Travel Photography Kit Bag Essentials

If you're planning on embarking on a travel photography adventure this holiday season, there are some things that you shouldn't leave the house without. Here, we go through some accessories that any discerning photographer shouldn't overlook: 

If you're not sure where to begin, there are several guide books available on the subject of travel photography. If you have a specific destination in mind, have a look on Amazon - there's a guide to most places there. If you want a more specific photography guide and your destination is in the UK, you'll find our 48 top travel guides for exploring the UK helpful.

Zoom lens

When you are planning to walk long distances it's best to keep camera kit as light as possible to avoid burdening yourself on your adventures. This is where a versatile zoom lens can come in handy if you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, as it will mean you don't have to carry multiple lenses around. Brands such as Tamron provide fantastic zoom lenses far an affordable price. They are available in most camera mounts.

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Lens cloth

It may seem obvious but when out and about it's easy for debris to find its way onto your lens, whether you're in the city or at the seaside. Making sure you pack a lens cloth will allow you to quickly and easily get your lens ready for your next crystal clear shot. 

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Filters

Photographing outside presents exposure challenges, especially if shooting in bright conditions. Achieve more balanced photos while out on the shoot instead of having to spend a while fixing them in post production. Invest in a filter kit including ND graduated filters for those bright skies and polariser filters to cut out reflections on water. 

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Filter holder

Chances are you'll need to swap filters depending on shooting conditions so if it's the case that you'll be taking several filters with you, a filter wallet will keep them safe and give you quick access to them, while keeping them organised. 

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Spare battery

If you plan on adventuring all day then you don't want to be caught out by your camera battery giving up when a great opportunity for a shot emerges. Spare batteries can be purchased for most popular brands of camera without breaking the bank and they are well worth investing in if you don't want to be caught out. 

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Reliable memory card

It's important that your memory card is not only large enough to hold all of your images but is also reliable no matter what the trip might throw at it. Samsung's memory cards include protection against temperature, shock, X-ray machines and also seawater - Samsung say they can survive up to 72 hours if exposed to the sea. 

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Travel tripod

If long exposures are something that you want to capture or you plan on including some night photography in your schedule, you'll need to think about taking a support. Depending on the size of your camera you might be able to get away with something super light and portable like the Joby Gorillapod. If you need something a little more structured, then you can pick up lightweight aluminium models with a load capacity of 12kg for around £50. 

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Camera strap

You'll need a comfortable camera strap, whether you opt for a neck strap or a sling style strap. There will be times when it's easier to keep your camera out and ready rather than pack it away after every opportunity. A good strap will help balance the weight of your camera and reduce strain on your body. 

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Compact waterproof

When exploring it's important to take care of yourself as well as kit - you're not going to want to stay out in the rain unless you have a suitable waterproof to keep the rain off. Super compact waterproofs can be purchased that will easily stow into a bag - they're lightweight and will keep you dry should a shower occur. 

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