Planning a photography vacation, part two: What to bring
By Aimee Markwardt
So you’ve booked it: your dream trip to Iceland. Or the ruins of Rome. Or a safari in Africa. Your plan: a vacation centered around around taking beautiful pictures and honing your craft.
Your packing list for this vacation is sure to be different than a relaxing nap on the beach.
Here are a four guidelines to consider when packing for a photography vacation:
1. Make sure you are prepared for Mother Nature.
Chances are, you will be spending a lot of time outside (because that’s where the real action goes down). And it turns out sometimes the most uncomfortable weather — the brisk early morning, a fiery thunderstorm — can yield the most amazing photos. Make sure you’re prepared.
That might mean a lightweight yet warm jacket, like the Baffin Jacket by Marmot, $175. This jacket also has reflective logos, which are a great safety feature if you plan on being out at night.
Check the deals on high-quality jackets and gear from Sierra Trading Post, such as 25 percent off orders of $125 or more, plus 3 percent cash back from ShopAtHome.com.
2. Pack a camera that matches your plans.
If you’re headed for a long hike through a refugee camp or all day on your feet, a hefty dSLR might put a damper on your plans. Be honest with yourself and bring what you will use — or bring both a heavier camera and a point-and-shoot and alternate.
3. Make sure you have all of the technical goodies.
We’re talking lenses, batteries, battery chargers, an external flash, memory cards — maybe more, such as an iPad. MCP Actions has an excellent list, The Perfect Photographer Packing List for your Next Vacation, with specific, helpful product recommendations, if you don’t already have all of your equipment.
4. Pack everything in a versatile camera bag.
You don’t want to be in the middle of a Kodak moment and realize your camera is powering down and you don’t have a backup battery. Explore different camera bags to find the right one for you.
Sears carries the Kata Ultra-Light Bumblebee-222, a lightweight backpack designed for digital cameras and lenses. This pack won the Reddot Design Award for entertainment, technology and cameras. It’s not cheap — $439.99 on the Kata website — but Sears.com carries it, and you can find a long list of Sears deals and coupons that may help bring the price down.
In fact, this week only, ShopAtHome.com is offering 7 percent cash back for items purchased through Sears. Get free shipping on qualifying items of $49 or more.
You might also enjoy:
High tech-hotels bring luxury to travel
The benefits of traveling alone
Destination V-Day: Cities with romantic names
How to create a travel vision board – plus, FREE calendar
How to create a playlist for a road trip
Planning a photography vacation, part one: Where to go
