What's in My Camera Bag? 16 Must Have Camera Accessories

Travel photography is not just about being in the right place at the time. It is also about carrying the right camera at the right time and with the right accessories. Whether you are a newbie or an experienced photographer, having the right camera accessories with you does impact a lot on the quality of your images. It’s no wonder that travel photographers carry a kit bag that is large enough to make you wonder what is inside. Well, it’s not a secret anymore; we are here to tell you all about the must-have travel accessories that you should carry along to begin your travel photography career like a pro.

Let’s take a look at the must-have camera accessories that you should carry on the next travel photography gig.

Compact Tripod

Taking long-exposure shots without a tripod can ruin the images. Even for regular shots, tripods can help you click a perfect, sharp image. Tripods are a photographer’s best friends and solve many problems that you would face shooting outdoors. Often, tripods are complicated to use and cumbersome to carry. Choose a tripod designed for travel photography. They are light in weight, sturdy, compact in size, and perform best with a professional camera with a long lens.

Memory Card Case

Do not forget to carry a few additional memory cards with you. You never know when you need extra space to capture striking moments around you. Hence, stay prepared with additional memory cards and keep them properly stored in a memory card case so that they are safe and you don’t lose any valuable data.

Hard Drive

One good habit that many experienced photographers have is carrying a hard drive with them. Photography is a profession where you can’t expect to work with exact numbers. You might need hundreds of clicks of the single thing; hence it is good to have additional backup storage. So, in case you get blown away by the wind of inspiration, consider carrying a hard drive in your bag.

Lift Straps

It is not going to be an easy walk. Travel photography might take you to the mountains to mines. Hence, always use camera lift straps to save yourself from the soreness and stiffness of carrying heavy cameras. There are multiple straps in the market, allowing you to carry your heavyweight cameras comfortably. So, don’t forget to have good quality straps before you head out.

Carry On Case

When you are traveling from one place to another. It is risky to store your expensive DSLR and lenses in regular carry bags. If you have a high-end collection of lenses, it is time to invest some money in a carry-on-case specially designed to store cameras with multiple lens pockets. Ordinary people spend money on their luggage bags but, professional photographer prefers investing money in good quality camera backpack or a carry bag such as the Peak Design Travel Backpack. Carry-on-case protects your device no matter where you go.

Waterproof Case

You cannot control the weather, but you can always have good protection ready. For travel photography, it is a must to carry a waterproof camera case so that your high-end lenses and camera doesn’t get drench in the pouring rain. Moreover, many professionals don’t want to miss the shot at any cost, so having a waterproof camera case enables you to fulfill your passion without any interruption.

Lens Pen

When you are out, it is difficult to keep your lenses clean all the time, as there will be dust accumulation on the lens. In such cases, a lens pen is the best accessory to carry. It makes lens cleaning very easy and convenient. It is effective to use compared to microfiber wipes. It comes with a cap so that it doesn’t attract dirt when not in use. Also, no spray is needed to clean the lenses.

Camera Clip

Professional Photographers who are always traveling need to stay fully equipped with all the necessary tools for capturing the perfect shot irrespective of what condition, where or when. You might never know when the right moment strikes hence most pros love to stay ready all the time. A good quality Camera Clip is the perfect tool to keep your camera handy and easy to access. The strap or belts are strong enough to carry your camera weight easily and, you can get different qualities based on your camera type.

A smart device - goTenna

If you are a travel photographer who loves to go on hiking, goTenna is an excellent device for you. This device helps you to make a call and text while you are on your expedition without using your mobile phone. In times of emergency, this device is a lifesaver. You can contact another person using this device to exchange the message. The device has its app, which includes offline maps for almost every place in the world, which can be easily used. Not to mention, the device is equipped with GPS location so that you don’t lose your track. You can buy them in pairs, and they are waterproof. The battery backup of goTenna is up to 24 hours.

Travel Cable Organizer

When you are in a photography profession, it is normal to carry numerous cables of multiple small devices that you have. However, these tiny cables are too delicate to keep loose. Therefore, carry a nice cable organizer to protect and save your time untangling them. Organizing bags with many pockets for different sized electronic devices are a great help for anyone who carries many wire and cables. It will sort your life and save your time spent searching for that charger cable.

GorillaPod

Tripod isn’t a practical choice every time. So if you are an extreme photographer, include this amazing gear to your kit. GorillaPod is one of the best camera accessories to get a perfect shot. It is compact in size, lightweight, and easy to use. It can be a band as per your desired angles. Also, you can wrap it to any desired surface to hold your mirrorless camera with ease. Isn’t this great addition to your gearbox?

Extra Batteries

When you work in a creative field where inspiration strikes at any moment, you can’t afford to lose your camera’s battery life. Hence, one of the essential accessories that every travel photographer must-have in this bag is extra batteries. You can buy batteries in bulk from online stores and apply coupons code to get good deals. This way, you will always have plenty of batteries to avoid battery situations in the middle of your work.

Pelican 1525 Air Carry-On Case 

Specially optimized for travel photography, this is one of the action camera accessories you must have. This case will keep your cameras, lenses, and other small accessories secure. The Pelican case is watertight, dust, and crushproof. This case build of light polymer is easy to carry, and some versions of it even come with a wheel.  

Lens Filters 

Lens filters are one of the basic camera & optic accessories that you need as a travel photographer. The different lens filters which you will need are a polarizing filter, neutral density filter, and the graduated filter. The polarizing filter will help you in reducing the reflections from water and other places. It will also boost the blues and greens. The neutral density (ND) filter will reduce the amount of light coming into the camera. So, when you are looking to create a smooth flow of water, the ND filter will help you in that. Graduated filters come in handy when you are photographing a place that has two different intensities of light, where one is brighter than the other. The graduated filter will balance the light and give you a well-lit picture.  

Polaroid Camera Accessories 

If you are using a polaroid camera, some of the polaroid camera accessories will also come in handy for you. The Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter is one of those where you can print your photos instantly. Another useful accessory is the tripod, which is specially built for a polaroid camera. There are other similar accessories like a tripod, which will help you mount your camera in a stable way. 

Phone Camera Accessories 

With phone camera quality getting better every day, the phones are becoming an easy to use tool in photography. Companies like Moment have built some incredible mobile add-on lenses which can take your photography to a whole new level. Another important mobile camera accessory you can have is the DJI Osmo Mobile 2. This stabilizer is great for taking videos and photos with providing great stabilization and maneuverability.

Looking to get equipped with these accessories so that you can start your travel photography expeditions? There are several online sites which offer these accessories at discounted rates. One of the best places to get promo codes is Couponobox.

Conclusion

Photographers spend their life traveling and searching for the right moment to capture. Being unprepared when a once-in-a-life shot presents itself can be the worst feeling of your life. So, if you are working on becoming a travel photographer, start preparing and equip yourself with the right tools that would aid you in your quest.