What's in My Camera Bag? The Travel Photography Gear I Actually Pack
If there's one lesson travel photography has taught me over the years, it's this: packing smarter is better than packing more.
When I first started traveling with my camera, I packed almost every piece of gear I owned. Multiple lenses, accessories, filters, gadgets—you name it. I wanted to be prepared for every possible situation.
The reality?
Most of that equipment never left my backpack.
Today, my travel kit is much more intentional. Every item I bring has a purpose, helping me stay light, flexible, and ready to capture beautiful moments wherever my travels take me.
My Essential Camera Gear
No matter where I'm traveling, there are a few pieces of equipment that almost always make it into my backpack.
My go-to lens is a 24–70mm zoom, which I use for everything from city streets and architecture to landscapes and everyday travel moments. It's incredibly versatile and handles the majority of situations I encounter while exploring a new destination.
If I know I'll be visiting national parks, photographing wildlife, or shooting distant landscapes, I also bring my 100–500mm telephoto lens. It's much larger and heavier, but it's worth every ounce when the location calls for it.
I also never leave home without:
Spare camera battery
Extra SD cards
ND filter
Universal travel adapter
DJI Osmo Pocket for travel videos
Secure camera backpack
Should You Always Travel With a Drone?
I absolutely love drone photography, but surprisingly, I don't bring my drone on every trip.
Drone regulations vary significantly from country to country. Some destinations require permits before flying, while others have strict restrictions on where—or even whether—you can bring a drone. Before every trip, I research the local regulations to decide whether packing it makes sense.
Sometimes, leaving it at home is the smarter choice.
One Thing I Never Forget
One of the best travel habits I've developed is carrying extra memory cards.
A few times during my travels, I completely filled my cards and had to buy new ones while abroad. Not only was it inconvenient, but they were also much more expensive than purchasing them before my trip.
Now I always carry a spare—and it has saved me more than once.
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Bring the World Into Your Home
Many of the destinations you'll read about throughout my Travel Vault are also available as fine art prints. Every photograph in my collection was captured during my own travels and represents a place, a sunrise, a quiet moment, or an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression on me. My hope is that these images bring the same sense of wonder, peace, and adventure into your home that I felt while creating them.
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