10fps shooting I had to upgrade. What I love about this camera is that it is versatile enough to capture incredible landscape images, portraits as well as being great for wildlife photography.

Backup Camera Body: Sony a7R II

The Sony a7R II is the second body I use. It too is a full-frame camera and has a 42mp sensor. I usually put the longer lens on this camera and keep my wide-angle on the A7R III. Not everyone will need a second body, but when you do this professionally and you are hired to get the shot, you can’t use gear failure as an excuse for not delivering.

Main Travel Camera Lenses

Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 GM – Wide Angle Lens

I used Sony 16-35mm F/2.8 GM as my main travel camera lens. It is the lens I use the most. The 16mm is perfect for landscape photography as well as cityscapes and for those interior shots when you just have to get everything in the shot. The image quality of this lens has blown me away.

Cheaper Option – F/4 16-35mm

If you shoot a lot of landscapes or wide-angle perspective shots this is the lens for you. I started with the F/4 16-35mm which is a cheaper option and performs very well, but I wanted something faster for low light situations.

Sony 24-70mm F/2.8 GM – Medium Zoom Lens

The Sony 24-70mm F/2.8 GM focal length is a perfect walk-around lens for a travel photographer. At 24mm it is wide enough to capture great landscapes and at 70mm works as a great portrait focal length.

Cheaper version – 24-70mm F/4

If you can only afford one lens then I suggest the 24-70mm F/2.8 or the more economical 24-70mm F/4 version just because it is so versatile. When I am in a situation, like hiking in the remote regions of Bhutan , and can take only one lens with me then this is my first choice.

Sony 70-200 F/4 G – Telephoto Lens

The Sony 70-200 F/4 G lens completes the kit I have with me all of the time. It took Sony a little while to come out with this one but man it was worth the wait. The image quality of the Sony 70-200 f/4 is awesome, the bokeh effect is great (so close to that of my old Canon 70-200 2.8) and most of all it is so light.

I used to use it for wildlife photography in the beginning but have since added a dedicated lens for that. In a pinch, you could add a 1.6 or 2x teleconverter to it and get it up to 400mm, but I found the image quality take a bit of a hit when you do this.

These 3 lenses cover the widest range of focal lengths that you will use as a travel photographer. You may need some specialty lenses down the road, but this 3 lens package has served me well over the past 10 years of shooting professionally.

Specialty Lenses

These are lenses that are only in my bag when they are needed. I don’t carry them with me all of the time. If I know I am going on safari o will be near any dark skies I pack these in addition to my regular photography kit.

Sony 200-600 F/5.6-6.3 – Super Telephoto

When I started doing more wildlife photography I found I needed a longer lens. I took the Sony 200-600 F/5.6-6.3 lens with me to Costa Rica and fell in love with it. The focusing is fast, it is not too expensive (compared to other lenses in this range) and the image quality of the Sony 200-600 was impeccable. Combine these features with the 5-axis in-body stabilization of the A7R III and I found I could even shoot with this lens handheld!

Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 – Ultra Wide Lens

When I was looking for an ultra-wide-angle lens for astrophotography the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 one was at the top of my list. It has everything I need; a fast aperture is wide-angle and is sharp edge to edge. I would really recommend this if you are just getting into astrophotography. There is no use spending big bucks on something until you find out whether you like it or not.

What could be a drawback for some people is that this is a manual lens. This means that it has no autofocus and you have to adjust the aperture on the barrel. If you can deal with this it is a steal at $342.

GoPro Hero 9 – Action Camera

We have been using GoPro cameras since the original came out. Since we do a lot of adventures the GoPro Hero 9 comes in handy when it is just not possible to bring the Sony. We have strapped it to cars, snowboards, mountain bikes, planes, and just about anything you can think of. You can bring this camera anywhere. I also love that it charges via USB, can be controlled via wifi from a smartphone, and comes with a remote.

GoPro Accessories

The GoPro is a great camera, but without accessories, you can’t use it to its full potential. These are the essential accessories for your gopro you should carry at a minimum:

• Sticky Mounts – I carry these so I can stick them to helmets, kayaks and other sporting equipment that I rent.
• GoPro Head Strap – The head strap is a great thing to shoot hands free
• Red Underwater Filter – This really adds pop to underwater photos since when shooting underwater as it will take a more accurate white balance underwater.
• GoPro Tripod Mount – I often have a GoPro doing a time lapse while I am shooting sunset and having it on a tripod lets me leave it to focus on photography.

Sony RX100 VII – Point and Shoot Camera

Sony RX100 VII – This is by far the best compact camera I have ever used. With its 1″ Sensor, the versatile 24-200mm F/2.8-4.5 lens, Superfast focusing, and the ability to shoot at 20 FPS, this camera could be the only one you need. I always have the Sony RX100 VII in my pocket so that I am ready for any situation. It even has a viewfinder and an articulating screen. If you are looking for a camera for every situation and want to go ultralight then this is the camera for you.

DJI Mavic Pro 2 – Camera Drone

For travel photography I use the DJI Mavic Pro 2 because it is lightweight and perfect for traveling. Drones offer you a unique perspective that was unattainable until only a few years ago. We have used DJI drones since the first Phantom came out and love them. We switched to the Mavic Pro 2 as it has a great image and video quality, is really portable and the improved battery life has us using it more than ever. Add to that the intelligent flight modes, and the 360-degree sensors and it is the perfect package to capture any type of aerial shots that you can think of.

If you are thinking of getting this drone then we suggest also getting these Mavic Pro 2 Accessories:

• Sunshade for Mavic Pro 2 – A sunshade helps to see the screen when shooting in sunny and tropical destlinations.
• Car Charger – This has been a savior when on road trips. I fly my drone and then can recharge the batteries as I move on to my next destination.
• Extra Batteries – Drone batteries go quickly especially in cold weather, I carry two extra drone batteries on me when traveling.
• Extra Propellers – I have needed to change propellers while on a trip. Being a travel photographer means I need back up gear at my fingertips. Sometime I am in very remote regions and can’t just run to the camera shop.

My Camera Bags

Shimoda Explore 40 – Adventure Camera Backpack

I have gone through many different camera bags over the years to find one that the Shimoda Explore 40 comfortable, well organized and can hold all of my camera gear. That search has come to an end with the Shimoda Explore 40 . This backpack checks all of those boxes for me.

In addition to that, it is durable, comes with a rain cover, utilizes a rear entry (so I don’t have to worry about thieves), it uses a modular insert system that allows me to customize the inside of the bag and take things in and out with ease and it is carry-on friendly.

Peak Design Everyday Messenger V2 – Small Camera Bag

This is the camera bag I use for quick trips where I know I will not need a lot of my camera gear. I also use it if I am going on a video shoot. Deb uses this Peak Design Everyday Messenger V2 camera bag all the time.

My Camera Tripods

Gitzo GT2532 Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber – Travel Tripod

Tripods have always been a really personal choice and I have learned the hard way that a cheap flimsy tripod can really destroy your photos. After 10 years of searching, I think I have found what I was looking for in the Gitzo Mountaineer Tripod . It is made of carbon fiber, so it is light, it has 3 sections per leg so it is sturdy and it is made by one of the most reputable companies in the business. Check it out: Gitzo GT2532 Mountaineer Series 2 Carbon Fiber – Travel Tripod

The downside, they are not cheap. But I look at it as a long-term investment. This is the only tripod I will ever need. Paired with the Manfrotto 057 Ball head with Q5 Quick Release , this is the perfect combination for me.

Read more about why a good tripod is essential travel photography gear !

Joby Gorilla Pod 3K – Small Tripod

If we are heading into the back-country or somewhere remote for a longer period of time and I don’t want to carry the Gitzo tripod I will opt for the Joby Gorillapod . It is sturdy, versatile, weighs next to nothing and it comes with its own ball head. It also makes a great hand holder for the Go Pro or our phones when we are shooting vlog-style videos.

Camera Filters for Travel

Formatt-Hitech Filter System – ND and GND Filters

When I started getting serious about my landscape photography, one of the first accessories I wanted to add to my kit was a set of ND filters that would allow me to get the best image in-camera that I could. This is always something I have been striving for. The more I can achieve in camera the less time I have to spend on post-production. 

My current Formatt-Hitech filters allow me to accomplish this. I would recommend starting out with this filter kit and then adding what you would use most.

Read “ How to Improve Your Photography with Filters ” Now!

Camera Accessories

Black Rapid Sport Breathe – Camera Strap

I have been using this for years now. The Black Rapid Strap has become an essential piece of travel gear that I take with me everywhere. It is perfectly designed. The shoulder is padded, it comes with an underarm strap for more comfort and stability, and uses a locking carabiner quick-release. This is definitely the most versatile, comfortable camera strap I have ever owned.

Vello Shutter Boss II – Intervalometer/Remote

This is great for shooting time-lapses, star trails, and long exposures. It allows you to take photos on your tripod and eliminates camera shake. They make them for all different types of cameras. What I love about the Vello Shutter Boss II is that it is easy to operate, has an on/off switch to save batteries, and is affordable.

Spare Batteries

I always make sure to have at least 2 spare batteries for every camera that I carry with me. The last thing I want to do is miss out on a shot because my battery dies. This includes the GoPro, the A7RIII, A7RII, RX100VI, and the Mavic Pro 2 Drone.

Memory Cards

I have used Sandisk  Extreme Pro memory cards from the beginning and have found them durable and reliable. Since moving to the Sony system I have switched to using a mixture of Sandisk Extreme Pro 64GB and Sandisk Extreme Pro 128GB capacity cards.

Shooting RAW files at 42 mega-pixel can really take up a lot of room. With the 2 card slots on the A7R III I can put one card in each slot and never worry about running out of memory. These cards read/write at fast speeds of 300/mbs so even when photographing fast-moving wildlife they can keep up with almost no buffering.

Card Reader

I usually use the card reader in my MacBook Pro, but since the new generation came out without a memory card reader I now carry the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II USB-C Reader . It is extremely fast, doesn’t block any other ports on my computer, and is really reliable.

Portable Hard Drive

Backing up my photos while on the road is really important. I download all my photos to my Macbook Pro 15″ and back them up to the Samsung X5 Portable SSD . This is super small, really fast, and incredibly reliable. Exactly what I am looking for in a portable hard drive. After I return home they are uploaded to my home storage which consists of a multiple hard drive Raid system and a NAS system.

Camera/Lens Rain Covers

You want to protect your equipment from the elements and the OP/Tech USA Rain Sleeves are perfect for that. They are adjustable to any camera/lens combination, they are light and easily fit down the front zipper of my camera bag. I like them better than one designed for a certain camera model as I can use them on all the cameras that I carry. They have really come in handy when I was shooting in extreme environments like Antarctica and Iceland .

Camera and Lens Maintenence

LensPen Cleaning Tool

This innovative design has been a favorite of mine for years. Shaped like a pen it thas a lens cleaner on one end and a brush on the other. It cleans lenses better than Microfibre cloths and it is easier to keep clean as well. I use this to clean all my lenses and filters.

I use this to keep dust off the sensor of my camera. When you change lenses often then you are bound to get dust specs on the camera sensor. I try to limit that by carrying 2 bodies but I do use this Air Blower every time I change a lens. You don’t want to be dealing with sensor dust in your photos and video if you don’t have to.

Camera Kit Suggestions

For most people, carrying all this gear would not be practical unless you are a working professional photographer like I am. Most people fall into 2 categories; the bare-bones minimalist, who wants to get good shots with the least amount of gear or the travel photography enthusiast, who wants great quality at a reasonable price.

Here are my camera kit selections for each one.

The Bare Bones Camera Kit for Tavel Photographers

• Sony RX100 VII – A light and durable compact camera
• Joby Gorillapod – A small lightweight tripod
• 64GB Sandisk Memory Card

The Enthusiast Camera Kit for Travel Photographers

• Sony a6100 – Interchangeable lens mirrorless camera
• Sony 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 lens : Coverswide angle and telephoto at a good price.
• Peak Design Travel Tripod – Sturdy lightweight travel tripod
• BlackRapid Cross Shot Breathe – Camera Strap
• 64GB Sandisk Extreme Pro – Memory Cards
• Peak Design Messenger Pro V2 – Camera Bag

After 10 years of being a professional photographer, my camera gear has undergone many changes and continues to do so to this day. My recommendation would be to use this travel photography gear guide as a starting point to begin building your own kit that will last you for years to come.

You May Also Like

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Disclosure: There are some affiliate links in the post above, but these are all products we highly recommend. We won’t put anything on this page that we haven’t verified and/or personally used.

If you enjoyed this travel photography guide, save it to Pinterest for future reference.

Check out these other Travel Gear Guides

• The Ultimate Travel Packing List (By Professional Travellers)
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Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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26 thoughts on “Travel Photography Gear Guide: What’s In My Camera Bag?”

Thank you so much for sharing with us the Photography Guide. It also gives us more experience. So everyone will be very helpful.

I love this post. At the point when you post about photography gear, it generally gets me energized. At the present time, I have a GoPro 6, Olympus em 10 Mark ii, in addition to an Olympus TG5. I am always trying to find out more and become a superior picture taker. Much obliged to you for continuing to impure with tips and information about your gear.

Thank you for the post. It saves my days!

This post is so amazing for me, everybody wants these type of camera for taking every picture or photo of their best moment of life. I love sony camera, it is really so much fantastic and excellent for quaility.

This post is so amazing, everybody wants these type of camera for taking every picture of their best moment of life. I love sony camera, it is really awesome…

Thank you for sharing a detailed guide about travel photography. I love to travel with my family to see natural beauty. I have a Sony Alpha A6400 Mirrorless Digital Camera for photography. I am not a professional photographer but try to shoot properly. Your guide will inspire me a lot. Thanks again for such a great guide.

Hey Dave and Deb, just been looking at your bio. Your traveling lifestyle makes me jealous wish I could give up work and travel maybe when I win the lottery. Interesting list of cameras and go pros that you use. You would really help beginners and pros out by rating your cameras on RateMyCamera.com giving us all more info and your thoughts behind each camera good and bad. Can’t stop looking through your insta feed.

I need a new wireless remote this looks great!

Good photography gear helps to store the best picture for the destination we come

I love your pictures! I’m also very much into landscape photography and in the process of buying my new gear. In the end, I decided to upgrade my old camera to a rather expensive Full frame DSLR, a 18-35mm f2.8 lens and planning on buying the 70-200mm f 2.8 zoom only one word… OUCH!!!)

I was so undecided when it came to choosing a mirrorless camera or a full frame one and for now I bought the latter and the ND graduated filters and a rather expensive polarized filter.

I totally agree with you on that one. You can’t go cheap if you want to see good results! I will test my slightly less expensive ND filters when I get my new gear (can’t wait! probably I’ll finally have it delivered by the beginning of next week ) and depending on the results I get, I will probably buy the filters you recommend. Your other guides on photography are awesome, thanks for sharing your tips, so useful!

I wish I had decided to buy a lighter body camera, but what’s done it’s done…in the meantime I’ll keep reading your posts and get inspired! I have to, given the amount of money I invested on my photo gear, no matter how heavy they are, at least it’s a good way on not having any excuses to practice as much as I can 🙂 well done. I will bookmark this so I remember what kind of filters you’re using. Great job you’ve done! I am addicted to your Instagram feed 🙂

How do you insure your equipment?

i shoot with a canon 7d and do portraits and studio work. when we jet off in January with the family i would like to bring some good glass with me. i also generally shoot with my iPhone for convenience. I’m thinking of selling my 35mm and 85mm primes as they are better suited for studio and outdoor portrait shots. that leaves me with a REALLY heavy 17-55 2.8 a 50mm an 18-55mm kit lens and a 70-300 kit lens. suggestions??? i have two boys. they are young. we have a ton of crap to carry with us. I would like to leave the 17-55 behind and just bring the kit lens but I’m hesitant! would love some feedback!

You guys are an inspiration for me to keep on going with my own travels. Lately I’m thinking more and more of how many photos I don’t take because I’m lazy sometimes to scoop out or carry around my Canon 5d MKIII, maybe I just have to join the mirrorless club one of these day.

Reading The Planet D dynamic duo Dave & Deb is my favorite part of the day! Thank you guys for such tips and Dave the landscapes you’ve posed with is a treating distraction from your tips but I managed to get back to the lines!

Great, thorough guide! Thanks for sharing your tricks of the trade 🙂

This post is so amazing fof me, everybody wants these type of camera for taking every picture or photo of their best moment of life. I love sony camera, it is really so much fantastic and excellent for quaility.

Hey I also wanna this type of camera.

This post is so amazing, everybody wants these type of camera for taking every picture of their best moment of life. I love sony camera, it is really so much fantastic.

Thanks Dave & Deb, some great tips for photographer gear. I’m intrigued about using a wacom tablet for editing, and your suggestion will probably get me over the line 🙂 Also another tip for mobile photography is the LG G4. It shoots in RAW and has a new full manual mode. Worth checking out.

Hey guys! I’m a gadget and gear geek, and this is really interesting! I’ve got a Canon 70d with 3 lenses, and have often considered going to a mirrorless system, I’m scared of the video quality, and learning a new camera, but the thought of having less gear and weight is a dream!! I’ve also been looking for a decent compact that takes good video, and have looked at the Sony RX100 II before. If you get a sec, can you tell me what the photo quality is like at night? As that’s important for me as if I go out in the evening I usually just take a compact… Really great post though as always, and this one is going in the favourites folder 🙂 Scott

You mention Formatt-Hitech filters and Firecrest filters, but have you ever used B+W filters?

I’m looking for some new ND filters and a lot of pros I know use these ones – I would love to know your thoughts on this!

Wowza! So mine looks like this: – GoPro Hero4 – which I’ve not used much lately – Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – which I use all the time – Two selfie sticks – which I’ve not used much lately (long story why I have two) – Macbook Pro – Portable Toshiba 2T hard drive – one of like 4 of these. I need to find a proper case for it though. It gets bashed around a bit. – Screenflow – Used for video editing and screen capture for tutorial videos

My kit is small as I just have a backpack when I travel so no room for the extras. I used to have a Nikon D70S with up to a 300m lens, but I no longer carry that baby around.

Thanks for the insights.

Hi, Dave and Deb. I really love the whole Photography Guide you have shared. I enjoyed this post too much.

If anyone is there for getting the travel photography guidance, then this article really helps you a lot as it is completely stuffed with all kind of tips and tricks to make a great experience with the camera and makes us easier to access all the functions of the camera for a perfect shot.

I have the same opinion. This is really great guide. Thank you for sharing this. Warm Regards Martuja

Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

A Professional Travel Photographers Photography Gear List

Last updated: June 2, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 9 Comments

We often get asked what camera gear we use to take pictures. Obviously, a camera is no good without a photographer, but the opposite is also true!

I’ve been shooting with Canon SLR’s since I was around 12 years old, when I started my photography journey with the  film AE-1 . It’s still in the attic actually.

Maybe one day when I have a burst of nostalgia for shooting film, I’ll dust it off and bring it down. In the meantime, this is what we’re currently packing.p

You might find that this is a bit overkill for you, in which case you’ll find my guide to the best travel camera  and best travel lenses useful. Enjoy!

Table of Contents:

My Travel Camera Equipment

Camera body – canon eos r5.

My current camera is the Canon EOS R5. This full frame weather-sealed mirrorless camera is one of Canon’s best cameras to date.

It has a 45 megapixel image stabilized full frame sensor, dual card slots, up to 12fps mechanical shutter and full compatibility with all of Canon’s EF, EF-S and new RF mount (EF and EF-S lenses require an adaptor).

This is a spectacular all round camera that should serve me for years to come. Y ou can see my full EOS R5 review here .

Backup Camera Body – Canon EOS 6D  

After a long while shooting with a crop sensor Canon digital SLR (the 400D, an amazing bit of kit for it’s time), I figured it was time for an upgrade, and I went down the full frame sensor route with the Canon 6D.

This camera is a great bit of kit, with good ISO performance, built in GPS and wi-fi, and outstanding image quality.

I wrote a full review of this camera from a travellers perspective here .

The 6D is a bit long in the tooth now, so if I was buying a new camera today at a similar price point to that which the 6D launched at I’d likely go for the full frame mirrorless Canon EOS R6 Mark II . See our full guide to the best cameras for travel here .

Wide Angle Lens – Canon EF 16-35 f/4 IS L

I love taking landscape shots, and also photos where I can really play with perspective, and get everything in shot, and this lens delivers that in spades. Also good for interior shots, shots of buildings, and for taking pictures of people that make them look totally insane.

For a long time I used the cheaper Canon EF 17-40 f/4 L  as my go-to wide angle lens. However, the 16-35 is a much sharper lens, especially at the corners, and includes image stabilization. We think this makes it a better all round choice if your budget will stretch to it.

Canon also does a 16-35 f/2.8 , which is heavier, more expensive, and faster, but as I generally shoot from a tripod for this kind of photography, I’ve not found a need for it yet. However, if you are planning on doing a lot of event photography of moving subjects, or astrophotography , this is one to consider also.

If you’re on a crop Canon body, then I can highly recommend the Canon EF-S 10-22mm . This was my absolute favourite lens for a number of years. It just doesn’t fit on a full frame body.

Prime Lens – Canon EF 85 1.8  

Shooting with a prime lens is a great way to make you think more carefully about your photography, and also comes with the benefit that these are often a lot faster (read, the aperture goes bigger and lets more light in), meaning you can shoot when there is less light.

This lens is perfect for portrait work and night shooting, that 1.8 aperture both letting plenty of light in and giving fantastic depth of field. Almost too much depth of field at 1.8 to be honest – it’s worth stopping down a bit to 2.2 so everything you need is in focus!

If you’re on a crop body, then you need to buy the Canon 50mm 1.8 . It’s the cheapest and lightest lens that Canon makes (under $100), and there is no better value Canon lens.

For portrait work on a crop sensor it is outstanding, and that gorgeous aperture makes low light photography possible – even if it can struggle a bit to focus if it’s particularly dark. It’s also not very robust – so don’t drop it!

Telephoto Zoom lens – Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS II L  

Widely regarded as the best telephoto zoom lens that Canon makes, it is incredibly fast all the way through the focal length and sharp as a tack. It might be heavy, but I absolutely adore the image quality.

Four stops of Image Stabilisation make my tripod almost unnecessary, and it’s my go-to lens for anything that needs that bit of extra reach. It shines for portraits, event work, wildlife and sports – pretty much everything really.

It does weigh an incredible amount, and the price is fairly eye popping too, but fear not, Canon has a host of other lenses in this focal range to meet every need and budget, including the original version as well an f/4 and an f/4 without image stabilisation . There’s also a newer version 3 of this lens available as well.

Macro Lens – Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

We sometimes like to take close up photos of subjects – either products for some of our posts, or flowers and insect just for fun. The best way to get these really close up images is with a macro lens, which allows for 1:1 magnification of our subjects.

There’s also a more expensive “L” version of this lens , but we don’t do enough macro photography to really justify the additional expense.

Extender – Canon EF 2x II Extender

We don’t do a huge amount of wildlife photography, so we aren’t currently able to justify a dedicated super telephoto lens. Instead, we use a Canon 2x extender, which when attached to our Canon EF 70 – 200 f/2.8, turns it into a Canon 140-400 f/5.6.

This has proven incredibly useful for things like photographing puffins in Iceland , as well as other wildlife encounters around the world. It’s not very large, and it’s relatively inexpensive, and has been well worth it in our opinion as an investment.

Waterproof Camera –  Akaso Brave 7 LE

I love my SLR, but it’s not particularly fond of more extreme photography or video. For that, I pack the Akaso Brave 7 LE action camera. I love the compact size, incredible quality it produces, and the fact that it goes everywhere.

Other bonuses are that it charges via USB, can be controlled via wifi from a smartphone, and this particular edition comes with a waterproof housing and remote as well as a huge number of other accessories.

Recommended if you’re doing anything at all that requires a bit of rough and tumble, or environments you wouldn’t want to risk your SLR.

Compact Camera – Sony RX100 V

Sometimes you just want a camera that you can slip in your pocket that isn’t obtrusive. The good news is that you don’t have to compromise on professional level features these days, even with a compact camera.

We use the Sony RX100 compact camera, which has had many versions since its first release. We chose the fifth edition as it had all the features we needed, including a large 1″ sensor, fast f/1.8 aperture, full manual controls, incredibly fast autofocus and support for shooting in RAW .

If you’re looking for a compact camera for travel, see our full guide to the best compact cameras .

Drone – DJI Mavic 

Despite not doing a lot of video, we have invested in a drone because it lets us get photos that would otherwise be impossible. It’s incredible how small and light this drone is, and how stable it is. Learning how to fly it has taken a bit of time, but it’s a remarkable tool, and one that we love having in our toolkit.

It can even shoot in RAW, which gives us a lot of control over the images it produces.

If you’re looking for a drone, we think the latest version of the Mini Pro is going to be the best option for most users.

360 Camera – Insta360 Air

Sometimes it’s fun to get a different type of shot, and I love to play with my 360 camera, which lets me create all kinds of interesting shots, from tiny planets to fisheye shots.

I use the Insta360 Air which works with my Android smartphone, there’s also an iPhone version .

Camera Accessories

Camera strap –  peak design straps.

Currently I use the excellent Peak Design straps, which are tough, flexible, backed by a lifetime warranty, and let you choose how you want to carry your camera.

My Peak Design equipment currently consists of a Peak Design Slide Camera Sling/Neck and shoulder strap , a CapturePRO camera clip and a hand clutch strap .

You can see my full review of the Peak Design camera strap system here .

Camera Bag – Vanguard Alta Sky 49

I often get asked what camera bag I use to cart all this gear around. I’ve tried a lot of options, from standard backpacks with a camera bag insert through to shoulder bags.

Right now though my go-to camera bag is the excellent Vanguard Alta Sky 49 , which replaces my trusty Vanguard Heralder 49 – a bag I also loved.

The Alta Sky 49 has an incredibly well thought out design, and it lets me carry all of the above gear, with lenses attached, plus a tripod, and I’ve worn it for hours at a time with no discomfort. It’s been up hills, in the mud and rain, and survived everything I’ve thrown at is around the world. It’s a fantastic bit of kit, and very much recommended if you have a fair bit of kit and want to fit a few other handy items with you as well.

If you don’t need quite this much storage space, Vanguard have a variety of other bags at different price points, so do check them out.

Lens Filters

All that expensive glass on the front of your lens needs protection, and I always recommend that you pop a UV filter onto the front of your lens to protect it from scratches or damages.

Clear UV filters come in all shapes in sizes, but they aren’t created equal. I’d advise against putting a cheap filter on your expensive glass – currently I use the B+W 77mm XS-Pro MRC UV filter which is easy to clean and has little to no impact on image quality. Other B+W filters are available for other sizes of filter thread.

I also use a polarising filter a lot for my landscape photography – it brings out the skies and makes clouds really pop! They can also be used to reduce reflections, and make portraits less “shiny”. Very much worth the investment. I use a B+W 77mm polarising filter.

Finally, to achieve those lovely fluffy waterfalls, mythical cloud shots and to just give you a lot more control over the light coming into your camera, you will probably want to consider some neutral density filters , which let you reduce the light coming into your lens.

These come from all sorts of brands, with Tiffen , Singh Ray and Lee being known as creators of quality filters. Budget is a factor as with anything, and I personally use Haida ND filters – a lesser known brand who have received some solid reviews. I picked up a kit which came with a 3 stop, 6 stop and 10 stop filter , which can be stacked to give me up to 19 stops (!) of light reduction.

If you want to know more about filters and why / when to use them, check out this post on filters I wrote, as well as this guide to why you need a neutral density filter .

Tripod – Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 264CT & Vanguard VEO 2 Go 256HCBM

A tripod is an essential piece of photography equipment (see why you need a tripod here ), although your back muscles may disagree. Holding your camera still isn’t a trivial task, and for landscape photography at higher apertures, you absolutely need one.

It also comes in handy for night-time photography, including capturing images of the stars, time-lapse photography, and has the added benefit of making you really think about the composition of your shot.

I’m a Vanguard Ambassador, which means Vanguard sorts me out for my gear. So I actually have quite a few Vanguard tripods. However, the two main ones I use arethe award-winning Alta Pro 2+ 264CT  and the VEO 2 Go 256HCBM .

For the former, I pair that up with a Vanguard BBH-200 head, which is Arca compatible, meaning I can get my gear on and off the tripod super quickly.

The reason I have two main tripods is that one is primarily for travel. The VEO range are smaller and lighter, making them ideal for hiking and trips where weight is a consideration. For regular travellers, this is the tripd I recommend. You can see a full review of the VEO 2 Go 256HCBM here .

The Alta is the tripod I use for when weight is less of a concern. It’s still relatively lightweight, but isn’t something I’d want to take on a prolonged hike. It’s great for road trips from home and other situations like that.

Vanguard do a whole range of products , from tripods, to heads, through to bags and optics – you are sure to find something you’ll like. A tripod is an essential piece of photography gear, so don’t skimp on the cost as you’ll come to regret it later!

Discounted Price for Vanguard Products for our Readers !

As Vanguard Ambassadors we are able to offer you a unique discount code which will get you 20% off everything in the Vanguard USA , Vanguard UK , Vanguard Spain , and Vanguard Germany online store websites. Just use code  FindingTheUniverse   (case sensitive) on checkout.

Wireless remote – Pixel TW-282/N3

When shooting longer exposures where even the press of the shutter can cause a wobble, for taking pictures of myself, or for time-lapse, a wireless remote is the way to go. This lets us control the camera wirelessly from up to 100ft away, and is perfect for all sorts of shooting situations.

Memory Cards

Shooting in RAW takes up a lot of memory space (but you need to be doing it!), so I use 64GB memory cards.

I’ve always found SanDisk to be a reliable brand, and are currently using the SanDisk class 10 45MB/s extreme cards . There are faster cards available , but as the camera can’t write to them any faster, there’s no point wasting money on them.

The GoPro uses microSD cards, and I use class 10 64gb cards in that as well – Amazon US link here.

Miscellaneous Travel Photography Equipment

Spare batteries.

Running out of battery power at a critical moment in shooting is not cool, so I always carry at least one spare battery for each camera. For the Canon 6D , that’s a Canon LP-E6 . For the Lumix, that’s a DMW BLC12e . And for the drone, that’s the DJI Intelligent battery .

Hard drives

Shooting in RAW takes up a lot of hard drive space, more than my ultrabook has when on longer assignments. Plus, having my photos in only one place is a serious risk in case of technical failure or theft.

For this reason I travel external drives. For a long time I used mechanical hard drives, but the price of SSDs has now come down to the point that these are the best option. They are small, much more suited to handling the rigours of travel, and good value.

I currently have a Crucial X6 which offers a great balance of capacity, performance and value.

Ok, this might seem a bit odd, but when you’re out shooting all day in places where the weather isn’t always so reliable, or you want to take your gear on boat trips in the Galapagos , or up waterfalls in Thailand – keeping it dry is important!

For this reason I travel with relatively inexpensive dry bags that keep my gear totally dry in all conditions.

Selfie Stick – Anker Bluetooth Selfie Stick

So, not every photo we take is with our serious cameras – sometimes we’re just out and about and want to capture the moment. For that, we will sometimes use a smartphone, and to get a photo of the two of us together, yes, we’ll use a selfie stick!

Our recommended selfie stick is this bluetooth model by Anker . Bluetooth means you don’t need to fiddle with wires, and this particular selfie-stick folds up really small, making it perfect for travel.

Now for something a little bit fun! Sometimes you want to be a bit creative when shooting, and this 80mm glass lensball is a great way to do just that, turning scenes into fun 360 degree-like images.

Photo Editing Software

All the above only counts for half of my photography workflow. Post-processing is a critical part of digital photography, and for that I recommend Adobe Lightroom , which comes as a package with Photoshop – an excellent deal and everything you need for your photo editing. I also have a guide to other photography editing software here .

That photo editing software will also need a capable computer to run on. For that, I’ve written a guide to the best laptops for photo editing .

Photography Learning Resources

And finally, having all this camera equipment is no good at all if you don’t know how to use it. That’s why I decided to write my own travel photography course – to share everything I’ve learnt, and help you take your photography to the next level.

I’ve had amazing feedback from all the students on the course to date, and would love to help you achieve your photography dreams. Find our more about my courses, right here .

And that’s it! You can find this list on Amazon here for quick reference.

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There are 9 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

9th October 2019 at 5:30 pm

You have really helpful and interest information here. Thank you for that. I have a question though, I am starting to be a light packing traveler, so my question is: if I am trying to set everything in a carry-on back pack, how do you recommend to pack the camera? as if I use a camera bag I wouldn’t have space for my clothes and everything else. I am starting with an a6000, a 18-135mm f 3.5-5.6 lens and a tripod.

Laurence Norah says

9th October 2019 at 6:19 pm

Thanks very much! What I usually do when not using a camera bag is to get a camera insert which goes into other bags. These are pretty great value and should provide the protection you need. These come in different sizes, but you can see the sort of thing I mean here .

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Craig Holtz says

8th May 2019 at 12:55 am

That’s way too much to bring. I need to pair down my gear. I’d love to use a single lens but that lens doesn’t exist yet. Still a wonderful article

8th May 2019 at 9:24 am

Yep, it is a lot! When I’m travelling “light”, it’s two camera bodies, the 70-200, 16-35 and a 2x extender. Plus tripod / spare batteries / filters.

I’d love to have one lens that does it all, but the physics seems to be a challenge 😉

Thanks for stopping by!

Moira Jenkins says

6th May 2019 at 9:09 am

really appreciate the accessibility and practicality of your summaries. thanks.

7th May 2019 at 5:29 pm

Thanks very much Moira!

22nd September 2015 at 5:44 pm

Hello, nice information! I am just getting into photography for my own personal enjoyment. Do you have a recommendation on computer or tablet that are compact, lightweight, durable for travel and at the same time are easy to use for editing and storing photos? Plus, since I am starting and am budget conscious do you have a suggestion for free photo editing software? I am trying to consolidate as much as possible into one unit since I will backpack. Saving space and weight is important to me while trying to compromise on a computer/laptop for photo editing, web access, and hopefully reading books. I know, a lot to ask for. If you or anyone else has suggestions I would love to hear.

lleone says

21st August 2015 at 3:14 pm

My boyfriend and I are about to travel for the next year around the world and I want to have the best/simple set up for starting a blog and capturing our moments. We bought the Sony a6000 mirrorless and a gopro hero 4. What else do you recommend we get? I am trying to figure out if we should just bring a tablet or get the 11 inch air mac or both? How many additional hard drives? other accessories…. i don’t want to miss anything!

Step4Travel says

1st August 2015 at 1:45 pm

GOOD Gears, I also use the Canon 6D and it’s one of the best current Camera that I had ever used,

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Travel Photography Gear Checklist (Essential Equipment)

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If you’re into travel photography , then you know that having the right gear is essential for capturing great photos while on the go. The good news is that there are plenty of camera options and accessories available today, so you can tailor your kit to suit your specific needs.

But with so many choices, it can be tough to know what to bring with you on your next trip. That’s why we’ve put together this handy travel photography gear checklist to help make things a little easier. Check it out below!

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Travel Photography Gear: Camera Equipment for a Travel Photographer

Let’s start with the most important item on the list! Just as you’ll prioritise getting the photo over your meal time, so too you’ll want to prioritize camera equipment over everything else! Right? So what must be in your bag, and are there extras that would be great to have?

Essential Photography Equipment

Camera body.

Whichever camera body you have, you’ll want to bring this with you! What brand of camera is not something this article looks to delve into, they all have their merits. There is an increasing move towards mirrorless cameras though, and their lighter weight is certainly appealing for a travel photographer . ExpertPhotography recommends: Sony a5100

Camera Lens

In the interest of keeping weight down, stick with one or two lenses at most. A good setup here will be a good quality wide angle lens , and then a super zoom to cover your focal lengths such as an 18-300mm lens. A lot of photographers will bring one more lens. This will add weight though, so we’ll discuss that in additional equipment. ExpertPhotography recommends: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm

Is the tripod an essential piece of photography equipment for travel photography? It is if you want to get good quality photos that compare well with your peers. The ability to make long exposures, and to potentially bracket your images, is also vital. Those wishing to use post processing techniques such as digital blending really need bracketed images taken from a stable tripod . Choose a tripod that is sturdy, yet small enough to travel with and can fit into your checked luggage.

These take up next to no room, aren’t heavy, and give you lots of artistic options for your photography. You’ll want to bring a circular polarising filter , and a strong neutral density filter as a minimum. My camera bag always contains a 10-stop neutral density filter , and I often pack an infra-red filter as well.

Camera Cleaning

Dust, sand and detritus are an everyday concern for travel photographers. The best locations to photograph often lead to getting your equipment dirty. So bring a microfiber lens cleaner, and a blower. ExpertPhotography recommends: Movo Deluxe Essentials DSLR Camera Cleaning Kit PRO

Cable Release

The same logic to size and weight for filters can be applied to a cable release. You’ll need it for your long exposure photography , and those photographers wishing to expose for longer than 30 seconds using the bulb function can’t do this without a cable release.

Memory Cards and Card Readers

Take enough memory cards with you for your entire trip. Should you have an external hard drive and computer you may be able to upload photos on a daily basis, and back them up. Otherwise you will need enough storage space from your memory cards to cover your entire trip, however long that maybe. At the very least you need to ensure you have enough space on your memory card so you’re not running out of space by the end of the day.

Batteries and Battery Charger

Enough battery power for your trip is important. And if you’re going somewhere remote you might not be able to recharge easily. Trips into the wilderness mean managing your power. A trip to Mongolia several years ago taught me this as there are many places with no power. For the majority of trips, however, taking two batteries is sufficient, and charging them both each night is important.

Rain Protection

It’s not a good idea to get your camera wet, even when it’s weather sealed. Taking protection for your camera, and for your camera bag is a good idea. Most camera bags will come with some form of wet weather protection. You will need to buy protection for your camera, or you could try using a plastic bag wrapped around it, with a rubber band holding it in place over the camera lens .

Lastly where to put all of this camera gear? Why a good backpack of course! This should be of a decent size, and have the ability to attach a tripod to the back so you can carry this item with you on your bag. The current bag I use is a Kata 3N1-35PL , a great bag with nice compartmentalisation, and a tripod holder on the back.

Optional Photography Equipment

Additional camera body.

This isn’t optional if you’re on a paid assignment. Having a second body is essential then. And having a backup body is never a bad idea. ExpertPhotography recommends: Sony Alpha a6300

Additional Lenses

Additional lenses will give you more flexibility. A 50mm prime lens with a large aperture is great for street, portrait and low light photography . A fisheye lens can be fun to use as well. ExpertPhotography recommends: Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM

Lighting Equipment

Adding light to a scene through a strobe really gives you maximum control over the photo. This can be great for fill-in light. However, bringing a radio trigger, receiver and some form of light modifier like the rogue flash-bender gives you the chance to experiment. Getting the flash off the camera allows you to create side or even rim light , great for your portrait work.

There could well come a time when this becomes an essential piece of equipment. Those creating footage as opposed to still photos will probably say it already is. The ability to take photos from any angle, and get overhead photos will really boost your portfolio. The one drawback right now is the quality of images these produce, with many magazines unwilling to publish photos from drones. You will also need to be aware of the legal side of flying a drone , with some countries really clamping down on this practice. Those looking to bring a drone at the time of writing should look no further than the DJI Mavic Pro .

Reflector Disc

A folding reflector disc is a nice alternative or supplement to any lighting gear you choose to bring with you. They’re not heavy or big, and will allow you to use natural light more effectively in your portrait photos. ExpertPhotography recommends: LimoStudio 5-in-1 Reflectors

Additional Items to Bring With You

There are a plethora of other items and photography accessories you can take on a trip. Here you’ll see some additional items that, while not camera equipment, are certainly related to your photography.

Smart phone/Tablet device

This is such a versatile item that it really has to make the bag. The functionality really comes from the apps you can download.

• Weather app – There are numerous weather apps out there, so this often comes down to personal preference. The best app for me has been Weather Underground .
• Stars and sun – There are numerous apps for this but apps such as Suncalc , Photo Pills , and Photographer’s Ephemeris will allow you to track the position of the sun, moon and Milky Way . Photo pills has some other useful tables and charts for photographers that give you information on hyper focal distances, and depth of field .
• Maps – Once again planning your travel photography needs a good map. Maps.me is a great alternative to Google Maps, and allows you to download maps by country, meaning you’ll never lose your way!
• Portfolio – Always great to have a portfolio with you to impress any potential new clients. You can either make folders on the phone, or display your photos on an app such as Instagram or 500px .
• Phone – Obvious, but your smart phone is first and foremost a phone. Should you get into trouble while out photographing this is your lifeline.

External Hard Drive

A backup copy of all your photographs is vital. If you only have one copy you are vulnerable to a host of events that could lose you that copy such as theft or memory card failure. Always bring an external hard drive with you. ExpertPhotography recommends: LaCie 2TB Rugged Portable Hard Drive 4T

Universal Adapter Plug

Having a plug you can use anywhere in the world is a great thing to have, especially if your trip takes you to multiple countries. These days getting a plug that allows you to charge through USB sockets as well as the main plug is a great idea. A great travel tip is bringing one adapter plug, and a multi plug strip to go with that. ExpertPhotography recommends: VCOO Worldwide Travel Adapter

Optional Equipment

Laptop computer.

The longer your trip is, the more important this item becomes. Is your trip over 1 month? If so I’d make this an essential item. This is your connection to the outside world, how you book everything you’ll need for your trip, and where your post processing will happen.

Personal Items

Now let’s look at the personal items you’ll need to bring with you on your trip. You’ll need to make space for these, so bringing one less camera lens might be something you’ll have to do.

Essential Items

Certainly for any international travel, and usually for any domestic travel you will need your passport. A good travel tip is to scan your personal information page of your passport, so you have a copy of this just in case it’s lost or stolen. If you’re traveling internationally make sure the passport has enough months validity, and check the visa requirements for the places you wish to visit. Ensure you have all relevant documents ahead of time.

A good travel insurance package that covers you in the event of injury is mandatory for any trip, whether it’s photography related or not. Also, make sure to ask if it covers your camera gear if the worst happens, and it’s lost or stole. Most travel insurance will cover for basic loss, but may well not cover more expensive gear items.

Medication and Toiletries

Make sure you buy the smaller travel size varieties of things like toothpaste and shaving cream. When it comes to medication make sure you have the basics covered, and never forget something for any potential stomach issues.

You won’t be going far without this. Make sure you have enough for your day to day use. It’s a good idea to separate your money in your accommodation, and keep it in your baggage in a hidden location. Using a money belt when you travel is also an option. This keeps those important items like cash and cards in a place that’s difficult to access by a thief.

A good rule of thumb is to bring enough clothing for one week, before you need to clean things. Obviously if the trip is just for a weekend, pack accordingly. Is it possible to pack less? Yes, but you’ll need to wash your clothes more often. Taking some washing powder so you can wash your clothes in the evening is a great idea, especially in a hot country. The clothes can be dry the next day, ready to wear again!

Hiking Boots

You’re a travel photographer, and that means a lot of walking. A good solid pair of hiking shoes is a must. Something in case you need a second set of footwear? A pair of flip flops are light, take up no space, and could be handy if something happens to your main pair of shoes.

Seasonal items

What you pack will depend on where you’re going, and at what time of year. You’ll not need to bring hot packs to the tropics, but you may well want some bug spray! Each of the listed items are essential, but depend on where you’re visiting.

• Sun protection – Take a good sun screen with you, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your head.
• Bug spray – Anywhere you might be affected by mosquitoes or sand flies, it’s a good idea to have bug spray.
• Rain protection – This is always worth having. An umbrella, raincoat or a poncho are all good options.
• Hot pack – These are great not just for keeping your hands warm. Put them in your backpack where you store your batteries, and the batteries will last longer in the cold.
• E-tip gloves – These are designed to be used with a smart phone, ideal for when it’s so cold you need to wear your gloves.

Water bottle

Wherever you go, you’ll need to keep hydrated. This is especially important when it’s hot and humid, so carry a good quality water bottle with you.

Optional items

Torch or headlamp.

Your smart phone will have a basic light on it, so this may be enough for your needs. Having a torch or headlamp is nice though, especially if you’re a regular night photographer .

In photography you don’t always have time to sit down for lunch at a restaurant. Eating on the go becomes necessary. If your style of travel photography takes you on long hikes into the wilderness bring enough food supplies becomes essential.

Extra Travel Photography Checklist Tip for Flyers

Camera equipment is heavy, and it’s hard to compromise on the gear you take, especially if you have a paid assignment and need two camera bodies. The problem? The weight restriction that airlines impose on hand luggage you can take onto a plane. While you can take sports equipment with you, and a special category to pay extra for this weight is provided, camera equipment is not currently covered. Every travel photographer will tell you that you should never ever store your camera gear in the checked luggage. So what can you do when your hand luggage is almost certainly going to be overweight? It would be nice if airlines offered you the chance to pay for extra weight, when the equipment is fragile. In the meantime using a photography vest provides a solution. Take out heavy items like a lens or a laptop and store them in your vest. Anything you’re wearing won’t be weighed. Once you are through check-in, you can put the lens, laptop and any other item back into your camera bag.

Bags Packed, You’re Ready to Go!

The life of a travel photographer involves a lot of packing. Now you have the complete list of items for your travel photography checklist , so what are you waiting for? It’s time to book that trip, and make some amazing photos out on location !

21 TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS (Easy Ways to Improve Today)

• Last Updated: February 8, 2024

Here are our best travel photography tips for beginners and intermediates, based on our experience of going from complete beginners to professional travel photographers, and now working in the industry for 8 years.

Picture this.

You finally book a trip to your ultimate bucket list destination.

Antarctica, Iceland, Namibia, Bali, seeing the Aurora Borealis – wherever it is, you’ve waited your whole life to finally visit.

Naturally you are going to want to capture the best travel photos possible of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure to share with your friends and family members, on social media, and maybe even print on the wall at home.

Moments in time or a travel experience that you always want to cherish.

So you’ve splashed out on a new camera based on expert recommendations , and you’re keen to hit the road.

But here’s the problem – you don’t have the faintest idea how to get the same kinds of images you see in postcards or on the internet.

The kinds of travel photos that just pop, stand out from the rest, inspire you to book a flight immediately.

Luckily that’s where we come in.

We’ve been fortunate enough to work as professional travel photographers for almost a decade now, being paid to fly around the world, running photography workshops, take pictures for the tourism industry and tell stories.

And now we want to share our knowledge, secrets and insights from our travel photography journey with you so you can take better travel photos.

In this post you’ll find many of our favourite travel photography tips you need to know to come home with shots you will be proud to show off.

Today is the time to learn. Let’s begin.

Table of Contents

1) Know Your Camera

2) focus on the golden and blue hours, 3) plan your shots, 4) learn about composition, 5) framing, framing and more framing, 6) move your feet, make them feel comfortable, 8) use a tripod, 9) find the right travel photography gear, 10) be unique, 11) find your voice as a photographer, 13) aperture, 15) shutter speed, 17) bonus – general ideas for camera equipment settings, 18) use manual mode, 19) shoot in raw (if available), 20) learn about post processing, save this pin for later, general travel photography tips for beginners.

To start with let me talk about the general travel photography tips that I feel are not only the most important, but also the most difficult to master.

Developing an eye for photography takes time. Years in fact. It’s a never-ending learning process, but I promise you with practice you will get much better.

And once you start to get the skills for framing and composing a shot, the rest is easy.

Whether you shoot on a dSLR, mirrorless, smartphone or an old film unit, the first travel photography tip is to get to know your camera equipment.

Whatever you have in your camera bag , take the time to read the instructions, play around with all the buttons and camera settings, and spend hours with it in your hand so that it becomes a part of you.

Study the menu so that if you need to change camera settings in the field you’re not spending minutes scrolling through it when timing is critical.

Also don’t forget to learn your camera’s limitations.

Does it perform well in low-light or does the image fall apart? Is it sharp wide open, or do you need to stop down to get the best clarity? Does it have inbuilt image stabilisation?

Ultimately when you pick up your camera you want to feel comfortable and know exactly how it works. Then getting better pictures will come faster and easier.

Light is everything when it comes to travel photography images, and there’s a good chance you’ve already heard about the golden and blue hours.

The Golden Hour is that time when the sun is low in the sky and it throws a magical, warm glow across the scene.

Think the first hour after the sun peaks in the morning, and the last hour or two before the sun drops over the horizon in the afternoon.

The Blue Hour is when the sun is below the horizon and the sky gives off a beautiful blue hue.

If you really want better travel photos, one of the best travel photography tips we can give is to get used to waking up early and stay out late to make the most of these two times of day.

If you’re not a morning person, get used to setting an alarm. Many of the great travel photos of the Taj Mahal and other tourist sites with no one in them for example were taken by people who got there early.

Taking photos in the middle of the day can still result in great shots, but in general you’ll find the blue sky too blown out unless there are some interesting clouds, and on a sunny day you’ll find the lighting conditions can be a bit harsh.

Instead use the middle of the day to get street photography, or scout out photo locations and a vantage point for your sunrise and sunset photos to come back later.

Bonus Tip – Even if it looks like the sunrise or sunset might not be so beautiful, wait around. You never know when the clouds might break or the sky randomly lights up in brilliant colours.

Before you arrive in your tourist destinations, spend a few hours planning out your shot list of images you want to photograph.

You can get inspiration from Instagram, Google Maps, travel guides, magazines and more.

Make a note of these pictures, and then plan your day around the optimum time to shoot (sunrise or sunset for example).

Doing this will help you nail the shots you want to go, and give you more purpose and direction.

You need to know that all of the best photographers use tools like Google Maps or social media to form a shot list, and you should get used to it too.

You’ve probably heard about how important it is to compose a shot properly, and I bet if you’ve ever read a photography manual you would have come across the ‘ rule of thirds ‘.

Good composition can be the difference between an average shot and award-winning travel photos.

There’s all kinds of ‘rules’ that theoretically make a photo look nicer, such as not putting your subject in the middle of the shot, don’t cut elements out of the frame, etc.

But right now let’s go a bit into the Rule of Thirds.

This concept is where you divide your image into 9 even squares (many cameras actually have this grid line feature built into their display options).

Then what you do is you place the subjects and points of interest such as a human element along those lines and squares.

Here’s an example of how this looks:

The idea of the rule of thirds is that this is a mathematical idea of what our eyes naturally find pleasing. So it’s good practice to incorporate this method into your shots.

Another thing to look for is leading lines that naturally draw your eye around the photo, as well as different angles and shapes.

Have a river flowing from the side of the shot up to a waterfall on the top left for example, or the foreground bending around, leading the eye towards a church at the top of the photo.

This is a skill that you’ll learn with more practice.

An important thing to remember is that rules are meant to be broken .

Get used to analysing your shots with the rule of thirds, but please don’t use it as gospel if you think a different composition would work.

Adding a human element also brings a lot of interest to a good shot, so place people in your frame.

When you look through the viewfinder or LCD screen, don’t just focus on the subject.

Make sure you run your eyes around the entire frame to make sure you’re not accidentally cutting off something important.

Double-check that the top of a mountain is fully inside the frame, or that your friend’s whole body is in the shot as an example.

This isn’t gospel, because sometimes having something cut off from the frame can be good for composition, but you’ll have to be the judge of that.

Also check to see if you can use something natural in the scene to create a frame inside your picture.

Think of looking out a window at a building, or a bent-over tree surrounding a pretty lake.

These can all help make better travel photos.

This is one of the most important travel photography tips I can give – Move your feet.

Don’t just arrive to a scene and take a shot from the place you’re standing.

Instead take a few minutes to walk around and see if there is a better frame or composition.

Go closer, move back, step to the side, consider your lens’ focal length, etc.

Imagine trying to take that iconic Taj Mahal photo, only to find out later that you were 2m to the left of centre, throwing off that perfect symmetry.

Or maybe if you walk to the river’s edge you’ll be able to incorporate some interesting rocks into the scene instead of just water.

Better yet, take multiple travel photos and fill up those memory cards from the same photo locations so you have lots of options when you get home to see which is your favourite.

7) Ask People for Permission

Travel photography isn’t all about capturing the most beautiful sunsets and gorgeous architecture around the world.

Travel photography is also about the people you meet. But if you’re a bit shy like me, how do you get those amazing portrait photos without feeling rude?

Simple – just ask for permission.

Asking someone for permission to take their photo is polite and respectful.

If you have had a great encounter with someone, or you just see a great opportunity and want to capture a wonderful portrait, give them a big smile and ask if it’s ok to take their photo.

You’ll find many people are more than happy to pose for a photo if you just ask (just make sure you respect them if they say no).

But what if you want to get a candid shot, with the subject looking natural?

There’s always another way to get these without annoying the person.

Don’t make it obvious that you are taking their photo. Act natural and take lots of photos of the environment around them.

You can also keep your camera down by your side and point the lens in their direction.

If you have a zoom lens, use it. This was you can be on the other side of the street or market and still photograph the person.

Interested in learning more? Join one of our exclusive photography workshops in Antarctica, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Mongolia !

Another one of my favourite travel photography tips for portraits is to bring in another element to the shot.

Some people will feel uncomfortable posing for a stranger, but if you can make it about something else they will feel much more at ease.

As an example, maybe ask if they can pose with something in their store like a rug, or ask them to show you their wedding ring.

This way they’ll realise there is more to your photo than just them. This will also add a lot more interesting elements to the shot!

A tripod is one of the best camera accessories you can have in your camera bag, and really essential for travel photography.

This will allow you to get excellent shots in low light, as well as get creative with your images (like taking long exposures).

These days you don’t always need a massive tripod to travel around with, especially if you want to travel light and are a hobbyist photographer. Look at some of the Joby Gorillapods .

Another good thing about using a tripod is that it will force you to slow down with your photography and put more thought into each shot.

Rather than just pointing and shooting, you will think carefully about where you want to set up your tripod and how you want to compose your shot.

Honestly if you want to become a better travel photographer, you’ll need to invest in at least a small tripod.

You don’t need to go out and spend tens of thousands of dollars on new travel photography gear to get the best shots.

In fact chances are you already have a perfectly adequate camera right next to you (your phone).

Instead just get what you an afford, and as you grow with your photography style, post production, etc, you’ll learn what camera gear you need as well.

Things like filters, tripods, flashes, prime lenses, zoom lenses, etc will come in time.

For now, all you really need is a camera, memory card and enthusiasm!

Check out our recommendations for the best travel tripods .

There’s nothing wrong with getting those iconic shots of the Eiffel Tower or Machu Picchu to share on social media.

They’re beautiful and are often amazing camera angles of famous places that everyone wants to visit.

But don’t forget to be unique as well! Find a different perspective that hasn’t been photographed a million times.

In fact make it your goal to get a few unique shots that you can be proud of.

Over-expose, under-expose, incorporate motion blue – the only limitation is your imagination!

Just like a writer or musician finds a particular style they like, as a photographer you need to discover your ‘voice’.

Travel photography is such a broad term that can cover just about anything.

Really just taking any travel photos will fit the description, whether it is landscape photography, wildlife photography, architecture, portraits, food or whatever.

Just find a style you love most, and focus on getting better at it.

If you really like black and white photography, then start shooting in black and white! Love taking images of crazy street markets? Then get out there and find them!

Experiment, learn, discover and nurture!

Technical Travel Photography Tips

While the technical side of using a camera is usually the most overwhelming thing for a new photographer to think about, it’s actually one of the easiest things to master. All it takes is a bit of study and practice.

If you’ve never looked into getting out of ‘Auto mode’ on your camera, then terms like ISO, aperture, white balance and shutter speed will seem completely foreign.

READ MORE: Check out our great article and blog posts featuring our best landscape photography tips !

12) Exposure Triangle of Photography

The Exposure Triangle is a metaphor to explain the 3 elements that allow light onto a sensor.

A camera captures light, and the right amount is needed so that your image isn’t too bright or too dark.

The 3 parts of the Exposure Triangle are aperture, ISO and shutter.

Each one affects how light reaches the sensor in different ways, and getting this combination right is essential to capturing a beautiful image.

If you want more information, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to understanding the exposure triangle which you should really check out.

For now though I’ll explain these three things briefly, and how they relate to taking better travel photographs.

Aperture is how wide, or small, the blades in your lens are and how much light goes through the lens.

The aperture size is measured in ‘F Stops’, and displayed as numbers. f5.6, f8, f11, f16, etc

A wide aperture (small number – f1.8) lets in more light than a low aperture (big number – f22).

A wide aperture also has a shallowed depth of field than a low aperture. I know it can be a little confusing, but you’ll pick it up the more you play around with it.

If you want the background blurry in your photo, you’ll want a wide aperture. If you want everything in focus, you’ll want a low aperture.

ISO is how sensitive your camera sensor is to light. A small number, such as 100, means it’s not very sensitive and therefore needs more light to leave an impression.

A high number, like 6400, means it’s very sensitive and needs only a little bit of light to show up on the sensor.

The higher the ISO, the more noise shows up in a photo. Noise lowers the quality of your image, so in a perfect world you’ll want to keep this as low as possible (unless you’re going to stay out late doing astro and night photography ).

It’s also necessary to raise your ISO if you’re shooting moving subjects (or handheld) indoors.

Shutter speed is pretty straight forward – how long it takes for your shutter to open and close. This allows you to freeze a frame, or introduce motion blur.

Want to capture a bird in flight? You’ll want to have a fast shutter (1/4000th of a second for example).

Want to make a waterfall look silky smooth, like you see in so much Iceland photography? Go for slow shutter speeds (3 seconds for example), and check out our guide to waterfall photography tips while you’re at it!

Keep in mind that if you are holding your camera equipment rather than using a tripod, you’ll need to have a fast enough shutter to eliminate your own hand movement.

As a general rule 1/60 of a second is the slowest you should go so your picture doesn’t pick up hand movement. Any slower than that and you’ll probably need a tripod.

16) Combining All Three for Perfect Exposure

There is no ‘perfect setting’ for aperture, ISO and shutter. It all depends on what you are trying to photograph and the style you’re going for.

Luckily most decent digital cameras have two little tools that will let you play around figure out how all three work together – manual mode and histograms.

Manual gives you complete control over your camera’s ISO, aperture and shutter.

If you change one, nothing else will change, unlike in ‘aperture priority’ mode or ‘shutter priority’ mode.

The histogram is a visual display of light. When the bars are all the way to the left, the image is darker. When they are all the way to the right, the image is lighter.

When most of the bars are in the centre, this is perfectly exposed.

The best way to figure out what combinations work best when you’re a complete amateur is to put your camera on “manual” mode, activate the histogram, and play around with the settings.

Pick an aperture (f/8 for example) and point it at the scene. Now look at the histogram.

If the image is too dark, then you’ll need to let more light in. Let’s make the speed slower. See a change?

Now put the shutter back to where it was and instead change the ISO. Make the ISO higher. Is the image getting lighter?

Spend an hour or two playing around with different apertures, ISO and shutter so you get an idea of how each one affects the light hitting the display.

Take note at how drastically things can change if a cloud goes in front of the sun, or you take the camera inside.

This just comes with practice of course, and knowing what settings you want for a particular scene will become second nature

Keep in mind that not all travel photos needs to be perfectly exposed. Sometimes having a darker image looks much better than having one that is nice and bright. You can use your judgement for this.

This is very, very basic and by no means should be read as gospel. There are a million different things that can affect why you would want a faster shutter, or wider aperture. But if you are confused about what to pick for what here’s a quick idea.

• Landscapes – You’ll want your aperture around f8-f11. You’ll also want your ISO as low as possible. Slow down the shutter accordingly.
• Portraits – You’ll probably want to photograph your subject to be sharp, but the background blurry to bring focus on the person. Have a wider aperture (say f2.8 for example), and a faster shutter (around 1/160 at the absolute slowest) to freeze the subject. Adjust ISO accordingly.
• Indoors – Because it is darker inside than outside, you’ll need to let a lot more light into the sensor. Unless you’re using a tripod, keep the speed at around 1/60 as the slowest, and the aperture around f5.6 to start with. Adjust ISO and aperture accordingly.

Of course there’s a bunch of other styles of travel photography that would use different settings, such as astrophotography, architecture, street scenes photography, wildlife photography, etc.

In time you’ll learn what settings work best for each scene.

The best way to get to know your camera and how light works is to have complete control over what settings you choose.

The only way to do this is to shoot in manual mode (shown by the letter M on most cameras).

It will take months of practice, but I promise you that in time you’ll be able to look at a scene and instantly know what aperture, ISO and shutter to use to get the exact style of image you’re looking for.

You can also use aperture priority mode (the letter A on your camera) if you don’t want to make the big leap to manual just yet.

This way you can lock in the aperture you want (f8 for landscape photography, f2.8 for portraits, etc) and the camera will automatically adjust the ISO (although you can control this part too) and shutter to get perfect exposure.

I highly recommend focusing on learning manual settings though until you have it perfected.

When you take a photo on your digital camera, the computer chip inside it takes what you captured on the sensor and converts it into a format that can be easily read. For most cameras, these two formats are RAW and JPEG.

JPEG is a compressed format that the camera creates to save on space. In doing so it ‘locks in’ all the data that it picked up such as the colour and white balance.

RAW files actually saves all the data of what you took and doesn’t compress it.

Most decent digital cameras will give you the menu option of shooting in RAW, and I recommend you use it if you ever plan on editing your photos.

Keep in mind that the file sizes will be a lot bigger (for example on one of our cameras a RAW is 42, while a JPEG is just 20), so you’ll need to have extra memory cards and external hard drive storage.

If you have no plans on editing your photos then shoot in JPEG.

Some people think that editing your photo is ‘cheating’. But the truth is photographers have been editing their photos ever since photography was invented.

Yes, even your favourite photos in National Geographic have been manipulated in some way.

99% of photos you see in your favourite travel magazines have been edited. Every professional photographer edits their photos to some degree.

The reason is that not all cameras are great at capturing exactly what the eye saw in terms of colour and light.

If you really want to get the most out of your professional travel photography business, you should start playing around with post processing.

Many people have heard of Adobe Photoshop , but it’s a pretty advanced tool that most people wouldn’t ever need to use (until you get more experience).

To start with look at the free apps that you can get on your phone, such as Snapseed, or free editing programs on your computer, like iPhoto or GIMP.

Once you get serious about travel photography and you want to start editing all of your photos that are filling up your memory cards and external hard drive, we recommend purchasing Adobe Lightroom.

If you’re ready to make the jump to using Lightroom and Photoshop, Adobe have a great ‘Creative Cloud’ package, which is what we use for only $10 a month. You can buy it here with a 7-day free trial

21) Practice, Practice, Practice

Just like anything, becoming a great travel photographer takes time, and a lot of practice. The only way you can get better is by getting out there taking travel photos!

You don’t even have to travel the world to tourist destinations or have the most travel camera available to be a great photographer.

Borrow some family members to take their portraits, get a friend who is also interested in photography and push each other, or grab your smartphone and go shoot sunset.

Buy whatever you can afford, go for a walk around your city and snap away.

We hope that this general guide on travel photography tips for beginners has been helpful.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other questions. We have a lot of experience working with tourism boards, and would be happy to help you too.

Good luck on your photographic journey, and maybe we’ll see you in National Geographic one day!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Your work is greatly appreciated and has had a positive impact and it has greatly benefited both myself and my students. It’s creators like you who elevate the educational experience, making it a blissful endeavor for learners across the globe.

I indeed agree in Know your camera and Plan your shots. These tips would make a good start in achieving your socmed worthy travel shots. And ofcourse, the other tips will surely be useful too. Great post!

Good article but I need to say something about using Manual – it’s not that great. Manual is just a different mode of settings for exposure, little different from either shutter or aperture priority, except these two give you a leg up, to where you’re going anyway. At the end of the day whatever exposure setting you choose will be just a combination of the 3 on the ‘exposure triangle’. Instead of using manual try these other two in conjunction with exposure compensation, which overrides the exposure meter reading. You still need the meter for any exposure anyway, just not necessarily using the value it recommends. It amounts to the same thing, only easier, quicker, and still constraining one of the triangle sides that you want. I use manual for specific unusual objects, such as sun, moon, stars, but during general daytime subjects it’ll be very unusual to hamper yourself by not using the aid provided when there is no advantage.

Your blog has become my go-to source for insightful content.

Thank you so much. So glad to hear. 🙂

Before you go, research your destination and its culture. This will help you better understand the people, customs, and landscapes you’ll be photographing.

I benefited a lot from your post. Thank you

So glad you did. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂

Thanks for sharing all this amazing tips & information. Fabulous post !

You are welcome. We are happy to help. Happy photographing

nice summary of basic photo tips that will improve my shots, thanx!

You are rocking..keep it up your work

Thank you so much. We really appreciate it.

Great article with great tips and i also like the pictures

Thank you so much Alesha and Jarryd for these amazing photography tips! I look forward to putting into practice some of your wonderful ideas and tips! I do so appreciate any tips that I can get to improve my photography. :)) Cheers, Marilyn

I absolutely loved this article! Like you I received my first ‘proper’ camera at 14 and since then have been hooked. I recently purchased a Nikon D750 and am absolutely loving it. Although at the moment I only have two lenses for it I am hoping to be able to afford more soon. What are your favourite lenses?

In my photography I love capturing candid portraits of people I encounter during my travels. I always struggle with the dilemma of getting the perfect candid shot and feeling compelled to ask permission before taking the shot. As a very shy person directing people in images is daunting, but it is something I am striving to work on. It’s nice to read that you are also shy yet manage to capture such incredible images of people.

As I am mostly self-taught, I always love to read technical tips to improve my images. I found the technical side of your post incredibly helpful and wanted to say thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed post. I believe it really helps and inspires amateur photographers like myself.

Glad you liked the article. Thank you for your comment. Keep photographying Caitlyn 🙂

Great tips and awesome photos! I always tell people if they aren’t comfortable with their settings, the #1 way to make sure their images aren’t blurry is to shoot in TV/S (shutter) priority. That way you can prioritize having no hand shake.

Thank you so much. Great advice. Thanks for your comment. 🙂

Awesome tips for everyone and specially to me who loves capturing photos everytime i travel.This one also help me and give me more knowledge on how to make awesome photos and its good because you don’t need to buy expensive camera to have a good quality photos, just your iPhone or smartphone you can make a great photos.

Hi, you are so right. You can take great photos with your phone. Glad the article could help you.

Great article! Do you even bother carrying your camera with you during the day in broad sunlight? I find it’s not worth the hassle for such poor shooting conditions.

Hi Scott, It all depends what we are doing. If we are on a job, we always carry our cameras with us. The midday sun is harsh but you get used to working with it. Especially indoors with the sun coming through the cracks, it can work out really lovely sometimes. When we are travelling on our own time, we don’t usually carry the camera. Happy travels

I really enjoyed reading this post, as I am a beginner in photography as well and it’s always interesting to see what gear other people are using!

I have the Canon Rebel as well, and also love the 50mm lens. It’s just great and is so versatile!

Thanks for sharing.

Glad we could help. Thank you for your comment. Happy photographing,

Great tips guys! Photography is an art so it must be learned properly. A good guide can teach art in a great way. This article is similar to a guide because it is an eye-opener for blooming photographers and travel lovers.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for your comment Glorias. Glad the article could help.

Hello Alesha and Jarryd, not sure to whom I adresse the message to, but I’m guessing Jarryd took the pictures and Alesha wrote about it :p

Anyway, do you guys use any customized Firmware on your DSLR? like the CHDK or Magic Lantern. That’s one question, the other one will be: can’t find any Mobile Phone photography on your blog? can you please refer me to any article that provide valuable info around Mobile phone photography?

Hi Ayoub, The photos and words in the article are a combination of both of us. Usually Alesha is the photographer and Jarryd is the writer.

We use use no customise firmware at all. We haven’t ventured this way as it voids our warranty.

As for phone photography, maybe this is an article we should write. With our phone photos, we do use Snapseed to edit them. But do not take any photos through any apps. All the best

Thank you for the tip regarding phone photography, I mostly use the customized firmware to do timelaps and edit directly on the camera, keep me posted after publishing the new article. (Already subscribed to the weekly newsletter)

Definitely will do. Thank you so much. Happy photographing. 🙂

you are doing a great job

Thank you so much. 🙂

This was really an amazing list of tips, I am a hobbyist photographer and this would really helps me a lot

Glad we could help. Keep up the photographing. 🙂

Great tips Alesha and Jarred. I really liked your golden and blue hours tip. Will try it soon and hope get amazing pics 🙂

Glad we could help. Practise will get you on the right track and before you know it you will be taking amazing shots. We are still learning about photography everyday. We love that you can never stop learning. Thanks Linda.

Some of the best tips I have read so far. Amazing post and captures so much detail. Worth the read for every travel photographer. 🙂 Keep it up.

Thank you so much,. We really appreciate it. 🙂

Priceless tips for amateurs like me. Thanks for sharing. For a long while, I’ve tried to follow the rule of thirds, but the best shots came out when I finally dared to break it. You’re absolutely right about the rules are meant to be broken. Regarding the camera, I agree it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. But sometimes I have a feeling my shots would have been better had I owned a proper camera. What device is the best balance between price and quality?

HI Robin, you’re welcome. We are so happy we could help. Sometimes breaking the rules works out to be better. 🙂 We definitely know what you mean. You do not need to buy the most experience camera. A camera that you can use manual settings, is great as you can start using and playing with aperture, shutter speed and ISO. We started off with a Sony RX100ii and it was great. Compact and a great camera to learn. Here is some articles that may help. https://www.nomadasaurus.com/best-camera-for-travel-ultimate-photography-series/ https://www.nomadasaurus.com/best-camera-accessories-ultimate-photography-series/

Thanks a lot for the great advise! I especially like your explanations about the exposure triangle. I was a bit aware of it before, but never played around with it unless I wanted to change the depth of field (and even then, I did this very rarely). But thanks to focusing more on it, I am starting to get the hang of it. I have taken some very good hummingbird pictures, for example, which never would have been possible if I hadn’t raised the ISO so I can keep the shutter speed fast. Those birds zip around like crazy!

Also, I think one of the most important pieces of advise, and the one I’m struggling with most, is to always look at the whole frame. I am guilty of looking at the main subject and later finding out that I cut off important things on the side or that something weird is in the photo that shouldn’t have been there.

Hi Ilona, so happy the article could help you. That’s amazing you experiment with your hummingbird shots. They are fast birds. By practising photography, you will get better and better. No matter how experienced you are, there are always things to learn. When you come to a scene you want to photograph, stop for a minute look around, walk around and think about what shots you want to take. Obviously this is hard when the subject is moving but great for landscape and street photography. All the best and keep up the awesome work. 🙂

Hi, I took around 500 shots on a trip to Kyrgyzstan recently, some I think are pretty good, but now after reading your tips, I think I will make another trip to that part of the world again soon!

what a great tips especially the lighting part – i also agree that getting up earlier and shooting in the natural sunlight is so great for your photos. talking to the locals and knowing your camera, You guys covered it all

Thank you so much for reading Shama. Glad you liked our article. Natural lighting is the best. Even though sometimes that early morning is hard it is worth it. 🙂

u are absolutely right u don’t need an expensive camera or go to Bali ( although it’s a good idea) to get great photos. it’s just simple common sense and a good eye and you can master photography

Well said. Thank you for your comment and reading Shama. Have a great week.

Thanks a lot for the helpful tips on holiday photos. My partner and I are in Easter Island, irresistible place for photo opportunity. My Nikon D7000 will keep on taking photos on auto mode for the time being until I have had enough practice following your guidelines and the who knows what photos I might produce! Thanks.

Glad we could help Balu. Definitely when you have time, go out and take some photos on manual. Play with the different settings. Before you know it, you’ll only be on manual. At the beginning when I was still learning, I would take a shot on the manual settings I thought and then a shot of the same view on auto in case I messed up. Better safe than sorry. Have a great time in Easter Island. There is so much to do there and learning about the history is amazing. Take care. Alesha

Guys your advice are completely helped me. I was stressed before, i want to travelling at the moment but i hope i can take a good picture cause you know how annoying it will be when we take a picture and then when we are home they are completely bad. So then you have to comeback at the same place again just to take a picture. But this one is helpfull

Hi Fabio, Don’t stress. You are going to bring back amazing photos from your travels. It is all overwhelming at the beginning but it gets easy. When you are shooting, put some time aside and concentrate on what you have learned. It doesn’t matter if it takes you 20 minutes to an hour to get your shot. If their are other photographers around, most of the time that are happy to give you some advice. Let them know you are new. Maybe they will let you know their settings for ISO, aperture and shutter. When it comes to editing, take your time as well. There are many You Tube videos that can help you for free. Have a great time on your trip. Happy travels

Hey Guys, very useful tips especially the Bonus tips.

Keep Sharing!!!

Glad we could help. Thanks for reading.

P(Program) you set either the aperture or shutter and the camera adjusts the other one accordingly to maintain the right exposure. Thanks

Thanks Rezan

I love traveling around the world. I wish to capture some of the beautiful places that I enjoyed. The above tips helped me to improve my travel photography skills. It also helped me to click some of the memorable moments of my travel with my friends and relatives.

Hi Vivek, Glad we could help. It is all about practise. We love having a day to ourselves and just getting out and shooting anything – landscape, cityscape, people or animals. We try to give ourselves a challenge sometimes. It makes it interesting and we are enjoying ourselves. 🙂

Great tips to help out beginners like me. I need to work on to ask people for permission as I get shy sometimes. I love the quote “rules are meant to be broken”!

Thank you Mao. Don’t worry, “asking” will come. Alesha was so shy and I used to take all the people shots. Now she is more confident and really enjoys shooting people. All the best.

THANK YOU . Your very easy to read starter guide to photography was AMAZEBALLS I learnt so much .cheers LIZY

Thank you. Glad we could help. Happy shooting and get creative. 🙂

Hey guys, this is an amazing guide, thanks for writing this up in such detail. As an amateur, I always look for good travel photography tips from other travellers. I left my tripod behind in Thailand and I think this was a huge mistake, I need to get a new one, urgently 🙂

By the way, really enjoy your photos on your blog and Instagram, they are amazing! 🙂

Glad we could help guys. We never used to use a tripod in our early years until we discovered how amazing the shots can be with one in low light and now we have 3. You can rest your camera on something to get a shot but you are limited to positions. Thanks for reading guys. 🙂

thanks for the tips. i’d make one edit: instead of ‘move your feet’ i’d say “don’t be lazy”…move left or right. move forward or back. climb up on something or get down on your knees.

Love it Aaron. You are so right. A little to the left might be the perfect shot or a little to the right and crouching might be the perfect shot. thanks for the input. Have a good one.

I love this post. It is incredibly helpful to all beginner travel photographers like myself! I have only been shooting in manual mode for the past 5 months and have already seen a huge increase in the quality of my photos! But I am always looking to improve. Will definitely be sharing your post

It is crazy how you improve when you start shooting manual. I know Alesha did also. You learn so much about the camera and what it can do, it is incredible. Thank you for reading and all the best with your photography Hayley. 🙂

this guide is amazing, thank you so much for explaining everything in a way an amateur can understand 🙂

Bookmarking the post for future reference!

Cheers, Naddya

Thank you guys. We are glad it is useful for you. 🙂

Wow! Amazing Tips. These tips will help a lot to click great pictures with your camera. Love the point of Shutter Speed. and about RAW.

Thanks for Sharing Helpful Post.

Thank you so much Nitin. Glad we can help. Thank you for reading.

Yeah I agree with you buddy.

Thank you 🙂

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Travel Photography Equipment – What To Pack?

A Post By: Christina N Dickson

What photography gear should I pack when I’m traveling? Today Christina Dickson answers this question.

It’s your first trip out of the country as a real “photographer”. Your clothing is packed. Your suitcase is at the door. Now there’s only one question:

What photography gear do you bring?

In 3 days I head off to Ecuador as a photographer for a philanthropic missions group. While there, I get to spend an exciting 23 days documenting the culture, the mission’s work, and the people of Ecuador.

My office looks like a war zone as equipment and essentials are spread out so you can hardly see the floor. One thing is for certain: I don’t want to forget anything. There’s nothing more disconcerting than traveling thousands of miles to a foreign country, only to discover that you left a vital piece of your photographic equipment.

My list of photography equipment should cover me through rain, through dark convention centers, and through the sandy beaches of the coast.

• 1. Photographers Bag

No tourist bags here. When you are traveling overseas for a photographic mission, you need to protect your gear with something durable, water resistant, and maintain accessibility through mountain regions and the city. My bags of choice vary between the Kata 9, and the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home .

The Kata Rucksack is an amazing backpack. The main compartment has enough space for my Mark II N, 70-200 2.8 IS lens, 24-70, 2.8 lens, 50 1.8 lens, and two 580 EX speedlights, and a 250gig external hard drive. In the zipper top inside, I can keep my lens cloths and cleaner, my card reader, my extra cards, a USB hub, and any other small items I may need. Two zipper pockets on the outside hold my phone and ipod. Finally, the back holds a secret zipper compartment where I can keep my MacBookPro, charger and a book for the road.

When you don’t need to lug around a laptop and several speedlights, something like the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home is the perfect “sling” solution. It holds my camera, all my lenses, and its zipper top holds all the little accessories such as lens cloths, card reader and extra cards. In the front pouch I can hold my wallet, passport, phone, and maps. This is all protected by a very durable Velcro patch and thick clasp over the front.

• 2. Shooter Bag

Let’s be realistic. How often will you want to pack around 40 pounds of equipment on the go? If you have a secure hotel room and decide to leave your laptop, flashes, and other gear, you’ll want to be sure to have a “Shooter Bag”. A shooter bag is simplistic in nature. When my camera is on my shoulder, I need a bag just large enough to hold essentials. I have a sling bag that is padded enough for an extra lens, and large enough to hold memory cards, my wallet, passport and map. This is the perfect solution for traveling around large crowds when a normal camera bag will either hurt or hit people.

• 3. Card Case

On the road it’s easy to loose little things like cards. Keep your 1, 2, and 4 gig Extreme Cards all together in a little protective case that can be thrown into a larger bag.

• 4. Cleaning Equipment

Lens cloths are critical for dust, sand, and dirt that appear on your lenses. A “puffer” will keep your mirrors and sensor spotless.

• 5. Card Reader

Need I say more?

• 6. 120 Gig External Hard drive

I recommend purchasing a new hard drive for your photographic trips. Depending on the duration of time you will be out of the country, you may want to purchase a 120-300 gig hard drive for secure photo storage. Seagate and WD Passport are very reliable hard drives. I own one 120 gig WD Passport , two 500 gig WD Passport , and a Terabyte WD Passport. I have had no problems with these hard drives even with my traveling in the past 3 years.

• 7. Zip Lock bags

Heading off to a wet or rainy location? Keep a couple spare gallon sized zip lock bats to hold lenses and your camera when you need to keep shooting in spite of the weather.

• 8. An LED light

Don’t want to pack multiple flashes? Try using an LED (light emitting device) for dark places. Secure the LED to the top of your camera. Depending on its power and range, you may be able to light up the majority of your scene when available light is less than conducive to shooting. (You will find these in the camping section of Wal-Mart or Target.)

• 9. A journalist pad

Let’s face it. When you travel around, you aren’t always remembering confirmation numbers, hotel addresses etc. Keep track of people, places, and random notes when you are on the go with a small, portable note pad that won’t take up a lot of space, and won’t get damaged in various weather conditions like an iphone or other media device.

• 10. A Travel Tripod

For those days when you want to catch a sunset over Venice, you won’t want to be without your tripod. And I have good news. Traveling with a heavy, bulky tripod is no longer painful. Try the Gorillapod Compact Mini Camera Flexible Travel Tripod .

Happy photographic travels!

What travel photography gear tips would you add to Christina’s list of travel photography gear?

Table of contents

Travel photography.

• 8 Ideas of What To Do With Your Vacation Photos
• What Skills do You Need to be a Travel Photographer?
• How to Capture the Essence of a Place – Travel Photography Tips
• 7 Tips to Make Travel Photography Interesting Again
• Avoid These 5 Major Mistakes Made By Travel Photographers
• Travel Photography – Do You Ask Permission Before, After Or Not At All?
• Travel Photographers Workflow – At Home and on the Road
• The Photo Critique: Travel Photo Edition
• 6 Reasons Why Your Travel Photos Don’t Look Like the Ones in Magazines
• The Fine Line Between Travel Photography and Having a family Vacation
• 10 Ways to Improve your Vacation Photos
• What is Your Biggest Travel Photography Challenge?
• 7 Travel Photography Hacks to Get You Going Places
• How to Use a Travel Photography Shot List to Come Home with Better Photos
• Why You Need To Be A Guerrilla Travel Photographer – And How To Become One
• How to Get the Most Out of a Travel Photography Location
• Travel Photography, Backpacking and Packing Light
• 6 of the Best Smartphone Apps for Travel and Landscape Photography
• How To Keep Camera Gear Safe While Traveling
• 5 Ways to Find Great Locations for Travel Photography
• 15 Tips for Protecting Your Images While Traveling
• Safety Tips for Travel Photographers (Particularly Women)
• Off Camera Flash for Your Travel Photography
• How to Use Natural Light in Travel Photography
• Photo Composition Tips from Bob Holmes – Composition in Travel Photos
• The Importance of People in your Travel Photos
• Create More Unique Travel Photos by Adding a Model
• 5 Lessons Learned Switching from DSLR to Mirrorless for Travel Photography
• How To Keep Your Batteries Charged While Traveling – Remote Location Edition
• 5 Tips For Travel With Only One Lens
• 5 Lessons Learned While Using a Kit Lens for Travel Photography
• 7 Tips for Using a Tripod in Landscape and Travel Photography
• The Best Fujifilm X-Series Kits for Travel Photography
• The First 10 Things You Need to Buy After Your Camera for Travel Photography
• Tiniest Interchangable Lens Micro Four Thirds Cameras for Travel with Amazing Quality
• The Only Three Lenses You Need for Travel Photography
• Must Have Gear for Travel Photography Newbies
• Why Olympus Mirrorless Cameras are Top Notch for Travel Photography
• The Best Travel Photography Lenses: Our Top 12 Picks
• 5 Camera Bags That Every Travel Photographer Needs At Some Point
• A Travel Tripod that can Also Act as a Light Stand
• The iPad as a Photographer’s Travel Helper [a Review]
• 7 Non-Photography Items Which No Travel Photographer Should Leave Home Without
• 7 Reasons Why a Tripod is a Travel Photographer’s Best Friend
• 10 Ways to Improve Your Travel Photography Portraits
• How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation
• Tips for Photographing Local Parks
• How to Find the Best Kinds of People to Photograph While Traveling
• 4 Ways To Make Better Street Portraits While Traveling
• How to Photograph People When Traveling
• How To Take More Creative Environmental Travel Portraits
• Photographing Signs – Travel Photography Tip
• Tips for Creating Better Documentary Travel Photos
• 6 Tips for How to be a Culturally Sensitive Travel Photographer
• Travel Photography Subjects: Old People
• How to Put the Fine Art into Travel Photography
• Travel Photography without the Travel – Going Local
• How to Tell Better Visual Stories with Travel Photography
• Create a Theme to Step Up Your Travel Photography
• Travel Photography ~ Think Outside The Postcard When Photographing Famous Landmarks
• Photographing Festivals and Events – Tips for Travel Photographers
• Video: Travel Photography Tips – Shoot with a Purpose
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Art Direct Your Travel Photography
• Buy Less Gear: Travel and Experience More
• Editorial Travel Photography – Telling the Story of a Location
• Travel Photography Subjects: Religion
• Travel Photography Subjects: Views
• Travel Photography Tips – Photographing the Coast
• Taking Photos in Busy Tourist Destinations with no People in the Shot
• How to Backup and Manage Your Photos When Traveling Without a Computer
• Tips for Creating a Killer Vacation Photo Book
• Photo Editing Workflow for Travel Photography
• How to Build a Travel Photography Portfolio
• How to Become a Professional Travel Photographer – Two Paths
• 11 Tips for Shooting Travel Stock Photography to Make Money
• How to Sell a Travel Story to a Magazine and Help Fund Your Travels
• 7 Realities That Hit Once You Become a Professional Travel Photographer
• Is a Career in Travel Photography Right for You?
• Travel Inspiration: Bali
• Canadian Travelogue – Introduction
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: South Africa
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Thailand
• Canadian Travelogue – Newfoundland – Gros Morne National Park
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: India
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Japan
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Kenya
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Morocco
• Travel Photography Inspiration Project: Vietnam
• An Interview With World Traveler Gary Arndt
• Interview: Oded Wagenstein – Author of Snapn Travel Guide and dPS Writer

Read more from our Cameras & Equipment category

is a visionary artist and philanthropist in Portland Oregon. Her work includes wedding photography www.BrideInspired.com and leadership with www.RevMediaBlog.com .

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How to Travel with Photography Gear Safely

Table of Contents

There’s more to consider than just fitting everything into your camera backpack when answering the question of how to travel with photography gear.

The stakes are high; mishandling can risk damage to your camera bodies and other equipment. Moreover, unexpected weather conditions can wreak havoc on your gear if not properly protected. But don’t fret! With careful planning and an understanding of local regulations about carrying camera equipment, you can ensure the safety of your gear during travel. Armed with a theft-proof backpack and a handy laptop charger, you’re all set for a hassle-free journey with your photography equipment in tow.

Tips for Packing Essential Photography Equipment

Photography gear is precious. Let’s dive into how to pack it right.

Utilizing Padded Bags and Cases for Protection

Packing your photography gear in padded cases or bags is a no-brainer. These babies are designed to cushion your equipment from any bumps or knocks during travel. Just imagine a daypack, but on steroids. It’s like wrapping your camera in bubble wrap, but way more stylish.

• Pros : Extra protection, peace of mind.
• Cons : Can be bulky, might take up more space in luggage.

Importance of Lens Caps and Body Caps

Lens caps and body caps are like the helmets of the photography world. They shield the most vulnerable parts of your camera – the lens and sensor – from scratches, dust, and other damage. Never leave home without them!

• Pros : Protects lens and sensor, easy to use.
• Cons : Easy to lose if not careful.

Role of Silica Gel Packs

Ever wondered why those little silica gel packs come with new shoes? They absorb moisture! So why not throw a few into your tech pouches when packing your photography gear? They’ll keep everything nice ‘n’ dry.

• Pros : Prevents moisture damage, super cheap.
• Cons : None really, unless you eat them (don’t do that).

Need for Separate Compartments

Think about it: would you chuck all your clothes into one big pile in your suitcase? No way! Same goes for your photography gear. Having separate compartments in your bag allows you to organize better and protect each piece individually.

• Pros : Better organization, extra protection.
• Cons : Might limit what you can carry due to size restrictions.

Value of Carrying Extras

You know what they say: two is one, one is none. Always have backups! Spare batteries mean you won’t miss that perfect shot because your camera died. Multiple memory cards mean you won’t run out of storage space halfway through the day. And cleaning materials? Well, a clean camera is a happy camera.

• Pros : Be prepared for anything, peace of mind.
• Cons : Takes up more space in bag.

Navigating Air Travel with Camera Gear

Air travel can be a hassle, especially when you’re lugging around your precious photography gear. Let’s dive into how to traverse the skies without a hitch.

Know Your Airline Policies

Each airline has its own policies regarding carry-on limits for camera equipment. It’s crucial to do your homework before you hit the airport . Some airlines may allow you to bring one bag of camera equipment as a personal item, while others might count it towards your carry-on limit.

For example, Delta Airlines allows one bag of camera equipment as a personal item in addition to your standard carry-on allowance. On the other hand, United Airlines counts it towards your normal carry-on allotment.

However, I’ve picked up a cool trick for getting more camera gear on airplanes for free .

Choosing the Ideal Lightweight Lenses

Travel photography can be a hassle, especially when lugging around heavy gear. However, choosing lightweight lenses can make your journey more enjoyable.

Prime Lenses Over Zoom

Prime lenses are a photographer’s best friend. They’re generally lighter than zoom lenses and offer superior image quality.

• Pros: Less weight to carry, sharper images
• Cons: Limited focal length range

For instance, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM weighs only 160g (0.35 lbs) but produces stunning portraits and street scenes.

Compact Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless cameras are revolutionizing travel photography. They’re compact yet powerful – perfect for reducing baggage weight.

• Pros: Smaller size, less weight
• Cons: Battery life may be shorter than DSLR s

A popular option is Sony’s Alpha A6000, weighing in at just 344g (0.76 lbs) without the lens.

Versatile Lenses for Multiple Scenarios

Versatility is key when traveling light. Opting for lenses that cover multiple shooting scenarios saves space and weight.

• Pros: Covers various shooting scenarios with one lens
• Cons: Image quality may not be as high as prime lenses

Consider Sigma’s 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM | C, which covers everything from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto wildlife shots.

Pancake Lenses Slim Profile

Pancake lenses offer photographers a slim profile and lightweight nature – ideal for travel photographers who want to travel with the most minimalist photography gear possible.

• Pros: Extremely lightweight and compact
• Cons: Often have slower apertures

Canon’s EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens weighs only 125g (0.28 lbs), making it one of the lightest options available.

Fast Aperture Lenses Worth Their Weight

Fast aperture lenses may weigh slightly more, but their value lies in low-light performance.

• Pros: Excellent in low light conditions
• Cons: Heavier than other lens types

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G is a prime example. It weighs 280g (0.62 lbs), but its f/1.4 aperture makes it ideal for night photography.

Professional Secrets on How to Travel with Photography Gear

Traveling with photography gear is like packing a suitcase full of your favorite toys. But, it can be tricky if you don’t know the ropes. Let’s dive into some pro tips that’ll help you travel light and smart with your camera gear.

Color-Coded Pouches for Quick Access

Ever found yourself fumbling through your bag trying to find that one lens or battery? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Here’s a hack: use color-coded pouches or labels.

• Different colors for different types of gear (e.g., red for lenses, blue for batteries)
• Quick access to what you need without wasting time
• No more mix-ups or misplaced items

Modular Packing Systems are Game Changers

Modular packing systems are like Lego blocks for your camera gear. They let you customize based on what you need for each trip.

• Arrange and rearrange compartments as needed
• Fit everything from lenses to hard drives
• Extra padding protects your gear during transit

Cable Organizers are Lifesavers

Imagine opening your bag to find a nest of tangled cables. Not fun, right? That’s where cable organizers come in handy.

• Keep cords and wires neat and tangle-free
• Prevent potential damage from bending or pulling
• Find the right cable at a glance without rummaging around

Dedicated Spot for Small Accessories

Small accessories like SD cards and filters can easily get lost in the chaos of travel. Having a dedicated spot for these tiny essentials is crucial.

• Prevent loss or misplacement
• Easy retrieval when needed
• Save time by knowing exactly where everything is

Lens Pouches Offer Extra Protection

Lens pouches might seem unnecessary until you experience the horror of finding a scratched lens. These little bags offer extra protection and easy access.

• Cushion against bumps and drops
• Protect lenses from dust and scratches
• Quick access without digging through your bag

Traveling with camera gear doesn’t have to be a hassle. With these tips, you can pack like a pro and focus on capturing those perfect shots. Remember, the goal is not just to carry your gear but also to quickly access it when that perfect moment comes along.

Drone Travel Considerations and Regulations

Drone photography is a game-changer, but traveling with one isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are some key things you need to remember to ensure your drone journey goes smoothly and you practise ethical travel photography .

Understand Drone Laws

First off, don’t even think about packing your drone without understanding the laws of where you’re headed. It’s like going into a test without studying – not a good idea.

Different countries have different rules. Some places might be chill about it, while others could slap you with hefty fines or even confiscate your gear if you break their rules. So do yourself a favor and research ahead of time.

There are plenty of online resources that can help with this, such as UAV Coach ‘s comprehensive guide on international drone laws. You wouldn’t want your vacation ruined over something that could’ve been avoided, right?

Pack Your Drone Properly

Next up on our list: packing. Think of your drone as an egg; you wouldn’t just toss it in your bag without proper protection now, would ya?

Investing in a quality drone case is crucial for protecting your precious gear from damage during transit. These cases are designed specifically for drones and come with foam inserts that cushion the impact and keep everything snugly in place.

Remember, no matter how well-built your drone is, it’s still susceptible to damage if not handled properly. Don’t skimp on this!

Register Your Drone

Depending on where you’re going and what type of drone you have, registering it may be required by law.

In the U.S., for example, any unmanned aircraft weighing between 0.55 lbs (250g) and 55 lbs (25kg) must be registered with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The process is pretty straightforward – just fill out an online form and pay a small fee.

Failure to register could lead to serious consequences, including civil penalties and potential criminal charges. So don’t overlook this one!

Carry Spare Batteries

Battery life is the Achilles heel of drones. Most consumer drones have a flight time of around 20-30 minutes, which can be a real bummer when you’re out capturing stunning aerial shots.

That’s where spare batteries come in handy. Having extra batteries ensures uninterrupted drone operation and allows you to capture more footage without having to constantly recharge.

Just remember that lithium-ion batteries are considered hazardous materials by airlines, so there are specific rules for carrying them on flights. Always check with your airline before traveling.

Consider Drone Weight and Size

Last but not least, consider the weight and size of your drone. This might seem like a no-brainer, but trust me, lugging around a heavy drone can quickly take the fun out of your trip.

Opt for lightweight models if possible. Not only will they be easier to carry around, but they also tend to fall under less restrictive regulations due to their smaller size and lower potential for damage.

Insuring Your Photography Equipment: A Must

The role of insurance.

Insurance is your safety net. It’s like a trusty friend who’s got your back when things go south. When you’re traveling with pricey photo gear, insurance becomes crucial. Imagine losing that high-end camera or lens in a foreign country! Not cool, right? But if you’ve got insurance, it can cover the loss or damage.

Mastering the Art of Travel Photography

Alright, you’ve made it this far. You’re now armed with the know-how to pack your photography gear like a pro, breeze through airport security without breaking a sweat, and select the perfect lenses for light travel . You’ve got insider tips on organizing your kit and navigating drone regulations tucked under your belt. Plus, you understand why insuring your photography gear isn’t just a good idea—it’s essential.

Now that you’re all geared up (pun intended), it’s time to get out there and capture some breathtaking shots! Remember, every journey starts with a single click—of the camera shutter, that is. So go ahead, make your next adventure picture-perfect.

Prime lenses are generally lighter than zoom lenses. Consider investing in a 35mm or 50mm prime lens as they offer great versatility and image quality while keeping weight down.

Always carry your camera equipment in your hand luggage if possible. Use padded bags or cases specifically designed for cameras and lenses to protect them during transit.

Check local laws regarding drone usage before you travel as regulations vary by country and even within regions of the same country. Also consider factors such as drone size, battery life, and camera quality.

Photography equipment can be quite expensive to replace if damaged or stolen. Insurance provides financial protection against these risks so you can focus on capturing great images without worrying about potential losses.

Use dividers in your bag to separate different pieces of equipment and prevent them from knocking into each other. Labeling compartments also helps ensure each item has its place.

I’m a professional travel photographer, and I’ve been living the digital nomad lifestyle since 2016. I make money by working on client assignments, selling stock photography and helping other photographers by sharing my experiences on this website. I move around at my own pace (I hate fast-paced travel) and like to spend a few months getting to know each place I base myself in.

My writing and photos have been featured on industry leading websites such as Digital Photography School , Atlas Obscura and the world’s leading underwater photography resource The Underwater Photography Guide . I authored an eBook called “ Breaking Into Travel Photography: The complete guide to carving out a career in travel photography ” that has been published on Amazon. My stock images have also appeared in ads promoting destinations and companies that sometimes has been a surprise, even to me. But I guess that’s the nature of stock photography, you never know who will license them!

I’m always happy to connect, so feel free to reach out!

• About Todd Owyoung
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Traveling as a Photographer: Packing & Flying with Camera Gear

More and more often, I'm traveling for the music photography jobs that I do, whether it's for a one-off job or a run of tour photography gigs. Needless to say, I have a few opinions on the best camera bags and ways to pack for traveling with camera equipment. With airline restrictions only growing more and more strict, hit the full post for my advice on the best ways to carry-on your photography gear and make sure you never have to check your precious kit!

Carry-On or Checked Luggage?

I try to carry-on my camera gear when at all possible. At this point, it goes without saying that checked luggage is not treated kindly . There's just too much opportunity for bad drops, bumps and shock to want to ever check a camera bag.

If you're packing for a trip, I recommend carrying-on all photo equipment, distributing it through your carry-on baggage and allowed personal item if necessary. Clothing should always be the first thing to check if needed, as clothing will be the most easily replaced and cheapest items compared to photo equipment.

Allowed Bag Size

All major carriers allow the carry-on of one piece of baggage and one personal item. The baggage must easily fit into the carry-on baggage check, which measures approximately 22″ x 14″ x 9″ (56 x 35 x 23 cm) for domestic flights in the United States. International flights are generally similar, but can be slightly smaller — in the case of Air France, it's 21″ x 13″ 9″, for example.

In addition, for carry-on baggage, the size may not exceed a total of 45 linear inches (114 cm) in combined length, width and height (including any handles and wheels). This is true for both domestic and international flights.

Finally, it's important to note that while all camera bags designed for carry-on will will fit these restrictions with ease when they are empty, but overpacking can cause soft-sided luggage to bulge to be out of regulation. As a rule I try not to use outside pockets for any bulky items for this reason.

Choosing the Right Bags

I personally use a pair of two Think Tank Photo bags when I travel: the Airport International V 2.0 roller bag and the Shapeshifter backpack.

The Airport International V 2.0 is a carry-on bag that is the slightly smaller version of the Think Tank Airport Security, which is designed to fit in the overhead bin space of smaller aircraft that are used internationally. Personally, the smaller size and extra assurance that this bag will fit even on many smaller commuter jets is worth giving up a little space. I've used the Airport International V 2.0 on dozens and dozens of flights, and it's fit in every single overhead except for one . Even though it's smaller than the Airport Security, it's still large enough to fit my full kit — two bodies, three to five lenses, speedlights, chargers, and other accessories.

Even when one isn't traveling with an entire kit of camera kit, bags like the Airport International are a great option for the casual photographer. Just take out the dividers you don't need and pack the rest with your normal travel items.

Think Tank Shape Shifter :

I will generally use the Think Tank Shape Shifter for packing clothes, toiletries, and my laptop. But here's the real beauty of this bag: In the very rare instance of needing to check my rolling bag, I can basically pack my entire essential kit into the Shape Shifter, thus guaranteeing that I can carry-on my gear and not have to worry about having gear lost, stolen, or damaged when checked. The Shape Shifter is a regular backpack when you want it to be and a lifesaver camera bag when needed. Brilliant.

Both the Airport International and the Shape Shifter can fit all of this core kit with ease and room to spare, plus room for accessory items:

Camera Bodies: Nikon D800  + Grip  (Or Nikon D4 ) Nikon D800  + Grip

Camera Lenses: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye Sigma 50mm f/1.4

Nikon SB-910 Speedlight

When You Need to Check Photo Gear

When you absolutely must check photography gear, either because cary-on isn't an option or you're simply bringing a ton of gear, I recommend the  Pelican 1514 Carry-On Case . It's a hard-sided case with foam padding on the interior and a modular divider system that allows for very secure customization, so your camera gear is very well protected.

Weight Restrictions

I've found that domestic US airlines basically never never weigh carry-on bags. With the explosion of self-check-in kiosks, this fact is more true than ever. International flights, however, are often much more strict about weight restrictions. Weight limits vary a large degree, from as little as 15lb for Airlines like Qantas to as much as 50lb (7kg to 22.6kg).

Photo gear isn't cheap, and, as your back will tell you, it certainly isn't light, either. Packing multiple bodies and lenses add up, and when you consider that a bag like the Airport International already weighs 10lbs, it's very easy to go over the limit.

Weight Restriction Cheats/Tips

If you definitely know your carry-on is going to be weighed, you could try and be a little devious, by taking out heavy lenses from your bags and putting them in the pockets of your jacket. Similarly, you can shift heavy items to travel companions if they're traveling lighter than you, and repack after going through security. Shifting all non-essential items to checked luggage will help reduce weight for your carry-on as well.

Never Be Forced to Check Baggage

If your carry-on is weighed, you must to appeal to the airline agent. My friend and fellow music photographer Brian Stowell , who travels year round on tour, has this advice:

If an airline ever gives you grief about your camera bag, ask the gate agent if the airline is going to assume full responsibility for insuring the total cost of the contents of the bag. I've never had any further issues on ~25-50 planes/year with my ThinkTank Airport Navigator.

There you have it. A time-tested way to never be forced to check your camera gear.

Packing Tips

Only the Essentials:

Only pack absolutely what is needed. The less cluttered your gear bag, the better — it will weigh less and you'll be able to find what you need faster when kit is kept to a minimum.

Organization For the Win:

When packing my gear, I make sure that all of my gear is as well organized as possible. Everything piece of kit should have a space in your bags that you can reliably put it and count on to be there. This makes checking your gear inventory quick and easy, insuring that you don't forget an essential bit of gear or accessory item.

Clothing Optional:

After packing all photo equipment, I'll often fill in empty space with clothes. Socks and underwear make great padding for camera gear. If you run out of room for clo

Skip the Extra/Exterior Pockets:

With the Airport International, I try not to pack much if anything in the exterior front pocket or front pouch. The reason for not using these areas is that they can increase the size of the bag just enough that they will make stowing them in overhead bins difficult. Remember: the dimensions of the bags listed are when they are empty, so even if a bag should fit overhead, it might not if too full. This is especially true of the Think Tank Airport International and similar bags, which feature a soft top and pockets that expand to fit more gear.

TIP: This advice includes the zippered pockets on the inside flap of the Airport International. A few extra cables or other small accessories might not seem like they add much depth, but every millimeter can count if you end up flying on smaller regional/commuter jets. Skipping the interior pockets on the main flap will keep the bag as slim as possible and within all airline regulations.

End Notes on Traveling and Flying with Camera Gear

When traveling for a photography job or even just on vacation with a nice kit, a little planning will make your life so much more simple. Avoid checking photo gear at all costs, and use bags like the Think Tank Airport International and Think Tank Shapeshifter to keep your gear safe and well padded in transit. And remember: if you run out of room for clothes, you can always buy what you need when you land.

Get Social:

Great article Todd. I have the same issues when I travel with my camera gear or the audio gear I tour with. I always take note of what people before me are carrying on and keep stock of that info should it come down to a conversation with airport staff. Then I can actually reference specific items people are carrying on that can be checked to make room for my high dollar gear to be brought on.

Hey Paul, nice to hear from you. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I know you travel a lot! Do you find that referencing other items works to convince airline agents?

I always try to have factual examples available when having conversations and trying to convince others. More often I will try to head off issues if I think they are coming. I will go make nice with gate agents and airline staff, politely explaining my concerns and getting them on my side. They have so many impatient people wanting and demanding things from them that a polite/courteous, please can you assist me with this issue, goes a long way. Dont forget your manners folks, it can go a long way to simply treat people with respect and human decency.

Hey Todd, I stumbled onto your website and have found it to be extremely helpful. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Anyway, I’ve been photographing for years, but only recently started shooting concerts. In June, I’ll be shooting my first major music festival in New York City, which should be a lot of fun. The only thing I’m wondering is what’s the best way to transport my gear? I have a backpack that holds all my lenses and bodies, but I’m worried it may be too bulky for a photo pit. Are there any products or tips that you can recommend for carrying gear around at a music festival? I was hoping to bring at least two bodies, a 70-200, 16-35, 50 and fisheye lens. Thanks again. Your website and photos are really awesome!

I’m about to head to Hong Kong on my first international flight and I’m a little concerned about carry on rules. I have a Canon 70D with two lenses. Following your advice above I think I’ll be fine but are there any special rules about the storage of the Lithium Batteries that go with the cameras? A friend of mine says he has just read a story where all batteries e.g. camera batteries, Ipad, mobile phone etc etc must be charged and working or they could be confiscated…

Does anybody know if this is correct?

Thanks in advance.

I’ve read that about lithium batteries as well. It’s about testing to see if the device is a real working electronic component, not so much about the battery. Just be charged up before the flight and you’ll be fine.

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I think the advice by Brian Stowell is golden. I used it several times and it works great.

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Have a passion for travel photography but not sure how to take it further? This post covers careers, what gear is best, and tips for improving!

Learn | Photography Guides | By Ashley Darrow

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Travel photography is one of the most exciting styles of photography, but it can also be one of the most intimidating to get started with.

I’m at my most inspired as a photographer when I’m on the road.

Even when I’m not headed to an exciting new location, I’ve started to think about all of my photography from the standpoint of travel.

This guide is going to give you everything you need to know to get started with travel photography.

I’ll be covering everything from the basics, to the equipment you need, to 20 travel photography tips that will improve how you approach taking photos.

When you’re ready to hit the road, we’ll start our adventure with some travel photography 101.

Table of Contents

What Is Travel Photography?

Defining travel photography can be a little bit challenging as this is one of the most open and free categories of photography.

In general, travel photography involves documenting people, landscapes, and cultures anywhere in the world.

Your travel photography counts whether you have to hike for thousands of miles or you took a 10-minute bus ride from your home.

Travel photography can be done by career professionals working for major magazines like National Geographic or it can be done as part-time freelance work.

Many travel photographers make their money by taking contract work from tourism departments or brands looking for product photography shot on location.

Travel photographers often find themselves working in challenging conditions. There’s a good chance that you’re going to be snapping pics in low light conditions , rough weather, or even half a world away from the comfort of your own bed.

•  Related: 77 useful travel tips for photographers

What Does Travel Photography Include?

Image Credit: Sam Forson

Travel photography incorporates countless different styles.

Travel photographers often take landscape photographs, architectural photographs , as well as street photography. It’s also common to see food photography and documentary work being done by travel photographers.

As a travel photographer, your goal is to capture and express the story of a particular time and place. You’ll be giving people a taste of what’s happening in the moment while you’re in a particular location.

How Much Do Travel Photographers Make?

Travel photography is made up of a wide range of styles, but it’s also made up of a wide range of pay rates.

If you’re lucky enough to land a staff photography job with a major magazine, you could wind up with a six-figure salary. However, freelance travel photographers can make as little as around $18,000 a year.

Beginner travel photographers often make even less than that as they start to piece together their career.

Part of your pay as a travel photographer will come in the form of comped travel expenses. It’s pretty common for travel photographers to take a job with a tourism department that includes free transportation and lodging as part of their payment.

Is travel photography in demand?

Travel photography is in high demand.

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This demand is being driven by tourism departments, brands looking for more engaged lifestyle photography , and the rise of social media making travel photography a viable path for a content creator.

There are more people taking travel photos than ever before which means that you’re also going to have a lot more competition despite there being more job openings.

How Do I Become a Travel Photographer?

Image Credit: Kamaji Ogino

Becoming a travel photographer is pretty similar to how you would start up almost any photography career.

If you’re a total beginner, you want to start by mastering the craft of working behind the camera. This means learning how to stay in control of your exposure, frame captivating shots, and just get comfortable taking pictures wherever you go.

Here’s a basic outline of the steps you’ll take to start your travel photography career.

• Learn your photography basics
• Identify your travel photography niches
• Build your portfolio
• Grow a social media presence
• Begin reaching out to clients
• Publish your photography
• Grow your business by reaching out to bigger clients
• Continue to promote your work
• Have fun traveling!

I should note that plenty of travel photographers also crowdfund parts of their career.

Building a presence on social media sites like YouTube and connecting that to your crowdfunding platform of choice is a great way to bring in some additional money.

• Related:  10 Unique Ways to Photography Famous Landmarks

What Equipment is Needed for Travel Photography?

Image Credit: Hiren Lad

In all my years of photography, the one thing I’ve learned is that if there’s anything photographers love nearly as much as taking pictures, it’s talking about their gear.

Whether you see this equipment as the tools of your trade or the raw materials of your art, you’re going to need some equipment to get started with travel photography.

I’m going to cover the standard gear that most travel photographers will gravitate towards, but I’ll also be talking about different setups for film photographers and mobile photography.

I’m going to kick things off with the absolute must: a camera.

You’re not going to get very far in your career as a Travel Photographer without a camera. I’m being a little silly here, but it’s not just as simple as picking up any random mirrorless camera for travel blogging .

So, what camera is best for travel photography?

The absolute best cameras for travel photography are going to be, no surprises here, the latest mirrorless releases from the big-name brands like Sony, Camera, and Nikon.

Those cameras are packed full of the latest features and offer some of the best image quality.

You can also get amazing results, and save money, by picking up older cameras. My Sony a7s II is still my main camera body and my Canon 5D Classic, which was released way back in 2005, still takes pictures that get people asking me “How did you do that?”

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on your travel photography camera. A skilled photographer will be able to take amazing pictures using a point and shoot digital camera from the 90s. It’s craft that makes the photographer, not gear.

Travel photography can also be done with your smartphone. There are plenty of professional photographers out there primarily shooting on smartphones.

I also want to highlight film cameras. Film is the historic origin of our art form. Any film camera from a toy lomography camera to a professional large format camera can help us see our travels in a new way.

With all of that said, there are a few important features that you should look for in a travel photography camera.

• Weather sealed designs are much more important when you’re trekking through unknown territory than when you’re at home in the studio
• Your camera should also be ready for the road. Just like your car, you should take your camera in for a tune-up before a long trip
• Double-check for the specs that matter most to you. For me, that’s low-light performance and color science

Your camera is only half the equation which means we need to take a look at the lenses that will be going on this journey with you.

• Related: How to choose a camera and what is the best camera for travel photography?

I bet you’re wondering which lens is best for travel photography? You don’t need to worry, I’ll walk you through my top pics for a travel lens whether you’re shooting on a brand-new Sony mirrorless camera or you plan on taking a Canon 5D Classic on the road.

The first place you need to start is by asking yourself the most essential question in photography: What types of pictures do I plan on taking?

Here’s a quick breakdown of my recommendations for travel photography lenses based on my experience for a variety of photographic styles and budgets.

• Standard Zoom Lens —A standard zoom lens like the classic 24 to 70mm is the go-to travel lens for so many photographers I know. This lens easily handles street photographs, landscapes, and portraits. Pick this to make a flexible one-lens kit
• Wide Angle Zoom Lens —Wide angle zooms are better suited for photographers who know they’ll be shooting landscapes and architecture. If your wide angle zoom goes up to 35mm, then you can even get away with using that as your every-day lens
• Wide to Telephoto —These lenses have focal length ranges like 24 to 105mm. They are usually affordable alternatives to pro-level lenses that can still capture stunning images. You’ll want this lens if your main concerns are budget and stylistic flexibility
• Telephoto Zoom Lenses —These massive lenses typically top out at 200mm or 400mm focal lengths and are ideal for wildlife, bird, and sports photography. Their size, weight, and cost make them less flexible than other options, but these lenses are a must-have for photographers interested in the styles I just mentioned
• Pancakes and Nifty Fifties —Pancakes lenses have such a small profile they double as a body cap while the iconic Nifty Fifty is a budget 50mm with a huge fanbase. These lenses are perfect for photogs who want to stay ultralight or for anyone who wants an emergency backup lens.
• THAT lens —We all have a lens that, despite never getting much use, we just can’t seem to leave at home. Mine is the Helios 44-2. I take that lens on pretty much every trip even if it doesn’t get much use. Allow yourself a little room for that “fun” lens and you might be surprised by how much use it gets over time

I always have at least two lenses on me when I’m traveling—just in case.

I once dropped an expensive prime lens and watched it roll off the edge of a mountain in the desert. Luckily, I had a pancake lens in my bag so the photography trip wasn’t a total loss.

Ever since then, not only do I treat each of my lenses with the utmost care, but I also make sure but I’ve got backup options on hand.

• Related: How to choose a camera lens and best lenses for travel photography .

Travel Photography Bag

Just like with lenses and camera bodies, you have a few options to consider when it comes to picking the right travel bag for your next adventure.

Before I get too far into talking about camera bags, here’s the five things I always consider when I’m packing a bag for my next trip.

• Camera Bag Size —Size is one of the most important things to look at when shopping for a new travel photography bag. You want to find a bag that’s going to comfortably fit all of your equipment without causing too much strain on your back. Sling bags are great for days out in the city with light gear, but you should look for a comfortable backpack if you plan on covering some serious distance with your gear
• Pack Weight —Here’s a quick piece of advice I picked up from hiking. Your maximum pack weight should only ever be 20% of your total body weight. This means that if you weigh 200 lb, the heaviest your camera bag should ever be is 40 lb. The lighter, the better
• Features —There are some features that I consider an absolute must have in any of my travel camera bags including rugged build quality, plenty of padding and protection for my gear, and easy access to at least my main camera body and lens so I can shoot on the fly
• Style —You could buy the most technically perfect travel camera bag, but if you don’t actually like the way it looks you’re never going to take it on a trip. I definitely believe that form should be second to function when it comes to camera bags, but I’d also be lying if I said it wasn’t a huge factor in my camera bag purchasing decisions
• Your Gear —Your gear is actually going to dictate the type of bag that you’ll be looking for. A travel photographer shooting on a Leica Q2 can get away with a much smaller bag than a photographer shooting with a Canon 1DX

I also typically bring a packable backpack with me as part of my kit. This could be a really lightweight sling bag or something like the Lowepro Runabout.

This lets me leave the bulk of my gear at my hotel when I just want to have a quick trip around a new city taking pictures.

• Related: How to choose a camera bag

Tripods for Travel Photography 

Tripods are an interesting—and somewhat contested—piece of the travel photography puzzle. I never used to take a tripod with me while traveling and that’s because most of my photography was shot street style which means lightweight and handheld.

However, the more I get into film photography and more interesting exposures, the more I find myself relying on my travel tripod.

My absolute number one pick for an adventure tripod would have to be the Peak Design Travel Tripod . It’s fairly lightweight, intelligently designed, and packs down small enough to fit in most of my bags.

Depending on the type of photography you’re looking to capture, you can also use tripods like a gorilla pod or even just take the tripod you have—even though it might be a little larger and heavier than would be ideal for travel.

This roundup of the 7 best travel tripods is a great place to get started if you’re shopping for something designed for the road.

Do I Need a Tripod for Travel Photography?

I’m going to dig into this mild controversy for just a moment. The question of whether or not you need a travel tripod to begin with is the source of some debate for photographers.

Honestly, the answer is maybe. It really depends on the type of pictures that you’re hoping to capture and your personal style as a photographer.

If you like to run and gun while capturing slices of life on busy city streets, you probably don’t need to bring a tripod with you.

Styles of photography that are highly mobile and rely on fast composition changes typically ditch the added stabilization that a tripod brings because it just slows them down too much.

Tripods might also not work for certain events and organizations. Trying to set up a tripod during a rock concert is a recipe for disaster and some museums won’t even let you bring in a tripod unless you pay their professional photography fees.

Then again, there are a few types of photography that absolutely need a tripod in order to work. Long exposures, shooting in dimly lit situations, and using some telephoto zoom lenses pretty much mandate shooting on a tripod.

The long and short of this is that owning a tripod and learning how to use it will make you a better photographer, but it’s not quite a mandatory piece of your travel photography kit.

The Camera Accessories I Always Forget for Travel Photography!

There are so many small accessories that are vital for digital photography that I find myself constantly forgetting. Far from being little odds and ends, these are essential parts of my kit that I’ve started to just leave in my travel bag so I never have to worry about packing them.

I’m talking about SD cards , microfiber cloths, sensor cleaning kits, and all those other little things that you might not miss until you’re in the field and you’ve got a speck of sand on your sensor ruining your shots.

I’ve started making a checklist that contains all these little items before I pack out. There’s nothing more defeating than being in some beautiful destination and realizing you only have enough space on your memory card for a few dozen more shots.

This is the checklist that I use for your average trip. Feel free to adjust things based on the gear that you use.

• Sensor cleaning swab x 2
• Lens cleaning Spray
• Microfiber cloth
• Spare camera batteries for each camera
• Memory cards—one in each camera, extra in the bag
• External SSD if I’ll need to backup files while traveling
• iPad for editing, emailing, and posting pics on socials
• Camera strap
• Camera body cap and rear lens cap
• Remote shutter release
• Chargers and cables

Lighting for Travel Photography 

Lighting is a bit of an interesting topic when it comes to travel photography. We don’t often associate this incredibly mobile genre of photography with the piece of equipment that defines studio work, but there’s some great reasons to take some lights with you on your next trip.

Photographers like Briscoe Park are doing incredible work mixing bold, almost giallo, lighting styles with travel photography. There’s also a wealth of photographers using the dark nights of remote locations as canvases for their light paintings.

I started taking a few small lights with me when I hit the road and it’s definitely pushing my abilities behind the camera.

Lights like the Aputure MC and MC Pro are great for adding lights to portraits, throwing splashes of color into images, or creating other-worldly scenes. The Infinibar or MT Pro, also from Aputure, are solid choices for light painting .

Even something small like the Lume Cube can help gain control over lighting while away from the studio. Just don’t try to haul around your old tungsten lights on your next trip!

Mobile Travel Photography Gear

Before you start thinking travel photography requires a mountain of expensive equipment, you might be reading this article on the only device you need to get started with travel photography.

That’s right, smartphone cameras have come a long way and they are perfectly capable of being your main camera body for traveling adventure photography .

Even though your smartphone is essentially a pocket camera that can surf the internet and make phone calls, you still might want to add some extra gear to make the most out of being a mobile travel photographer.

My biggest recommendation would be to pick up a Moment smartphone case and a few Moment lenses.

These lenses will dramatically change your composition and help make your images look a bit more professional and a bit less like a quick shot on a smartphone.

A lightweight Gorillapod, a photo editing app like Lightroom mobile, and a power bank to keep you charged are a few must-haves.

This might sound a little unconventional, but my smartphone is one of the cameras I use the most. It’s lightweight, can take high quality pictures, and it can be a great budget alternative to expensive cameras because you probably already own one.

I almost never leave the house without throwing one or two Moment lenses in my bag. This is true whether I’m going on a 10-minute walk to the store or I’m about to hop on a 10-hour flight.

Travel Film Photography Gear

Is there any sound more relaxing than the shutter of a film camera when you’re deep in the woods or on top of a mountain ridgeline?

I don’t think so and that’s one of the reasons why I tend to travel with film photography equipment.

Film photography is almost a completely different animal than digital photography. You have to be much more engaged with your subject, composition, and exposure since you only have a few frames before your roll is spent.

Here’s a quick list of the film photography gear that I travel with. Just as a quick note, I’m leaving out things like tripods and camera bags that overlap with digital photography.

• Gallon zip-top bag to store film
• Permanent marker to jot notes on the side of a film canister
• Light meter
• Film (I always try to bring one more roll than I think I’ll need—just in case)

Read our guide to film photography for more tips.

20 Tips to Help You Improve Your Travel Photography

Want to improve your travel photography? I’ve put together 20 travel photography tips to help you up your game the next time you take your camera on vacation.

These tips are going to cover everything from advice for total beginners to some really interesting things that caught me by surprise while I’ve been on tour with my camera.

Tip 1—Get Comfortable With Your Gear Before You Travel 

Image Credit: Amar Preciado

This is my number one tip for travel photography because it applies to experienced photographers as well as beginners. Before you head out on your big trip, take some time to get comfortable with your equipment.

This means packing your camera bag just like you’re going to for your travel photography trip and wearing it around your home city or just walking around your neighborhood.

There’s nothing worse than being hundreds, or thousands, of miles from home only to find out that you actually don’t like that brand new camera bag you bought.

Giving all of your gear a comfortable trial run ahead of time ensures that you don’t run into any sudden surprises while you’re traveling.

I’ve started doing this with all of my travel photography gear and it’s hard to express just how much it’s helped me. Most of the time I’m just adjusting my backpack to make sure it’s got a comfortable fit for a long day of hiking, but there have also been times where I realized that piece of my equipment just wasn’t right for me.

This will also help make things easier when you’re out there taking pictures.

It can be a little stressful to try and line up the right composition in a busy downtown neighborhood of a foreign city. Knowing your gear inside and out will give you a huge confidence boost when you need it the most.

Tip 2—Set Your Travel Photography Intentions 

This might seem like a silly question to ask, but why do you want to do travel photography?

Setting some intentions and being aware of your goals ahead of time is going to help improve your career as a photographer.

If you need some inspiration for your goals, here’s a few that I’ve used in the past.

• Have at least 5 new pictures that I can turn into prints once I’m home
• Spend two days on location, day one focuses on lifestyle photography while day two is all about landscapes
• Get out of my comfort zone and network with other travel photographers shooting the same location

Remember that goals are a lot like onions. They have layers.

Your ultimate goal might be to become a world famous travel photographer with National Geographic calling you every day, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Let’s say that your goal is to start getting freelance travel photography contracts with tourism departments. You can start from scratch by pretending that you’re on contract to take photos of a particular location.

This will help you with your future goals as well as allow you to build your portfolio in the now.

Tip 3—Always Bring (Your) Camera 

Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto

Everything starts with the ABCs and for travel photographers this means to Always Bring (your) Camera and always be taking pictures.

You really never know when the right moment is going to strike for your photography. There have been countless moments where I wish I would have had a camera on me to capture a moment that was either beautiful or could have even been historic.

Whether you’re carrying your main camera body, a pocket camera, or even your smartphone, you should always have a camera on you when you’re traveling. Be ready to start snapping pics at a moment’s notice if you spot something that catches your eye.

Worst case scenario, you’ve got another few hundred pictures to sort through when you get home. Best case scenario, you’ve caught the once-in-a-lifetime shot that you might have otherwise missed.

Tip 4—Be Patient with Your Shots

Here’s something that’s happened to me nearly every single time I’ve gone on a travel photography trip.

I’ll be at a historic ruin or in a national park with the perfect shot framed only for there to be dozens of other tourists cluttering up my shot.

When I first started with photography, I didn’t have enough patience just to wait it out. I thought that I would have to spend hours standing at a particular spot waiting for people to disperse.

As it turns out, the longest I’ve really ever had to wait for a shot to clear up has been about a half hour. If you’ve got someone to talk to or a book to read, that’s no time at all.

Don’t pass up on the shots that you want to capture just because there’s something cluttering your frame. Patients will reward photographers every single time.

Pro travel photography tip: Using an ND filter on your camera can let you lower your shutter speed which will cause fast-moving cars and people to “vanish” from your shots!

Tip 5—Learn How to Photograph People 

This travel photography tip can be one of the most challenging to incorporate. Getting comfortable cold approaching strangers takes a lot of social energy.

I know extroverted photographers that have a dozen model release forms printed and ready to go in their backpack. They have no problem chatting up strangers, but it took me some time to build up that confidence.

Here’s a quick template that you can use for approaching strangers for portraits.

Be cheerful and open about being a photographer. You can say something like “I’m a photographer taking portraits today in [Location] and I’d love to take your picture.”

If you’re on a freelance contract or working for a client, feel free to name drop them to give yourself some added credibility.

After snapping their pic, I like to give people my business card, email, or Instagram handle so they can contact me later if they’d like a copy of their photo.

If they say no photos, that’s just business.

It also really helps if you can speak just a little bit of the local language. You’ll be shocked how much more accommodating people can be if you can handle a few lines of the local tongue.

Tip 6—Study Local Laws and Customs 

Photography laws and customs are different the world over. As a travel photographer, you’re going to need to familiarize yourself with local laws and customs—especially when you’re traveling abroad.

Remember that the letter of the law and the local customs might not necessarily be a one-to-one match.

I’m based in the United States and here it’s perfectly legal to take pictures of strangers as long as you’re in a public location. However, social customs dictate that it’s considered rude to take someone’s picture without asking their permission first.

When in doubt, always default to asking permission first. This means asking someone’s permission before taking their portrait or asking permission before taking pictures at a historic site or museum.

Tip 7—Get in Frame 

Image Credit: Dominika Roseclay

This is something I’m still working on becoming more comfortable with.

When I’m in the studio, I’ve got no problem hopping in front of the lens and doing some self-portraiture. However, once I’m out in the field I’m a little bit reluctant to stand in as my own model.

Travel photography is about telling your story. This means that you’re going to need to get in frame for some of your photographs.

Even if it’s just a few shots of you setting up, traveling to your destination, or getting dinner after a long day of shooting, people want to see the photographer behind the camera.

If you’re traveling with other photographers, why not consider making this a game? Challenge each other to see who can take the most interesting photos of your fellow photographers.

You can even take some quick selfies on location to contrast your professional photography. This will make your self-portraiture a little more intimate and warm while your travel photos show off your full talent.

Tip 8—Scout Travel Photography Locations with Your Smartphone

A great way to dramatically improve your travel photography is to scout your locations ahead of time. Before you haul all of your gear on a quest for the perfect photo, go out there with just a day pack and walk around soaking up the scenery.

Location scouting gives you a strong understanding of what speaks to you as a photographer about this location before you even start pressing the shutter button.

I recommend carrying your smartphone or a point-and-shoot camera when you’re out scouting locations.

This lets you take some test shots of a travel location before bringing all your gear out.

Tip 9—How to Always Pack the Right Lenses

I used to be so worried about not bringing the right lenses on a trip, but it’s been years since I’ve felt like I picked the wrong lens for the job.

Part of this is knowing your lenses inside and out. You should learn the basics of your lenses like aperture, how their focal length compresses an image, and which focal lengths are ideal for different styles of photography.

Lenses like the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8  make a great choice for travel. The focal length options on that lens easily handle majestic landscape panoramas and street photography portraiture.

I also recommend taking at least two lenses with you for most travel photography trips. I’ll take one primary lens with me that I plan on doing most of my shooting with and a secondary lens for those “just in case” moments.

Tip 10—Staying Safe While Traveling with Camera Gear 

Being a tourist always carries some risk when it comes to crime. Being a tourist that happens to be carrying $3,000 in photography equipment carries a little bit more risk.

Here’s a few tips that I stick with when it comes to staying safe while shooting with expensive camera equipment.

If you can, try to do your travel photography with a group. Even if you have one other person traveling with you, that company is usually more than enough to deter most would-be thieves.

This might seem a little obvious, but you always want to keep your gear in sight. Unless I know I’m alone in the wilderness, my camera bag is never further than an arm’s reach away.

I’ve got a tip for you that I don’t see a lot of people talking about when it comes to traveling safely with your camera equipment. I like to stay discreet when I’m traveling with my camera gear.

This means I leave the branded Sony strap at home and opt for a much more neutral Peak Design strap . I also throw a velcro patch over things like the LowePro logo on my backpack that might otherwise announce that there’s some expensive camera equipment in there.

If you stay smart and aware of your surroundings, your odds of having an unfortunate encounter while carrying camera equipment will be greatly reduced.

Tip 11—Shoot Some Short Format Video  

We’re all photographers here. This means I can be a little honest with you about shooting short form video.

It might not be your main stay, but social media platforms are putting a lot of emphasis on TikTok style videos. If you can incorporate a little short form videography into your travel photography routine, you’ll have that much better performance online.

There are countless ways that you can build short form video production into your photography routine. You could record a 60 second video demonstrating your setup for the shot or even just an interesting voice over on top of a still image.

Shooting short videos can also be fun. Building this into your photography routine is a great way to improve your skill set while you’re also increasing your social media following.

Tip 12—Find Your Voice by Getting Lost 

Some of the best travel photography stories happen because you get lost. Getting turned around is a great way to change your perspective on things and improve you or travel photography.

This is easily one of the most underrated travel photography tips. Best of all, you can do this from the comfort of your hometown.

Try getting lost on purpose by walking through a neighborhood you don’t usually go to or checking out a city that you might have otherwise overlooked.

While all the other travel photographers are gathered at the tourist traps we’ve all seen a thousand times on Instagram, you’ll be exploring something new while catching refreshing pictures of your travels.

Tip 13—How to Fly With Film 

If you plan on doing some film photography while you’re traveling, you’re going to need to know how to transport your film while traversing through airports safely.

The x-rays used in airport security scanners can damage undeveloped photographic film. The more x-rays undeveloped film is exposed to, the more haze and distortion starts to pop up on the final image.

Film with an ISO 800 and above can be damaged by any airport X-ray machine. Expired and experimental films can also be damaged by x-ray equipment.

Some airports now use more powerful CT scanners. These are often used for checked baggage, but they can also be used for carry-on as well.

CT scanners put out enough x-ray radiation to damage film of any ISO. You should always bring your film with your carry-on luggage in its own zip-top bag.

When you’re traveling through security at an airport, you can ask the security personnel for a hand examination of your photographic film. In my experience, they almost always say yes no matter how busy the airport is.

However, it is at the discretion of airport security and I have had them turn down a hand examination of my film. One trip through an X-ray scanner won’t damage your film, but multiple trips will.

This is why I recommend buying film on location if possible. You can also have film mailed to your hotel or to a friend’s address who lives near where you’re traveling.

Tip 14—Become a Traveler at Home 

Traveling is expensive and it’s not always available for us. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to stop your travel photography plans.

If you’re looking for the true zero-budget way of starting a travel photography career, you have to start in your home city.

While this might not seem exciting at first, keep in mind that the city that you live in is an exotic travel destination for someone else.

Try using all of the  travel photography tips and tricks I’ve talked about in this article while taking pictures of your home city. Even if you live in a sleepy little town, there are compelling stories that you can tell by documenting the life and history of the place you live.

Tip 15—How to Find Travel Photography Inspiration 

No matter what style of photography you’re in, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. What should you do if you’re running out of inspiration before your next big travel photography trip?

Here are five quick ways I stay inspired and motivated as a photographer.

• Start following more photographers on social media to see what other people are doing
• Research historic photographers and get inspired by how they were shooting when our medium was still new
• Check out international photographers to see how people are shooting across the world
• Get experimental by looking into the weirder side of photography with things like film soup or databending
• When I’m heading to a new location, I like to look at the history, upcoming events, and what photographers are shooting for that local

Tip 16—Turn Regular Trips into Travel Photography Trips 

If you’ve always got your camera with you, and you’re always shooting, every trip you go on is a travel photography trip.

A great way to stay active as a travel photographer who has yet to break into the full-time business is to transform every trip you go on into an opportunity for travel photography.

Whether you’re heading across town for a family dinner or going on a work trip, you’ve got an opportunity to do some trouble photography.

Not everything has to be a grand adventure. You could use that trip across town as an excuse to work on catching shots of yourself in transit, for example.

Tip 17—Becoming a Better Photographer 

Every photographer has an area that they can improve on. Whether you’ve always wanted to be one of those photographers who only ever shoots on full manual mode or you’ve been hoping to add sports photography to your travel routine, now’s the time to start working on those skills.

Skills building exercises can be a great activity during your travel photography downtime. You’re not always going to be on the road to an exotic destination and that time in between trips is vital to your success.

Even if you’ve been a professional photographer for decades, there’s still countless things about this art form that you can learn.

Tip 18—Get Your Photos Seen

Now that you’ve got a portfolio of travel photography images, how do you get people to see them?

As with most freelancing gigs, the name of the game is networking. Here’s a few tips for getting your pics in front of more eyes.

• Be more consistent with social media by posting regularly and using hashtags strategically
• Enter into photography competitions
• Ask local shops if you can display your work
• Get your photos published
• Reach out to travel agencies, tourism boards, and parks departments for freelance work or partnerships
• Network with other photographers

As the old saying goes: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Tip 19— Travel Photographer Tips for The Business Side of Things 

Making it as a working travel photographer has gotten harder in recent years, but it’s not out of reach. Here’s a few business tips to help you stay on top of your budding photography career.

Always try reaching out to new clients. Keep in mind that bigger clients are harder to land, but there are plenty of smaller travel destinations that are ideal for a beginner photographer.

You should create a budget for your travel photography work. If you’re just starting out, you don’t need a fancy app. A simple spreadsheet is more than enough for you to stay on top of your money.

You can also try becoming a content creator while you’re working on landing clients. Building up a social media following and generating some income through a site like Patreon can help you stay on the road longer.

Tip 20—How to Tell Your Travel Photography Story 

Image Credit: Ena Marinkovic

You’ve reached the end of my travel photography tips. The last tip, and the most important one, that I’m going to give you is some advice on how you can tell your story.

Travel photography is all about storytelling. This means documenting your journey, engaging your audience, and finding your voice.

Taking captivating pictures without context isn’t enough. Your travel photography needs to speak to people on a deeper level and communicate something yet untold about the experiences behind your journeys.

It’s going to take time to figure out how you want to represent your adventures. The best thing you can do is get started today.

Even if you’re just taking travel photos a few blocks from your home, you’ll be breaking the ice and taking those important steps in finding your voice as a storyteller.

What is the purpose of travel photography?

The purpose of travel photography is to share your journey with the world. Travel photographers help to tell the story of not only their adventures, but also the people and places they encounter whether they are traveling around the world or within a few miles of where they grew up.

Is travel photography a good career?

Travel photography can be an amazing career that is rewarding and potentially very lucrative. It can be challenging to get started, but there are countless photographers who do travel photography as both their main job as well as a side gig.

What is the single best lens for travel photography?

The single best lens for travel photography is the wide angle to telephoto zoom like the Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens. This lens allows you to capture everything from sweeping landscape panoramas to sports and wildlife photography .

Is travel photography a job?

Travel photography can absolutely be a job. You can make money as a travel photographer by freelancing for clients, photographing destination weddings , or working as a photojournalist.

Is GoPro good for travel photography?

A GoPro can be great for travel photography especially if you’re interested in capturing video and using stills from that footage for your photography.

Even though a GoPro is a good choice for travel photography, you’re probably going to be better served by a dedicated camera if your main goal is photo rather than video.

Final Words

I hope this guide gives you everything you need to hit the ground running with travel photography. If you’re an experienced travel photographer, I hope you’ve picked up a few new tricks that can help improve your next adventure.

I’ve tried to cover travel photography from nose to tail in this blog, but I’m sure I left a few things out.

I want to hear your travel photography tips, tricks, and experiences in the comments. If you like this article, make sure to check out my other photography blogs .

Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.

Includes limited-time discounts.

Ashley is a photographer, writer, and film critic. When Ashley’s not writing essays on photography, cinema, and theory, he’s out taking pictures with retro film cameras.

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360° Panoramic Creations:

We create high-quality stabilized video having 8k and 4k resolution, 48 or 24 frames per second together with high-quality post-processing. Videos are supported by the most advanced technologies, such as virtual reality headsets (including Samsung Gear VR), different electronic devices and YouTube channels.

We use different types of moving and fixed objects (tripods, monopods, cars, helicopters, building cranes, etc.) to record videos. For aerial shooting we usually use drones with fully gyro-stabilized unique suspension. Panoramic video covers up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

360° videos are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the videos are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate with the resolution up to 8k.

360° PHOTOGRAPHY

Our team creates high-quality 360° photo-panoramas with 35000x17500 pixels resolution (in the equidistant projection) and carries out professional post-processing and corrections of any complexity. We develop virtual tours which are suitable for all browsers, support both Flash and HTML5 technologies and are compatible with different mobile devices and virtual reality headsets (including Samsung Gear VR).

We use different types of moving and fixed objects (tripods, monopods, cars, helicopters, building cranes, etc.) to record videos. For aerial shooting we usually use drones with the fully gyro-stabilized unique suspension. Panoramic video covers up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

Ready 360° photo-panoramas cover up all the space around the camera 360x180 degrees without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle.

Info-points (description buttons that can be placed in the panorama), embedded pictures, video and audio can be added to the virtual tour.

360° GIGAPANORAMA

Our team creates high-quality 360° photo-panoramas with resolution from 1 to 3 gigapixel and carries out professional post-processing and corrections of any complexity. We develop virtual tours which are suitable for all browsers, support both Flash and HTML5 technologies and are compatible with different mobile devices and virtual reality glasses (including Samsung Gear VR).

Info-points (description buttons that can be placed in the panorama), embedded pictures, video and audio can be added to the ready virtual tour.

360° TIMELAPSE

We can make panoramic timelapses with the given viewing angle and resolution up to 12k with professional post-processing and without black spots at both nadir and zenith viewing angle. 360° timelapses are supported by the most advanced technologies, such as virtual reality glasses (including Samsung Gear VR), different electronic devices and YouTube channels.

360° timelapses are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the timelapses are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate with the resolution up to 12K.

Content sales:

VIRTUAL TOURS

On the basis of 360° panoramas we create virtual tours of any complexity, branded with logos and design elements of the company’s website together with embedding interactive elements, such as photos, slideshows, videos, descriptions, switch-points to other panoramas, audio descriptions, 3D sounds.

Our clients receive a fully functional virtual tour developed in HTML5 and supported by any computer or mobile device (iOS, Android, Windows Phone).

360° Photo    Price List

STOCK PHOTOS

For almost 10 years of travelling around the world our team has gathered an extensive stock of pictures, taken from both flying devices and the ground.

Any picture presented at our stock can be licensed for any kind of possible use. We can also offer the photos of ultra-high quality (the longer side up to 103,000 pixels).

You can also take a look at the spherical panoramas published on the website www.airpano.ru . Any of the 360° panoramas represented on the website can be converted into a printed image of very high quality.

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STOCK 360° VIDEOS

By filming 360° video since 2011, our team has gathered an extensive stock of clips, taken from both flying devices and the ground.

Any video presented on our website can be licensed for any kind of possible use.

360° videos are available in any format you choose: .mp4, .avi, .mov, etc. All the videos are made and kept in frames, making it possible to encode them into any available format and bitrate.

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APPLICATIONS

We are one of the software developers of applications based on 360° photos and videos. Currently, there are 7 applications in our portfolio. One of them was top-rated in 84 countries and listed among the best applications of the year 2014 according to App Store.

These applications can also be used for demonstration of panoramic content with the help of virtual reality devices, such as Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard and analogues.

Exhibition installations:

EXHIBITION INSTALLATIONS

AirPano team has the experience of creating panoramic cinemas and video-walls, making it possible to demonstrate our panoramic content at different kinds of events, exhibitions and in museums. The size is only defined by the premises, the quality of projector and the dimensions of plasma screens. Such solutions usually make a deep impression on visitors.

The control is carried out by a tablet or Kinect devices.

TOUCH SCREENS

We are ready to create applications with panoramic content working on touch screens of any size. Both AirPano panoramas and the client’s material can be the basis for this kind of software.

We create virtual tours of any complexity, branded with logos and design elements of the company’s website together with embedding interactive elements, such as photos, slideshows, videos, descriptions, switch-points to other panoramas, audio descriptions, 3D sounds.

VR HEADSETS

Our virtual tours and 360° videos are supported by all the types of virtual reality headsets (VR): Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Sony Morpheus and others.

We can also develop special software for operating on Samsung Gear VR, if required.

AirPano in cooperation with Polden Studio carries out the installation of the binocular usage of the client’s or our own content. With the help of binoculars, the client can present the panoramic content at different kinds of events, exhibitions and in museums. This kind of devices usually attract a lot of visitors and leave a deep impression on them.

Travelfornoobs

The Complete Packing List for Moscow

Moscow packing list – what you need to bring, how to pack for moscow.

You’ve booked your plane ticket and the time of departure is fast approaching? After the joys of such a decision, comes the question of knowing what to put in your suitcase to go to Moscow. No need to panic, we have prepared a very complete list of the essential things to bring to make sure you don’t miss anything once you are there.

In order to leave no room for unforeseen events, it’s of course preferable to go through this list a few days before leaving rather than the day before departure, as you might miss some items.

Take the time to read and download it in order to identify the things that you absolutely must pack and that you might miss and that could make you lose time and money if you forget them.

You will also need to think about packing according to the type of accommodation you will be staying in, the different modes of transportation you will use during your trip, the climate and the season, as well as the activities you plan to do.

In order to help you prepare your suitcase, this checklist of the essential things to bring in Moscow gathers several categories: clothes, accessories, various objects… It will allow you to have a concrete vision of a typical suitcase for Moscow.

An advice, think of keeping some space in your luggage if you wish to bring back souvenirs or to make some clothing shopping on the spot.

Thanks to this travel list, preparing your bag for Moscow will be a real child’s play and you will just have to enjoy your adventure!

Note : This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.

• Important hings to do before you go
• Essential documents
• Transport essentials
• Backpack & luggage
• Clothing and shoes
• Hygiene & Toiletries
• Photo, Video & High Tech
• Useful accessories
• Medication and first aid kit
• Activities and Useful Links (+ Printable checklist PDF)

1/ Important things to do before you go

 Prepare your travel itinerary  Apply for a visa (if necessary)  Make your vaccinations (if necessary)  Check-up at the doctor / dentist  Take out a travel insurance  Photocopy or scan important documents (passport)  Write down e-mail and useful phone numbers in your address book  Warn your bank about your trip abroad (if necessary)  Book accomodation for your first night ( Do it now before everything is fully booked! Check the best hotels on Booking )  Download offline applications and maps for Maps.me  Download movies offline   Prepare your favorite music playlist  Turn off or turn down the heat of your house  Empty garbage cans  Water the plants   Give a copy of your house/car keys to a family member or friend  Close doors and windows

2/ Essential documents

Even before you buy your plane ticket, remember to check the validity of your passport : it must be valid for at least six months after your return date (for some countries) and have a blank page. Another tip: send your important documents to a secondary email in case you lose them.

   Passport   ID card    Plane or train ticket (have a paper copy just in case)   Reservation documents (e-ticket, train ticket, hotel reservation)   Visa (if necessary)   International driver’s license, if you wish to rent a car   Health insurance card   Travel insurance   Credit card   Cash   Useful numbers in case of emergency   Itinerary and address of your accommodation (hotel / AirBnB / camping)   Vaccination certificate   Diving license, sailing license, etc.   Some business cards with your contact information, email, blog, website

3/ Transport essentials

The little things to have with you at all times during the flight or the trip by train or bus:

 Phone and charger  Book / Magazine / Kindle / Travel Guide  MP3 player   Chewing gum   Pen + notepad  Travel pillow ( my favorite )  Sleep mask ( my favorite )   Earplugs   Snacks / sandwich   Small water bottle  Nasal ointment for dry nose  Sunglasses   Glasses case   Watch   Hand sanitizer   Disposable face mask   Tissues   Motion sickness medication

4/ Backpack & luggage

 Waterproof dry bag ( my favorite )  Handbag   Travel laundry bag ( my favorite )  Carry-on suitcase ( my favorite )  Travel bag ( my favorite )   Luggage tag ( my favorite )   Travel Packing Organizers ( my favorite )   Rain cover for backpack ( my favorite )   Zippered carry-on bag   Shoe bag ( my favorite )   Fanny pack   Lightweight foldable backpack ( my favorite )

5/ Clothing and shoes

  Socks  Underwear (panties, thongs, bras, briefs, boxers…)  Tank tops  Skirt ♀  Dress ♀  Pajamas  T-shirts  Long sleeve shirt ( for her , for him )  Short sleeve shirt ( for her , for him )  Polo shirt ( for her , for him )   Sweatshirt / pullover ( for her , for him )   Jeans   Lightweight pants ( for her , for him )   Money belt ( my favorite )   Shorts   Jogging suit   Jacket / coat   K-way ( for her , for him )   Windbreaker ( for her , for him )  Hat / cap / beanie   Scarf / bandana   Swimsuit   Buff scarf ( my favorite )

For shoes, you will have to choose according to the activities you plan to do:

 Comfortable walking shoes   Shoes for going out (restaurants, bars, clubs…)  Flip-flops (for the beach, showers…) ( for her , for him )  Hiking shoes ( for her , for him )  Sandals ( for her , for him )   Water shoes for walking in water (beaches, waterfalls, rivers…) ( for her , for him )  Light trekking shoes ( for her , for him )  Crocs

6/ Hygiene & Toiletries

 Microfiber towel ( my favorite )   Toilet bag   Portable Travel Bottles ( my favorite )  Toothbrush & toothpaste  Dental floss  Soap   Shampoo   Facial cleanser   Nail clippers   Cotton buds (biodegradable)   Tweezers   Make-up   Deodorant   Comb / Hairbrush   Razor & shaving foam ♂   Biodegradable wipes ( my favorite )   Toilet paper roll   Perfume   Makeup ♀   Contact Lenses   Contact lens product   Pocket mirror

7/ Photo, Video & High Tech

For photographers and videographers:

 Camera  Lens  Memory card  Polarizing filters   ND filter   Extra battery   Charger + cable + plug adapter   Cleaning kit   External hard drive   USB key   Stabilizer   Drone ( my favorite )    Waterproof phone case   Flash   Solar charger ( my favorite )    Gopro ( my favorite )   Waterproof case   Selfie Pole  External battery / Powerbank ( my favorite ) 

Don’t forget:

 Portable speaker  Ipad / Tablet  Laptop PC  External battery  Headphones or noise cancelling headphones ( my favorite )

Useful apps to download before you go to Moscow:

 AirBnB  Booking  Couchsurfing  Flush – Public Toilet Finder (Useful for finding toilets!)  Google Maps  Google Translator  Google Trips  Lonely Planet Guide  LoungeBuddy  Maps.me  Meetup  Tripadvisor  Uber  Whatsapp  XE Currency

8/ Useful accessories

The accessories you will take in your bag for Moscow will depend on your travel style:

  TSA lock ( my favorite )  Headlamp ( my favorite )  Sleeping bag ( my favorite )  Sheets ( my favorite )  Swiss Army knife (not in the hand luggage!) ( my favorite )  Travel clothesline ( my favorite )  Powdered or liquid detergent  Clothes pegs  Spork ( my favorite )  Ziploc bags  Lighter  Folding umbrella ( my favorite )  Toilet paper  Mosquito repellent ( my favorite )   Mosquito net ( my favorite )   Sunscreen cream  Aloe vera gel   Waterproof pouch for smartphone    For hikers : GPS, map, compass, water bottle   Walking stick ( my favorite )   Anti-sweat talcum powder ( my favorite )   Beach towel ( my favorite )   Sawyer water filter ( must-have !)  Pills to purify non-drinking water   Mask, snorkel, fins   Diving accessories (gloves, dive computer, lamp, knife…)

9/ Medication and first aid kit

I suggest that you consult your doctor and dentist before leaving. Beware of unauthorized medication and remember to keep your vaccinations up to date!

If you have a treatment don’t forget to take your personal medication and your prescription if necessary (or medical certificate).

You can buy a first aid kit already prepared ( my favorite ).

  Cotton buds   Tweezers   Round-tipped scissors   Pairs of single-use latex gloves  Bandages   Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain   Sterile compresses   Disinfectant spray for wounds   Physiological saline solution in pods (wound cleaning)   Condoms and other contraceptives

For longer trips and higher risk locations, we can also add:

  Sterile adhesive skin sutures (steristrips)   Rehydration solutions (in case of dehydration)   Water purification tablets   Water decontamination tablets (Aquatabs or Micropur)   Medication for altitude   Medication for sore throat    Anti-malarial medication   Survival blanket   Tick tweezers   Ointment against itching (antihistamine)   Probiotics for the stomach   Corticosteroid pills and cream   Analgesics (painkillers)   Survival blanket   Cold medicine (decongestant)   Biafine (in case of burns or sunburns)   Broad-spectrum antibiotics without a prescription   Anti-diarrhea tablets (immodium, smecta)

10/ Activities and Useful Links + Printable checklist

You can download the complete travel list in PDF format and print it by clicking here.

Book your hotel in Moscow now on Booking.com

AirBnb : Get a discount for your first booking!

Book now your activities in Moscow on Getyourguide:

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Majestic Nature Photography

Sharing the cultures of the world through my lens for all to experience., more about majestic nature photography, travel & nature photographer based in moscow, idaho.

Majestic Nature Photography, a travel photography business located in Moscow, Idaho, has traveled worldwide. My specialty is bringing people around the world together, no matter their background, through my photography. I offer photography services that ...

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My journey started long ago. At the beginning of 2017, I was commissioned by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce to do photos for their travel guide. This was the start of my unrelenting drive to create photography capable of opening eyes to the beauty of ...

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