5 Tips for Traveling With a Camera
Image courtesy of Pixabay
Hey there! If you’re new here, I am a travel and street photographer from Denver, CO. I decided to put this guide together based on some of my past experience, to help you simplify traveling with your gear.
Remember, traveling with a camera doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact for me it’s one of the best parts about going on a trip at all, so it’s important to make the process as painless as possible!
If you’re new to flying (or driving) with camera gear, this list is for you. Although, experienced travel photographers are more than welcome to read on and weigh in with your own tips too. My contact info is at the bottom, so let me know what you think!
1. Keep the mission in mind
What do I mean by this? Well, if you’re being flown out to the savannah to shoot wildlife for a week, it probably makes sense to bring pretty much everything. However, traveling with a camera doesn’t mean you always need to bring as much gear as you can carry.
I highly recommend doing a day-by-day inventory of the trip ahead before you depart.
If you’re mainly traveling for work or to see family, and you’ll be fitting photography in around other activities, adding 10 pounds of gear will probably just contribute to early-onset back pain.
If you’re looking at potentially once-in-a-lifetime shots or destinations that would be difficult to get back to, that extra lens makes a lot more sense!
2. Research airline policies
If you’re traveling with a camera, or more specifically flying with a camera, it’s smart to check out what your airline says about bringing your gear in advance.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
I’m very protective of my gear, and I refuse to let it out of my sight from beginning to end on a trip. So if you’re like me, you’ll probably want your camera to stay with you in your backpack, or at the very least in your carry-on!
This is a good general resource, but always check your specific airline!
Some planes however have smaller stowing areas under the seats for your personal item, so make sure in advance that your bag will fit. The last thing you want is to have to check your bag at the gate. That means additional fees, not to mention you lose control of where your gear is going and how carefully it’ll be handled.
It also might be smart to check on where and how you need to pack your batteries. Most policies I’ve seen ask that batteries are not stored inside of their devices while traveling.
3. Pack light!
Alright, I know this one seems unnecessary to list, but have you considered all the stuff you’ll need with you that isn’t actually camera gear?
When you’re traveling with a camera, you’ll no doubt want to limit the number of lenses, tripods, bodies, etc. that you’re stuffing into that bag. BUT don’t forget that things like books, jackets, snacks, and toiletries all add to the load as well!
The more you travel, the better you’ll get at gauging what’s necessary and what’s not. Long story short, if you struggle with this when you’re starting out, it will come with time!
What you can do right off the bat, however, is be honest with yourself about what you actually need. If your flight is 90 minutes, and you’re only going to be gone for the weekend, you can probably pack just one book, re-wear clothes, bring just the shoes on your feet, etc. I’m looking at you over-packers. 😅
My usual travel set up
Obviously, try to avoid over-packing camera gear as well. Think about how often you’ll really have the time to switch lenses, and set up a full-size tripod. Batteries and memory cards are one thing, but take a detailed look at your kit v.s. what you really need.
I’m not suggesting that everyone should become a minimalist, but inexperienced travelers almost ALWAYS have a few items in their bag that they can ditch.
Trust me when I say, you’ll always appreciate having a manageable load more than you’ll ever miss carrying a bunch of non-critical extras.
4. Prepare for the weather
This one is incredibly important for people traveling with a camera. You don’t necessarily need to invest in hardcore backpacking gear for a short, drizzly trip to The Pacific Northwest, but you definitely need to make sure you’re covered in the event of inclement weather.
My Current bag: The WANDRD PRVKE 21L
Currently, I use the Wandrd PRVKE 21L as my main travel bag simply because you’d be hard-pressed to find a weather situation it CAN’T handle. Plus, it’s nice and small for those stowing under airline seats.
If you don’t have the cash to invest in a good weather-proof bag, and the forecast looks like rain, you can always look at something like this backpack rain cover just to be safe.
You don’t want to be caught in a situation where your gear is getting soaked and there’s nothing you can do about it, so contrary to the last point, this is one area where it doesn’t hurt to over-prepare.
5. Invest in quality gear
This one ties into ‘preparing for the weather’ a bit when it comes to bags, but it applies to other gear and general camera accessories as well!
In case no one’s warned you yet, nothing camera-related EVER comes cheap, but if you’re traveling with a camera, you’ll want to make the investment in a good bag and quality accessories that won’t fail you over time.
If you need some help, I’m happy to answer questions about the gear that I use personally- my inbox is always open.
As far as general advice for finding a bag, here are a few key factors to keep in mind:
Will it stand up reasonably well to a little rain?
Will it keep your gear safe? (from damage AND theft)
Can it organize your equipment effectively?
Other Accessories
As far as other accessories go, don’t skimp out! I know that brands like Peak Design and the like can be pricey, but the quality is worth it and you’ll thank yourself in a few years when you’re enjoying your gear rather than replacing it.
Pictured: my low quality tech pouch falling apart after one trip…
I’m usually one to dip my toes in a bit with cheaper gear until I figure out if something is for me or not, and I’m not suggesting that you CAN’T be a traveling photographer without investing loads of cash in your gear.
So take this advice with a grain of salt. Beginners shouldn’t consider investing in camera gear the same way a professional would, but there ARE a lot of reasons that photographers tend to spend more on their gear over time!
Have any questions or comments about this list? Let me know!
You can email me at nick@gunairy.com, or get in touch on Instagram. Thanks as always for reading, get out and try something new today!
- Nick