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The holidays are the perfect opportunity to take beautiful photos, whether you’re flying to a tropical island, taking a winter trip to the mountains, or simply enjoying a long weekend to capture the fall colors. And with powerful cameras built into phones like iPhone 16 pro And Galaxy S24 Ultraas well as many amazing mirrorless cameras From manufacturers like Canon, Sony and Fujifilm, you don’t have to lug around heavy bags of equipment wherever you go to get stunning images filled with memories.

I have been a professional photographer for over ten years and have traveled the world taking photographs in all kinds of conditions. Here I will introduce you to the necessary gear that you need to take with you on your trip. I’ll also recommend that you consider some additional options if you want to come home with creative pieces of art rather than just holiday snapshots.

Read more: Take professional travel photos this summer with these simple tips.

Choose the right camera

While you’re unlikely to be buying a whole new camera system just for an upcoming trip, if you’re already in the market for a new camera, then your upcoming vacation is a great time to invest. Traveling with a camera used to mean carrying a large, heavy DSLR camera with you wherever you went, but luckily, modern mirrorless cameras tend to be much smaller and lighter, making them excellent for travel. I took just my Canon R5 and a small, lightweight 50mm f1.8 lens on a three-week trip to Sicily, and I loved the images I got from this compact setup.

The R5 isn’t cheap or the smallest camera in the world, but it offers amazing image quality thanks to its full-frame sensor, amazing video capabilities and has pro features like built-in image stabilization, which meant I didn’t need it. also take a tripod with you. Want something smaller? Consider a micro four-thirds format camera such as the Fujifilm X-S10 or the excellent X100VI with a fixed lens. check out mine guide to the best cameras if you need inspiration on which model to choose.

Keeping your lens choices to a minimum will help reduce weight. A standard zoom lens such as the 24-70mm provides a wide range of shooting wide panoramas while still providing enough zoom to bring subjects closer. I’d also recommend bringing a small prime lens (like the aforementioned 50mm f1.8) with you, as they tend to be lightweight and compact enough to keep in your bag or slung over your shoulder for easy reference. ready to go when inspiration struck.

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But maybe you don’t need a camera at all – today’s top-end phones can take stunning images and shoot in RAW format, allowing you to do the same type of editing you’d normally do with images from regular cameras. iPhone 16 Pro Max takes stunning photos, especially in Apple ProRaw, and its multiple rear lenses give you the ability to creatively capture whatever scene you’re in front of.

Best tripod for travel

A tripod is of course not necessary for any travel photography, but when the light gets dim and you need to slow down your shutter speed to just a few seconds to get a good exposure, you’ll need one to steady your camera. You’ll definitely need a tripod if you want to capture night shots overlooking a magnificent bay, capture the stars above snow-capped mountains, or capture artful long-exposure shots of waterfalls.

Again, size matters, and you should look for a compact travel tripod that can easily fit into your backpack or attach to the outside of your backpack. Modern materials like carbon fiber will save weight, but they tend to be more expensive, so you’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to shell out.

As the name suggests, Peak Design Travel Tripod – An excellent tripod for travel due to its small folded size and light weight. I walked around all day with this tripod strapped to my back and barely noticed it was there—something I can’t say about most tripods. Be sure to check out my full review best tripods you can buy. Or if weight is really an issue, you could even try using your own DIY tripod.

A true adventure backpack

A dedicated photo bag should be high on your list. After all, you don’t want your fancy new gear to get smashed and broken, do you? A good bag will have compartments that will keep your camera safe and also allow you to quickly access it. It’s also important to find one that has enough storage space for other items you might need while out and about.

If you’re going to be carrying it all day, I recommend a backpack with two straps rather than a bag with a single strap. It will distribute the weight on both of your shoulders and keep you comfortable for longer. Look for things like side-access zippers so you can quickly reach your camera when inspiration strikes; Lots of extra pockets for batteries and snacks; weather-resistant materials; and mounting points for carrying a tripod.

I did a lot of hard work for you to collect my best backpacks for photography. There are options for all types of photography, from short trips around town to multi-day hikes with lots of gear. Read through this list and make sure what you’re packing is appropriate for where you’re going.

Important Additions

The above list really contains the most essential things that you need to take with you. How much more you bring will depend on how seriously you take your photography and what type of images you hope to capture. For example, for those of you going on a wildlife safari, it will be useful to take a large telephoto zoom lens with you. Always consider carrying a few spare batteries and a charger, since even the best cameras typically only allow you to take photos throughout the day—or much less if you shoot a lot of video. There’s nothing worse than getting to a great location in the afternoon only to find that you’re exhausted in the morning. Having at least a couple spares in your bag will allow you to swap them out and continue shooting into the night.

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The same goes for storage. It’s easy to take hundreds of raw images a day in a beautiful location, and all of those shots can quickly fill up your map. Luckily, SD cards are pretty cheap these days, so it’s worth buying a few 64GB or 128GB cards to keep with you.

Plus, there’s a wide range of photo filters to help you get creative. A circular polarizer can be used to brighten blue skies or reduce reflections on water, while a neutral density filter darkens the image, allowing you to use long shutter speeds to blur the movement of water, cars or people.

If you want to shoot video while traveling, you may need additional equipment such as microphones, larger, faster memory cards, and maybe even video tripods or gimbals for smoother, more professional footage. Check out my guide to best accessories for video production if you want to shoot professional-quality videos while traveling.