A minimalist travel bloggers/vloggers gear
I have been attempting to lighten the load in my camera bag lately and decided why not make a little post about it. I spent six months on a sailboat lugging around a backpack full of camera gear, so I'm not sure why I didnt do this sooner! Theres really only a few things that someone needs in order to capture the right footage. Number one for sure is the camera. Theres a few good options for travel cameras this day and age, especially when your going mirrorless, which is what I've done. It screams minimal! I use the canon EOS m3, and I absolutely love it! Its small, captures an amazing photo and also gets great footage. It doesnt shoot in 4k which is a downfall but it does a solid 1080p. You can attach a mic easily to it and switch out lenses as well which is great. I only have one lens for it so far, but am looking to upgrade to a second soon.
The second thing you have to have is a bag to put the camera in. I have an actual camera bag but I dont really think its to fashionable and also doesnt fit the other things necessary for a good travel blogger or vlogger. I am currently using the osprey flipjill day bag, but I have the backpack also. I have used backpacks and crossbody bags both and found that both are great, depending on what task or activity your doing, crossbodies are great for getting to your gear fast, and they look a little more elegant. Whereas backpacks can distribute the weight better for hiking and lots of walking around.
I use a dust rag to wrap the camera in to put it in any bag because it helps to not let it get scratched, since my bags aren't exactly designed for cameras. And there fragile!
The second camera I like to use for the action shots and diving shots I have done, and hope to do more of, is the Go pro hero four black. I would like to upgrade to the new five go pro, but those things are very expensive and right now the four is fine for what I need at the moment. I have a variety of accessories that go pro has made to help you "get the shot". I mostly use the floaty handle and the go pole. Tripod mounts are also in my bag at all times for the go pro, because I love to use it for time lapses. I would like to get the suction cup mount, and the red filter to help with the underwater shots. The gimbal for the go pro would also be very nice but again, a bit much right now! Its on my list though.
There are a few amazing accessories that I have found help me. Now dont feel bad if you find these items are all expensive or not what you would want. Ive been traveling for about six months non stop and have found what works best for me and what I like to use to help me so you will get there if your just getting started. That being said, theres still a few things for me to learn and discover and obtain. Good things come in time right?
I use the new iPad pro to edit photos and throw them up on instagram (using light-room to edit) and along with that the beats wireless ear buds as well. There a little more minimal then my big over the ear headphones and laptop is, especially when traveling a lot although nothing can beat the noise cancelling headphones and a solid laptop when I am spending hours on end editing on adobe the next episode. When traveling though, I like to be minimal, isn't that the key to this blog as well?
I included my hard case with all my chargers in it as well for this blog, not to exciting but I keep them organized in a hard case with some lens wipes and a lens pen to clean my things.
I also throw a little cosmetic bag with some make up and other girly things in it (this is my everyday bag and I'm still a girl you know), probably why I also always have my ray bans with me. I have to look good on film at all times even when I haven't had access to a shower being on the boat and all, the ray bans help with that. I have a waterproof pelican case for memory cards for both the canon and the go pro, because lets face it you never want to run out of camera space. Or batteries for that matter, so I keep a spare battery for both cameras in the charger case. Always use extra batteries and memory cards! Trust me. Probably because Im crazy about battery life, I also have a waterproof external battery pack to charge things with.
Last but certainly not least since its probably the most important thing apart from the camera is my tripod. I use a gorilla pod for most of my tripod necessities, but also have a travel large tripod for my backpack. I love the gorilla pod and its small enough to cary around with me at all times.
There are defiantly a few things on my wishlist this Christmas including a wireless mouse for the laptop to make editing easier, honestly I don't understand how I've gone this long without it. I am also looking at those few go pro accessories I mentioned earlier, as well as the smart keyboard for the iPad so I can write these lovely blog posts from the iPad. A smaller point and shoot was on the wishlist, not sure Ill go with that or a smaller lens for my canon just to keep it minimal but I am thinking about that. Another thing on the list is the rode mic for the canon to help with wind noise when I buy my big sailboat and sail the world! Oh yeah, its happening.
The go pro gimble and of course lastly the maverick pro drone, because lets face it, that is the perfect shot by far. I think I've typed on enough for one day, and Ill leave you with this: dont be afraid to get the right shot, and as much as the right accessory will help you out, in the end its all about the person behind the camera. Enjoy your travels and hopefully you found this blog to be helpful, if your looking to buy anything I use feel free to shop around amazon. Heres a link to all the gear I use (: Happy travels!
Whats in my bag? Get it yourself!! :
https://goo.gl/oocG12 - ape camera bag
https://goo.gl/KWU9so - memory card
https://goo.gl/qngqkp - canon mirrorless camera
https://goo.gl/VAwDDH - osprey flip jill
https://goo.gl/Mmh9Y7 - solid state hard drive
https://goo.gl/oHv1sc - go pro hero 4 black
https://goo.gl/z6aTrL - go pro floaty handle
https://goo.gl/5aAk96 - lense wipes
https://goo.gl/4UftYg - spray for lenses
https://goo.gl/62mGop - tripod
https://goo.gl/n9wAth - Raincover for backpack
https://goo.gl/igWYF9 - Beats headphones
https://goo.gl/Ufa1Gd - tablet
https://goo.gl/YWefx7 - mac book computer
https://goo.gl/kN81nm - beats wireless headphones