Travel Photography: My To-Do List
Big and equipped backpack, boots, water, clothes for the occasion, and camera ready: This is how I will normally travel.|Credit: Kiara Gonzalez Escobar
Every photographer has their method or routine while preparing for a shoot. Every photographer has their method or routine while preparing for a trip. There is no exact science on what to choose the right way or the most effective one. I would not say there is a “method”, but we all have some differences and similarities in the way we approach a travel photography adventure, whether it is for one day or for several days.
Some people may think that we photographers only do research or prepare for a trip in photographic terms. There is a lot involved in the art of travel photography, and I guess I learned a lot from National Geographic and Discovery Channel documentaries and also through my three-year experience with I Love Cuba Photo Tours.
With this post, I intend to describe what I normally do when I am approaching a trip. I must say, though, that for me, every trip is a photographic adventure, as I ALWAYS carry most of my gear wherever I go, including the school where I teach Spanish.
There are certain things that you shall not forget while planning for a trip. Documents, gear, and energy bars being some of them.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
I start with writing a to-do list and a to-take list, in which I write down every little piece of detail that will help me on my trip. Truth to tell: I have forgotten to write down something or have forgotten to do one of the things I list. So my advice is write it down and cross them out as you get through them.
I also recommend doing it on paper, not on your phone, computer or tablet, because you will remember things better when you actually write them down. Bear in mind that this list I made is what I do specifically when I intend to travel to do street photography, but most of the advice I provide here can be useful to any type of photographer.
Do your homework
Whenever I travel to a place for the first time, I like to know where I am going or what I am getting into. Of course, no matter how much you read and research, there is information you can find in books, magazines or the web that is either outdated, exaggerated and even false.
However, we cannot use this as an excuse not to do our homework and be aware of what we are getting into. I make a to-do list of things to research of find out about the place I go or the route I am taking.
Search for information about the geography and climate of the place. Because of Mexico’s altitude, for instance, I got dehydrated the first day I ventured myself on the streets of San Miguel de Allende, and I had NO IDEA of why I was feeling that way. Lesson learned.
Check what the weather is going to be like the day or days you are going to be there. Do the same for tide if you intend to be near the seaside.
Check for historic or architectural landmarks to photograph. Also try to find out what the street photography opportunities or landscape photography opportunities are before you get there. This of course, applies to every single photographic interest you may have. Taking this particular step, will help you decide on the gear you will want to bring along in your trip or what lens you will want attached to your camera at a given moment.
Take mental and written notes on what the sunrise and sunset times and the moonrise and moonset times are. Do the same for the position and direction at each time, to make sure you know what times are best to shoot specific areas in the place.
Research on the possible events going on in the place you are visiting. Also make sure that you know times of opening and closing of events and places.
Check out what places are good and have good prices when it comes to lodging, food, drinks, coffee etc.
Do research on what is customary for the people of the place you intend to visit. Bear in mind that if it is another country and you don’t speak the language, you may want to learn some useful phrases in that language to get by (packing a dictionary in your backpack won’t hurt).
Establish which kind of transportation you intend to take to your location and while in there. This will help you plan on luggage, clothing whether you will have your camera at hand or inside your bag, and what lens to have on it if you carry it outside.
Download the app Maps.me into your phone or tablet (available for both Android and iOS), and download the maps of the location you intend to visit. This app in particular works offline, so if you run out of service or if your service is not compatible with the area you are visiting you will still be able to find your way. Carry a physical map with you as well.
Do research on the hazards of the place: diseases, dangerous animals, dangerous areas, people to stay away from, foods and drinks to avoid, etcetera. Remember that carrying a big camera will make people take you for a tourist, and somebody might try to swindle money out of you, or worse.
Do research on the state of the law in the place. Bear in mind that even within the same country, there are things that are allowed in some places and are illegal in others. It can get worse when it comes to countries, and if you go to a communist dictatorship like North Korea, Cuba or China, you can easily get in trouble for photographing the “wrong” thing or person.
Find possible tours on the place if you feel that you will need help or guidance. This is what we did while I was part of I Love Cuba Photo Tours, and I can state for a fact that our clients truly appreciated it. A testament to that is that many of them are in touch with me even when my last gig was in March 2020.
Carry pens and notepads with you. They are never unnecessary, and more than once can help you with many things.
Check the Gear
One thing we all have in common is that we make sure that we have all of our gear lined up. And that is true for all of us: from those who have OCD to those with ADHD.
I like to make sure that I inspect everything, from camera, to lenses, to filters, to cleaning kit, to tripod (if I am carrying it), to batteries. I learned through seven years with ¡AHORA! Newspaper in Holguín and over three years with I Love Cuba Photo Tours that having full knowledge and control of your gear is crucial to the success of your trip or your shoot.
I normally write a to-do list when it comes to the gear and only cross things out when I have checked that everything I intend to bring is in the camera bag:
Empty and clean your camera bag or backpack. If it is customizable, make sure you customize it according to what you intend to bring in your trip.
Run an inventory of your gear and make a list of the gear you intend to bring in your trip (even though I like to carry most of my gear when I travel, there are times I choose a smaller backpack that will make me leave a couple of things out).
Run a test on each piece of equipment to make sure it works perfectly.
Clean camera, lenses, flash and filters (whether you think you may or may not have to use any of them), and pack the ones you intend to bring into your backpack or camera bag. Do the same with a laptop or iPad if you intend to bring any or both to the trip.
Charge all the batteries to the fullest and pack them ALONG with the battery charger (it will not hurt to have two battery chargers, one to keep at home and one to travel with). Make sure that you do the same with the AA or AAA batteries if you are carrying a flash and/or the external flash triggers with you.
Although your phone may or may not be considered part of your gear, I recommend packing your phone charger with your gear. It is small and it can fit any of the pockets and you don’t want to find yourself in a situation in which your phone dies, mainly if you are relying fully on it. I experienced leaving my charger home more than once, so I recommend you get yourself a travel charger you never take out of your bag.
Check if there is enough space in your memory cards and pack them in the backpack.
Pack your cleaning kit with you. Your filters might get dirty during your trip and you don’t want to ruin them by wiping it with your shirt.
Clean and check any color or ND filters (if you have them and intend to take them to the trip) and their device to attach to the lens(es) and also pack them.
Check your tripod (if you intend to bring it) and make sure it is clean and has the plate to attach the camera.
Test the weight of your camera bag/backpack and make sure it is comfortable for you to carry on your back for long periods of time. Also, make sure it fits TSA requirements to be part of your carry-on luggage.
Test the security of your bag. If you are going to be on the streets shooting, there is a chance you can be the target of thieves or pickpocketers. I have been a victim of that myself, while closing a Romerías de Mayo event in Cuba, somebody went through the pockets of my sling bag (not a photographer’s bag, by the way, the reason why I never carry gear in non-photography bags) and stole all of my storage devices. This actually deprived me of retrieving over 120GB worth of images, some of them valuable shots from over four years of photography work. Also, make sure that if you have a rain cover for it, it is clean and ready to use.
A Little Usual Housekeeping?
Clothing and miscellanea are always going to be part of the preparation for a trip. Photographers are no exception, mainly because as travelers we might have to take a little extra measure to make our trip smooth.
However, this is something I would normally recommend anyone going to a place, mainly because that is something we used to do in I Love Cuba Photo Tours, and it is always useful for anyone going to a different place to keep a few things in mind.
ALWAYS take comfortable shoes. I always think of Sebastião Salgado, who once said that “It's more important for a photographer to have very good shoes, than to have a very good camera”. If you intend to be standing for long hours while shooting, you need to have good and comfortable shoes.
Bring water with you, all the time. There are places where it is not recommended to drink tap water, so do your research about that, buy bottled water and always be prepared to be hydrated.
Carry nutrients with you: you need to be prepared, mainly if you intend to be out photographing for hours. Nutrients like granola bars, chocolate, etc will help you stay energized during the long walks or long periods of time you may be out there photographing.
Carry everything related to your healthcare. Do not forget that if you have a condition, there is a chance the meds that you need are not available in the place you intend to visit. You don’t want to turn your trip into a bad experience.
Depending on where you are going, do not forget to pack sunscreen, bug spray and other useful items for you to get rid of certain nuisances.
Do not forget to pack your usual toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etcetera. I created for a while the habit of always carrying an extra pair of underwear, a spare shirt, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush inside my camera backpack as an emergency backup.
Conclusion
Preparing for a trip is always important, whether it is a regular touristic voyage or a photographic adventure. As photographers, it is my opinion that we should pay as much attention to the regular travel details as we do to our gear. I believe those housekeeping and homework actions have to be more thorough and in-depth for us than for others. After all, we carry expensive and valuable equipment that many times are the cornerstone of our livelihood.
In any case, preparation is an integral part of every activity we carry out. Travel photography might require the extra step, but personally it is a fun and exciting process too.
