Traveling Tips For Photographers

Traveling with Camera Gear – Air travel can be a stressful process at the best of times. When adding expensive camera gear into the mix, it amplifies the stress levels. I have taken well over 300 flights with photography gear. Here is what I have learned traveling with camera gear.

You should always carry all your camera on the plane with you, with a few exceptions. Cameras, lenses, filters, remotes, spare batteries, memory cards, a travel tripod, and a battery charger should be the camera gear that you want to take on the plane with you. You should also carry your laptop, external hard drives, and all your cables. I use a backpack and a laptop bag for my two personal bags that I take on the plane. I also pack one extra day’s clothing in my carry-on. It’s always a smart decision to have one pair of clean clothes in case the airline misplaces your checked bag. 

My flash gear, extra chargers, reflectors, larger tripod, and gimbal heads will be packed in my check-in bags. Worst case scenario your checked bags do not show up right away. You can still hit the ground running with what you took with you on the plane. 

You should walk up to security by being prepared for an inspection of your camera bags. When I say, ‘be prepared’ I am referring to having everything structured. Cables tied together in a separate pouch, cameras, and lenses sitting in separate sections in an orderly fashion. Keep your carry on bag tidy, and pack small accessories and cables into zippered pouches so that they can easily be removed and inspected. I’d also shy away from wrapping lenses up individually in cases because it only means they will all have to be opened up if security requires a closer look.  

If your bag does go through the initial scan and they call you for a secondary inspection the agent may want to remove any number of the items in the bag. It’s important to remember that not everyone appreciates the cost of cameras and lenses. We will often ask if they mind if I remove the gear in a polite manner. If they refuse, just explain the costs and ask them to be careful.

If you do run into any difficulties in security the most important thing is that you remain calm. They are just doing their job in making sure you are safe on your flight. It doesn’t do anyone any good to get upset or abrasive. 

Traveling with Batteries – It’s becoming a discussion I hear more and more. “What’s happening with the rules of traveling with batteries?”

The truth of the matter is updates are coming out all the time. I would suggest you check before you travel. But a good rule is to just pack all your batteries in your carry on or camera bag as I mentioned in the previous section. Different countries have different rules, so preparing for the worst scenario is a prudent course of action. 

If you’re traveling with spare batteries in addition to the ones inside your devices, and we all do… consider placing each battery in its own protective case, plastic bag, or package, or place tape across the battery's contacts to isolate terminals. Isolating terminals prevents hazards due to short-circuiting.

Here is what I do. I keep the original boxes with the plastic covers and bags that the batteries came in. I put my spare batteries in there. If I have lost them, and let’s face it, we all do. I wrap each battery in a small plastic bag and secure with elastic bands.

If you must carry a battery-powered device in any baggage, please package it so it won’t accidentally turn on during the flight. If there is an on-off switch or a safety switch, tape it in the "off" position.

Check out your country's Department of Transportation’s spare battery tips page for more information on safely packing spare batteries.

Battery Chargers – You can pack battery chargers in carry-on and checked bags.  If the charger has an electrical cord, be sure to wrap it tightly around the charger. 

Don’t pack regular batteries in a rechargeable battery charger.  Non-rechargeable batteries are not designed for recharging and become hazardous if placed in a battery charger.

Sure, some of this may feel like overkill, But there is nothing worse than having to pull out all your camera gear at the airport and get delayed when you're trying to catch a plane when you could have spent 15 minutes at home wrapping up your gear before you left for your trip. It’s just my opinion folks. But I’ve been delayed at airports in Asia and Africa enough that I have learned my lesson.

Good luck in your travels