Top 12 Travel Photography Essentials for your Camera Bag

There’s a lot of advice out there about which must-have camera accessories are necessary for your photography kit, but what items should you pack when you’re travelling light?

We’ve compiled a list of the 12 travel photography essentials to keep in your camera bag, based on expert advice.

Whether you’re looking to capture precious moments with your family, or angling to be on the cover of National Geographic, these are 12 essential items to carry in your travel camera bag.

1. Memory cards

The last thing you want to see when you’ve lined up your perfect shot is to the dreaded ‘Storage Full’ message. It can be hard to keep track of how many photos you’ve taken, and there’ll be little hope of coming across a camera shop if you’re halfway up Ben Nevis or waist deep in a river!

Avoid the hassle by bringing along a spare, unused memory card. This will give you some insurance against a sudden storage shortage, or in the rare instance of a corrupted card. For the space they take up, it’s certainly worth carrying spares. Most camera bags and cases have small pockets for exactly this purpose.

If you’re unsure which card to choose, our expert advice video will tell you all you need to know about memory cards, so you can find the one that suits you and your camera best.

2. Spare batteries

We’ve all had our camera battery fail during a big excursion, but don’t let that lead to an afternoon of missed photos. Bringing a spare battery along, like a spare memory card, is a great habit to get into. Just be sure to research the best camera battery for your device. We sell a wide range of camera batteries suitable for popular models from Canon, Nikon, Sony and more.

Remember: you’ll never regret bringing these extra pieces of kit, but you’d certainly regret not having brought them on the very day they’d come in handy!

3. Power bank

Consider this a back-up to your back-up! A power bank can be used to recharge your digital camera, power a portable LED light, or even replenish your phone battery during a long hike or drive. Be sure to bring a charger cable with multiple connectors, so that you can charge any of your devices with a single power bank.

The novelty power banks sold for mobile phones can run out of power fairly quickly, but our range of power banks have been selected by experts to power your camera equipment and keep you snapping for hours. We even have a number that are solar-powered, such as the solar power bank by Dörr. It’s ideal for travel and will soak up the sun whilst you do!

4. Travel Tripod

If you're keen to cut out the blur and eliminate camera shake, a travel tripod is a must-have.

This Dörr Flex Bowl Table Pod takes away the chore of setting up and taking down a full-size tripod. With flexible legs, it can be arranged on the most uneven surfaces - or you could even wrap it around a tree branch! A great addition to your holiday camera bag, or even your everyday kit.

Insider tip: There are a number of landmarks and destinations which actually enforce a No Tripod rule. Full-length tripods take up a lot of space in already crowded areas, and the feet can leave marks on soft terrain like grass. However, travel and tabletop tripods are often exempt from this rule due to their small size.

5. Lens cloth

When in a pinch, a photographer may make use of many things to remove smudges from their lens. A sleeve or a mostly-clean tissue, for instance.

However, a microfibre lens cloth takes up next to no space in your bag and will help to protect your lens from damage. These cloths are designed to be adept at removing dust and grime, and won’t cause the small scratches that ill-suited cleaning materials often do.

A good travel cleaning kit will prolong the life of your camera and ensure your photos are as sharp and clear as possible. In addition to a microfibre cloth, a purpose-made lens spray and an air blower for sensitive equipment are also great investments.

6. Smartphone holder

Smartphone photography can have a bad rap among photographers, but the image capturing capabilities of newer models will probably impress you. In fact, Steven Soderbergh’s 2018 feature film Unsane was filmed entirely on an iPhone 7 plus!

You may not always have your full camera kit with you in the evening or when you’re out to dinner, but with a smartphone handy, a great sunset or nature shot never needs to pass you by! They’re also a great back-up in case your main camera fails.

This adjustable smartphone holder can be used alongside a travel or standard-size tripod, and is compatible with a range of smartphones.

There are a number of benefits to smartphone photography, such as the ability to take photos and upload them in real time from the same device. This is a great item if you’d like to grow your social media following, or just add a professional edge to your holiday photos.

7. Camera case

If you’re travelling light with just a digital camera, you might consider a compact camera case to carry with you on days out. Many of our camera cases have a hard outer shell, which will prevent your camera from being bumped or broken in even the most chaotic of rucksacks.

Handy features such as wrist straps and belt loops will also help you to keep your camera close to hand, rather than having to rifle through your photography bag.

Insider tip: Camera cases are a great choice for nature photographers, where quick access and stealthy movements can be key to getting the perfect shot!

8. Filter kits

For budding landscape photographers, a filter kit is one of the best ways to optimise your lighting and composition in sunny locations.

A circular polarizing filter will reduce reflections when you photograph natural features such as water or leaves. Once developed, you’ll notice an improvement in the colour saturation and contrast of your photos, which is hard to achieve using post-production software.

For different effects, you may also like to experiment with different coloured filters, like this set of four graduated filters from Dörr. Try out the grey, orange, blue, and tobacco tints to see an instant deepening effect on your earth tones, or brighter blues when photographing the sea or sky.

9. LED lights

We’ve covered how to combat bright sunlight and reflections, but shooting in low light can be just as much of a challenge while travelling. When shooting in darker locations like caves or forests, you’re not about to drag along a full studio lighting set-up.

Thankfully, a good set of high-powered LED lights can transform even the gloomiest of settings. Search for lights which are compact and lightweight, such as this 60 LED Ring Light from Kaiser. This pocket-sized, battery-powered ring light will allow you to have total control over your lighting, whilst taking up next to no room in your kit.

10. Rain cover

Wherever you’re holidaying (particularly if it’s in the UK), a savvy outdoor photographer will always be prepared for a downpour. Protect your camera set-up and prevent pesky water droplets on your lens by using a waterproof rain cover.

Whilst many resourceful photographers have shielded themselves and their camera beneath a cagoule or a bin bag, a purpose-made camera rain cover will maintain easy access to your controls and LCD for hassle-free shooting.

This emergency rain cover from Think Tank comes equipped with a clear window to view your display and sealed seams to ensure all-round waterproofing. The cover folds down into a tiny travel pouch, and it even comes with a lifetime warranty for your peace of mind.

11. Disposable camera

You may have some activities planned for your holiday that are a little high-risk for your usual gear. White-water rafting and a top-of-the-range DSLR camera certainly don’t mix!

For active days out, it may be worth carrying along a disposable camera. Lightweight, simple to use and not such a heartache to see broken or lost, a good disposable camera is a travel photography must-have. They’re also an excellent way to keep your kids entertained - hand them a camera each, and they’ll soon be snapping away like pros!

For canoeing holidays and poolside fun, why not try this waterproof disposable camera with a handy wrist strap? It’s splash-proof, sand-proof and most importantly - childproof!

12. The perfect travel camera bag for you

Now you’ve assembled your ideal travel photography kit, you need the perfect camera bag to store it in. It’s best to decide on which camera items are essential to you before investing in a camera bag, so you know what size you will need.

A good travel camera bag should have a splash-proof or water-resistant exterior, with padded compartments to keep your camera and kit safe. It should also be lightweight, easy to carry and fit into the overhead compartment on a plane. Soft-shelled camera bags weigh very little and have some flexibility to fit into small spaces, whereas if you have expensive or sensitive equipment you may want to invest in a heavy-duty case.

You can view our full range of bags and luggage to protect your equipment and transport it safely. We have rolling camera bags, aluminium cases and more!

Now you have your travel photography essentials - bon voyage, and best of luck with your holiday snaps!