Travel Preparation: A Photographer's Guide

Have you ever wondered what you need to consider if you wanted to plan a trip around furthering your photography? Or are you thinking of such a beautiful vacation spot where photography is impossible to omit from your daily activities? Here's a crash course in what should be going through your head as you plan your next vacation.

Planning your Trip

Once you've picked your destination, you need to pick your travel timeslot. Of course, it works the other way, too: pick your vacation week and then figure out your destination! Regardless of your situation, you want to make sure you arrive at your vacation spot during the right season for the best photos. You wouldn't want to arrive in Iceland mid-winter when there's hardly any daylight. And you wouldn't want to arrive in New Zealand after the rainy season starts up!

Research holidays, events, and celebrations in your destination country, and make sure you know what you're heading into. There's nothing worse than arriving in Venice on the last day of the boat races festival (read, gondola rowing competition, complete with streamers and paper decorations everywhere) to find no hotels available and no time to unpack your camera. Not that I've been there or done that!

=> Use the Internet to search for gorgeous photos and off-the-beaten-path travel spots - look up local customs and celebrations on major tourism pages
=> Call a travel agent and ask for a schedule of events for a particular city or country
=> Buy a travel book from your local book store and scour it for information
=> Contact the tourist agencies local to your destination city - find out when local holidays shut the place down, and when the locals generally leave for vacation
=> Research specialist tours (e.g. Linblad Expeditions) which dedicate trips to photographers

Air Travel

Avoid looking like a photographer or else your luggage will be targeted by thiefs. Avoid wearing a photographers vest, no matter how convenient all those pockets are for air travel! Prepare your film in a separate resealable bag if you don't want it to go through x-ray on check-in. Be helpful to the x-ray staff, and try not to draw too much attention to the fact that you have lots of photography equipment. Keep a signed list of all your camera gear in several places - consider getting customs to stamp it on your way out of the country.

=> confirm your flight
=> arrange for a taxi to the airport in advance
=> determine arrival transportation from the airport to your hotel

Carry-on Limits

Check with your carrier to ensure you know their carry-on allowance for luggage and hand bags. Each airline is different, so don't be caught off-guard. Keep only the minimum with you on board the plane to be able to shoot at the far end (e.g. small DSLR with zoom lens or P&S, with memory card, possibly an extra battery set).

=> first, determine what you want to pack
=> second, find appropriate luggage that meets your airline's carry-on and check restrictions, and don't be afraid to pack extra bags that aid in your day-hikes (e.g. small camera packs)
=> make a list of things to pack

=> camera body
=> lens, if applicable
=> flash
=> tripod or bean bag
=> memory cards (lots of them!)
=> battery and spares
=> battery charger; other chargers
=> lens cleaner
=> adapter plugs for your destination country
=> resealable plastic bag (to help with climate differences)
=> underwater case for your camera
=> USB cable (for downloading part-way through your trip)
=> camera bag(s) for different outings
=> list of all your equipment, possibly certified or signed by Customs