What’s In My Bag? Photography Equipment for Travel Blogging
I’ve always loved to travel, but since meeting my boyfriend and starting this blog, I feel like it’s become a big part of my life. Whether I’m visiting him on tour, headed on a family vacation or traveling to a new destination for work, I’ve slowly put together a more “official” travel bag filled with photography equipment. I’ve gotten a ton of questions about my travel gear and photography equipment. I’m definitely not a professional photographer, but really enjoy capturing moments and experiences through photos.
Travel Blogger Photography Gear & Equipment
Camera Bag for Traveling
First things first, let’s talk about the bag. I used to just throw my camera into my purse, but as I invested more money into a nicer camera, I realized I needed something a little bit safer. Not to mention, as I bought more photography gear, my bag kept getting heavier! I prefer to travel with a camera backpack. Not only is it easier on my back, it’s a lot easier to run through an airport with and still have other bags. I love this bag from Ona because it’s super stylish, fits my camera & lenses and also has a spot for my laptop!
It’s made out of waxed canvas, leather and solid brass hardware; meaning it’s super durable and water repellent. It has a dedicated area for a 13″ laptop and two fully-removable padded storage inserts that fit inside the backpack. The inserts can fit 1 DSLR camera with a lens attached and 4-6 additional lenses or other tech accessories.
Inside My Travel Photography Camera Bag
My Camera Body – Perfect for Travel, Food & Fashion Photography
About a year ago I upgraded to the Sony a7. I did a TON of research before buying. One thing I recommend is buying a camera body without a lens. Generally, the lenses that come stock with a camera aren’t going to give you the quality photos you want & add to the overall cost of the initial purchase. It’s better to save a little extra money and buy a better lens, or buy one used!
The a7 is a full frame, mirrorless camera digital camera. One of my favorite things about this camera is how small & lightweight it is. It’s the lightest and most portable full frame, interchangeable lens camera in it’s class. It also has Wi-Fi sharing, which is super convenient when I’m traveling. That way I can throw my photos onto my computer, or directly on my phone to post to Instagram.
You can take advantage of the lightweight, on the go body with a ton of compatible Sony E-mount lenses, as well as E-mount full frame lenses from Sony’s G-series. Depending on your budget and preference, you can also use 3rd party adaptors to use other brands of lenses. This is great if you have already invested in lenses and want to use them with a new camera.
My Go To Camera Lens
When I first got my camera, I bought two lenses: a Sony 35mm F/1.8 and a Sony 50mm F/1.8. I love these lenses and use them all the time when I’m at home. Both of these are prime lenses, meaning they don’t have a zoom capability. So they shoots a fixed range of distance, allowing for a better range of depth of field. I love these for creating that pretty, blogger-esque out of focus background. You normally see this in lifestyle, for & portrait photography.
The Best Lens For Blog Photography
I recently bit the bullet and upgraded to a Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM. That’s a total mouthful, I know. To break it down, it’s the ULTIMATE lens for pro portrait, travel & event photos. It’s a full-frame G Master zoom lens. Meaning, that unlike my other lenses, it has zoom capability! This has been really helpful in capturing a range of images while traveling. Instead of having to swap out lenses, I can use it as a one-stop-shop workhorse. The resolution is amazing and you can even get that pretty Bokeh effect on your photos. It’s got a 24-70mm focal length.
For me, it’s great because I can zoom in and get really detailed food or or outfit shots and zoom out to get larger scenery and locations. I’ve shot with Canon, Nikon, Tamron and Sigma lenses and cameras. This lens is by far my favorite lens combined with my A7.
A Chic Camera Strap
Ok so this may sound lame, but I take pride in my chic camera strap. If I’m going to be carrying my camera around all day and wearing it around my neck, it only makes sense that it be attractive looking! Capturing Couture makes some really cute, cotton blend scarf straps. I like that they’re made out of a scarf material, not only because they’re super cute, but feel a lot better on my neck. A lot of times, I bring a spare with me to match my different outfits!
Photography Accessories
The portable macro ring light is a total game changer. You know the massive ring lights beauty bloggers use for their photos and YouTube videos? This little light clips onto the front of your lens and can be adjusted to semi or full light. It comes with different adapter rings, so you can use it with various camera lenses (not just the Sony). I love using it for hotel room shots. A lot of times, the lighting can be pretty dim in hotel rooms and bathrooms. So I throw the ring light onto my lens to brighten my photos up, not to mention it does a great job of making your skin look dewy and glowing!
I love using my Manfrotto tripod to help stabilize my video and travel photography. One of the best thins about this tripod is how lightweight and compact it is. Which makes it great for throwing in a bag when traveling.
A cable case is key for keeping your bag organized. Instead of just throwing all of your stuff into the bottom of your bag, you can keep it organized in one of these cases. It can fit hard drives, headphones, batters & chargers, laptop chargers, phone chargers, adapters, cords, cables & other small accessories.
A not so obvious addition to my was a Dual Smart Charger with LCD Screen. Charged batteries are a must have when you’re traveling. You don’t want to miss the opportunity for a shot because your camera died. I love that the LCD screen takes the mystery out of charging your batteries. It has a universal power input so you can charge your batteries anywhere, no matter what power source. The side USB port also lets you charge phones, tablets, power bricks and basically any usb powered devices.
No camera would function without a memory card, but most people forget to pick up a memory card case! My go to memory card is SanDisk’s Extreme PRO 128GB because they’re fast and reliable. I have the cutest little Pelican Case. It not only keeps my SD cards organized, but safe from getting wet or breaking. I also never leave without an external hard drive. I bring my SanDisk Extreme Portable External Solid State Drive with me to make sure I can backup all of my photos and content. It’s easy to set up, compact & seriously fast!
Other Cool Travel Photography Gear
GoPro HERO6 Black
No travel bag would be complete without a GoPro! I use this camera for capturing video and action shots. The new GoPro HERO6 is perfect for on-the-go travel and outdoor adventures. Not only is it waterproof, but it’s super durable. Whether I’m shooting a time lapse on the beach or an action filled zipline adventure, I always bring a GoPro!
GoPro Karma Grip
Ok, this thing is a total game changer. You mount your GoPro into this grip, which stabilizes your video. You can run, jump, bike, hike… whatever! The Karma keeps your shot steady.
iPhone Gimbal Stabilizer
Just like the Karma for the GoPro, you can use this gimbal to stabilize your iPhone! I love it for catching quick iPhone videos and taking my iPhone photos to the next level. It helps keep your shaky hands from ruining photos an videos!
Pictar One Plus – iPhone Camera Grip
This is a different iPhone grip that basically turns your phone into a DSLR. It works for other phones too. I love that when I’m shooting in the cold, the shutter button works with gloves! You can even switch it into “manual mode” so that the exposure compensation wheel changes and lets you control the ISO values.
How to Build Out Your Travel Kit
I recommend starting small and then slowly adding on equipment. It’s always best to pack light, which not only keeps things easy, but helps you save money. I buy all of my camera equipment & gear from Adorama. They’re the only full-service photo, video & electronics site. Not only do they sell cameras, but they have an awesome selection and the best prices. You can buy everything from professional photography and video gear to pro audio and consumer electronics equipment. Depending on your budget, you can buy new, used or even finance gear. If you’re looking to get new gear, you can even sell them or trade in your old stuff to go towards an upgrade!
Shop My Outfit:
Dress: Revolve // Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell