An essential checklist for travel street photography and city trips

Street photographers need streets to satisfy their needs. There is no way around that logic. And while there are streets all around us, sometimes visiting a different city and exploring the roads with your camera is exactly what you need. Traveling for street photography is fun and highly refreshing.

Visiting new cities with your camera helps you discover new scenes and see things with fresh eyes. Photographing cities you have never been to may give you new ideas to try when you return to your hometown. You may meet new people and find inspiration from local street photographers.

Whether you love city photography or focus purely on people, travel, and street photography, the three go hand in hand perfectly.

Checklist to plan your travel street photography trip

This checklist helps you plan your city trips. Nothing too intense. The basics are covered, so you can focus on exploring and capturing amazing photos on the streets.

Pre-booking your trip

• Determine the length of your stay: How big is the city, and how much time do you need? Too much time can make it boring, and too little time might leave you frustrated.
• Check the weather: Consider what weather you might encounter. This will tell you what to wear and what type of images you might expect.
• Research sunlight: Look up when the sun rises and sets. If the days are short, perhaps nighttime street photography in the city can be fun. If the golden hours are longer, that could push you in another direction.
• Know the laws: Are there any laws or rules governing public photography? In some countries, they might be very strict. In others, not at all. Shooting street photography in Philadelphia or New York in the US is completely different from shooting in certain European cities with strict privacy laws.
• Understand public transport: It is optional to know for your photos, but it will help you get to locations more smoothly. Plus, you might become a public transport photographer for a day while riding the subway or the bus.

Booking your city photography adventure

• Accommodation: Book your hotel or another place to stay. Choose one that is easily accessible so you can quickly replace those batteries or memory cards if they fill up during the day.
• Transport: Book your airplane or train tickets. Look into local buses or metro passes if necessary.
• Activities: Are you planning to visit any museums? Book your visit there if necessary. The same goes for restaurants and bars you want to try out.

The ultimate photography gear checklist

I often get asked what I bring on a trip. Having a solid photography gear checklist ensures you do not forget the essentials. I like to keep things light but effective. Here is a visual checklist for your photography gear to review before packing:

• Camera body: Your main workhorse.
• Lenses: Depending on your style, one or two prime lenses are usually enough.
• Extra batteries: Bring at least two or three spare ones. You will walk a lot and shoot a lot.
• Memory cards: Bring plenty of fast and reliable cards.
• Laptop or tablet: Essential if you like to get to editing fast. I often just sit in my room in the evening and edit that day’s photos.
• Card reader: Do not forget this one if your laptop lacks a built-in slot.
• Business cards: It is helpful to make cards with your name and information to hand out to people you photograph.
• Comfortable camera strap: A must for long days of walking the streets.
• Lens wipes: Cities can be dusty or rainy. Keep your glass clean.
• Optional items: Depending on your style, bringing a small tripod or some filters can also be helpful for nighttime city photography.

Make sure to pack clothes and hygiene products as well. I have a separate checklist for travel essentials that covers your regular luggage.

Researching your destination: Street photography hashtags and more

Before leaving, it can be very helpful to look online at what other photographers have done there.

On Instagram, I often browse locations to get a feel for the city. I also highly recommend using specific tags to find local work.

On YouTube, I research POV videos of street photographers in the city. This gives an even better idea of the vibe and shows you how people interact. It also often gives you ideas for walking routes. Blog posts are interesting, too, offering ideas for where to eat, stay, and visit when photographing cities.

As street photography is never something you can completely map out, do not over-plan. Build a frame for the trip, but do not schedule every minute. Give yourself room. The research and planning are there only to give you something to fall back on and allow you to focus purely on your photography.

Where are you heading next? Let me know in the comments below!