Your trips may provide many picture possibilities, whether you’re taking a plane to a far-off island, climbing in the mountains, or just spending a long weekend in the country. It has never been simpler to capture the memories of your journey via photography because to the powerful cameras included into phones like the iPhone 16 Pro and the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as a variety of incredible mirrorless cameras from brands like Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm.
As a professional photographer for well over ten years, I have taken pictures in every kind of weather all around the globe. From the greatest travel camera to the necessary luggage and accessories, I’ll walk you through the essentials of packing for your trip. If you wish to bring back artistic creations instead of simply vacation photos, I’ll also suggest a few practical additions to think about.
Read more: Use These Simple Tips to Take Great Travel Photos This Summer
Select the appropriate camera.
Even while you probably won’t purchase a brand-new camera system just for a trip, if you’re already in the market for one, an impending trip is a terrific reason to make the purchase. It used to be necessary to carry a large, bulky DSLR in your bag whenever you traveled, but thankfully, contemporary mirrorless cameras are considerably lighter and smaller, making them ideal for travel. During my three-week trip to Sicily, I just brought my Canon R5 and a tiny, lightweight 50mm f1.8 lens, and I was very pleased with the pictures I produced with this modest equipment.
Although the R5 is neither the cheapest or smallest camera available, it boasts great video capabilities, a full-frame sensor that produces gorgeous images, and pro features like in-body image stabilization that eliminated the need for me to carry a tripod. Desire something a little more compact? Consider a micro four-thirds camera, such as the excellent fixed-lens X100VI or the Fujifilm X-S10. For ideas on which camera model to choose, see my guide to the best cameras.
An individual with a photographic bag
Reducing the number of lenses you choose will assist lighten the load. A normal zoom lens, such as a 24-70mm, offers adequate zoom to come up close to your subjects while also offering a wonderful range for taking pictures of expansive, sweeping landscapes. Additionally, I would advise bringing along a tiny prime lens, such as the previously mentioned 50mm f1.8, as they are often small and light enough to carry in your backpack or slung over your shoulder at all times, ready to shoot whenever inspiration strikes.
As part of an article I was working on for CNET, I recently traveled to Sweden to take pictures with my brand-new Leica Q3 43. The Q3 was compact enough to carry around my neck at all times, ready to take pictures while I traveled across Sweden, even into the Arctic, thanks to its fixed 43mm lens. Although having just one focal length may sound restrictive, I really thought it was a terrific creative challenge that had me think more about my composition than merely zooming in and out while standing still.
See also: 2025’s Top Camera Phone
The best phones available today can capture stunning pictures and shoot in raw format, which enables the same kind of editing that you would normally perform with photos from conventional cameras, so maybe you don’t even need a camera. The iPhone 16 Pro’s dual rear lenses provide you creative shooting possibilities for whatever environment you find yourself in, and it produces stunning photographs, particularly when utilizing Apple’s ProRaw format.
The greatest tripod for travel
While not necessary for all vacation photography, a tripod can help stabilize your camera when the light wanes and you need to reduce the shutter speed to a few seconds to get a satisfactory exposure. If you want to take stunning evening pictures of a beautiful harbor, the stars over snow-capped mountains, or artistic long exposures of waterfalls, you will undoubtedly need a tripod.
Wispy clouds in a blue sky with a bridge over water in the backdrop
I was able to catch the motion of the river and clouds above the Forth Bridge by lowering the shutter speed completely with the help of a strong tripod.
Once again, size is important, so you should search for a small, portable tripod that you can connect to the exterior of your bag or that can easily fit within. You will need to choose how much you are willing to spend since modern materials, such as carbon fiber, will reduce weight but are also often more costly.
As its name implies, the Peak Design travel tripod is a fantastic travel tripod because of its lightweight design and compact foldable size. With this strapped on my back, I’ve gone on all-day treks and hardly noticed it—something I can’t say for most tripods. Check out my comprehensive list of the top tripods available for purchase. Alternatively, you might try utilizing your own homemade tripod if weight is a major concern.
A person with a photographic bag similar to a backpack
An authentic adventure backpack
One of your top priorities should be a special picture bag. Ultimately, you don’t want your expensive new equipment to be damaged by being banged about, do you? Compartments in a quality bag will allow you to rapidly access your camera while also keeping it safe and secure. Finding one with plenty of room to store additional things you’ll need while out and about is also crucial.
I suggest a backpack with two shoulder straps instead of a messenger bag with only one if you plan to be out all day. It will help you stay comfortable for longer by distributing the weight over both of your shoulders. Look for features like weather-resistant fabrics, mounting points to make carrying your tripod easier, plenty of extra pockets for food and batteries, and side-access zips so you can easily pull out your camera when inspiration strikes.
I’ve saved you a lot of effort by compiling a list of my favorite photography backpacks. From quick city trips to multi-day excursions with plenty of equipment, there are opportunities for all types of photography. Examine the list and confirm that the items you are bringing are appropriate for your destination.
People moving across a lovely cityscape in the foreground
You’ll always be prepared to take pictures when you see a good chance if you have your camera close at hand.
The essential additions
The items on the above list are really the most important ones you should bring. The kind of photos you want to capture and how seriously you take your photography will determine how much more you carry. For instance, those of you who are going on animal safaris will find it useful to bring a large telephoto zoom lens. Even the greatest cameras often only provide you a day’s worth of pictures, or considerably less if you shoot a lot of video. For this reason, you should always think about carrying several extra batteries and a charger. Nothing is worse than arriving to a beautiful location in the afternoon only to discover that you were completely worn out in the morning. You can replace it and continue shooting into the night if you have at least a few replacements in your luggage.
See also: Top Photographer Accessories
Storage is no different. In a stunning setting, it’s simple to capture hundreds of unprocessed photos per day, and your card may soon fill up. These days, SD cards are fortunately reasonably priced, so it makes sense to get a couple 64GB or 128GB cards to carry along.
Additionally, there are a variety of photography filters that might inspire your creativity. While a neutral density filter darkens the picture and enables you to use long exposures to blur the action of people, automobiles, or water, a circular polarizer may assist make blue sky more vibrant or lessen reflection on water.
In water, a marker sign
I achieved a smooth and silky surface by blurring the water’s movements using a neutral density filter.
Additional equipment, like as microphones, quicker, higher-capacity storage cards, and maybe even video tripods or gimbals for smoother, more polished film, may be required if you want to record video while traveling. If you want to record high-quality movies while traveling, check out my guide to the finest video production gear.