What’s in my Camera Bag as a Solo Female Travel Blogger
I am often asked what camera equipment I use and also how I take photos as a solo traveler. Well, I’ve compiled what’s in my camera bag as a solo female travel blogger and Instagrammer! After a ton of research, I have found the best camera gear for solo travelers. It can be a real struggle sometimes making content while traveling alone which is why it’s essential to be prepared with the right equipment. My solo travel photography gear is all explained in this post.
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🤍 Follow me on Instagram @joujoutravels for tips on solo travel, photography, and more!
iPhone 15 Pro
I use my Apple iPhone 15 Pro to shoot all my video content on as well as most of my photography on my Instagram! It is really all you need to be a travel blogger. There’s a misconception that you have to have really fancy equipment to become a travel influencer but it’s simply not the case at all. Sometimes I like the ease of just using my phone as it can be hard carrying around big equipment and setting it up on a tripod to shoot solo travel photos. Plus, the cinematic mode for videography is amazing – the quality of your videos will just skyrocket with this new feature available on the 13.
Here are some of the photos I took using my iPhone 15 Pro:
As you can see here, these photos look great especially just for my blog or Instagram account. The true key is in editing. If you can edit properly, that is what will set your photography apart.
If you want to edit like I do, be sure to grab my Lightroom presets here. A preset is basically a photo filter you can apply to your image. Lightroom is a free app I do most of my editing in. With my presets you can apply them and have a perfectly edited photo in just one click. I guide you through the easy process when you purchase the presets.
Here are the before and after of using my lightroom presets in just one click!
Gimbal Stabilizer
The trick to getting smooth video footage is to use a Gimbal Stabilizer by DJI. This will remove all the shakiness from the video you shoot. So I definitely recommend getting one of these.
Best Tripod for Solo Travelers
I am often asked how I take my own photos as a solo traveler. Well, the answer is my tripod! And sometimes strangers or a paid photographer.
Having a tripod is a game changer, you no longer have to worry about asking someone to take your photo the way you want it. You have full control and can take as many pictures to your perfection.
Sometimes, I do have to ask a stranger though and that would be in situations where I can’t leave my tripod at a distance. I would never shoot in busy areas or dangerous areas as I would be nervous my equipment would be stolen.
Most of the time, I am traveling to hidden gems as that is my passion. These places are less crowded and I often have the whole place to myself to shoot! The other thing you can do is rise early when less people are around. The lighting is also better at this time so it’s a win win.
🤳Check out this tutorial from my Instagram Reel of how I use my tripod to take photos traveling alone.
Read my full blog post on my top tips to take photos as a solo traveler.
💡 Pro-tip: Be sure to download the Photo Timer+ App. It will let you pick how many photos you want to continuously shoot from your mobile device. It is handy to use with the tripod for self photography.
I have 2 different tripods. One is a simple tripod I use with my iPhone. It’s so easy to set up and it’s lightweight. I was looking forever for a tripod where I could just set up quickly and get the shots I want while traveling. Before I had one that was a bit annoying to set up and I am often going from one spot to another so it was a huge pain. This one also has a bluetooth remote you can use to take photos.
The second tripod I use is one for a DSLR camera by Manfrotto. It is one of the best tripods out there for bloggers. You can add a handy adapter to it like this so that you can use this tripod for both DSLR and smartphone.
Professional DSLR Camera Gear
I use the Fujifilm XT-50 to shoot all my content on my Instagram page and blog. I started out with the Canon and then recently got the Fujifilm since it’s more light weight and also very stylish in the design. I have found Fujifilm to be the best camera for solo travel becaue it’s so compact but still powerful.
A lot of bloggers I know all use the Sony A7III. It’s super high quality and worth the investment. Be sure to always shoot in RAW format so you can edit all the details in post production without losing quality.
If you’re a beginner photographer, the base lens is enough to do the job. For the more advanced, you can play around with different lenses to capture different compositions. The lower the F stop on the lens the more you will get that blurred background effect in your images. You can also get a wide angle lens to capture more of the scene. These lens are great for shooting city landscapes for example.
These are photos I’ve taken with my DSLR camera:
DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone
My newest addition to my camera bag as a solo travel blogger is the DJI Mini 4 Pro. I was a bit nervous for this one as I had no prior knowledge to flying a drone. However, I was reassured by other travel blogger friends that it is pretty simple once you practice enough. Be sure to buy the Pro version as the normal DJI Mini 4 does not come with active track. Active track is perfect for solo travelers because it will follow you and you will have moving footage on your own!
I started flying my drone during my one-month adventure in Bali. It’s easy as everyone flys it there and there are so many open fields with stunning landscapes to practice. I have since gained enough practice now that I feel confident flying it. It has really upped my content creation game. I love capturing things with a view and this other perspective adds a wow factor to your content. Now that I have practiced enough with the drone, I find it sometimes easier than setting up a tripod to get the shot! Plus, the built-in screen on the RC remote controller is so much easier than attaching your mobile device on the remote. You’ll definitely want the remote with the built-in screen.
HoverAir X1 – Self Flying Drone
If you don’t have the courage to get a drone like the DJI Mini 4 Pro, then I’d highly recommend the HoverAir X1. I just added this to my solo travel camera bag and I love it! It’s really made for beginners who have no drone flying experience.
You can select from 8 preset modes (Orbit, Hover, Follow, Dolly Track, Birds Eye and more). With one push of a button, the drone does all the work for you. Then it’s automatically saved to the handy mobile app and can be downloaded in seconds. There’s also a manual mode if you want more control over how the drone flies. It shoots in both vertical and horizontal modes.
Oh, and guess what, DJI just released a competing drone that works identically to the Hover Air! It’s called the DJI Neo and it’s so affordable at only $200 USD!
See me using the HoverAir in action on my Instagram page here!
Insta360 GO 3S
The Insta360 GO 3S has quickly become one of my must-have gadgets for solo travel. What makes it so handy is its ability to clip onto almost anything, whether you use the magnetic clip or suction cup. There’s even an option to attach an invisible selfie stick, which is perfect for capturing wide-angle shots without anything showing in the frame. It’s even waterproof so you can capture those underwater shots. Plus, with hands-free filming, it’s easy to get creative with unique angles and perspectives while on the move!
Go Pro
If you want to shoot while in the action or underwater then a GoPro Hero 10 is for you! It will help you capture great video or photography content while being active as you can hook it onto your arm or submerge it in water without it getting destroyed. I don’t personally have one but I really want to get one some day!
Power Bank
A good portable power bank is a must as a solo traveler.
I’ve been in situations before where my phone died and I was alone in a small remote village and couldn’t make my way back to my hotel without my phone to tell me where to go.
It was a really tough situation since our phones really tell us everything. Including translating so you can communicate with locals as well as finding directions and of course taking endless photos.
This is the power bank I use that is super strong and will be my backup so I’m never in a situation like this again!
