Photographer’s Travel Hacks – Avoid Airport Nightmares!
Traveling can be amazing. It can also be a complete disaster—especially when you’re lugging expensive camera gear through airports, dodging airline weight limits, and dealing with customs officials who assume you’re smuggling in a mobile camera store.
I’ve spent 20+ years traveling the world for assignments with The New York Times, Nat Geo, Forbes, and commercial clients like Four Seasons and Nike. Along the way, I’ve learned some real-world travel hacks for photographers—tips that save time, money, and frustration.
1. The Ugliest, Most Useful Travel Hack – A Photography Vest
Yeah, I said it. Those mesh vests with a million pockets? Total lifesavers. Airlines are cracking down on carry-on weight limits, and this is your cheat code. If they force you to check your camera bag, throw your batteries, hard drives, and heavy items into the vest pockets, put it on, and waltz onto the plane. They can’t weigh what you wear.
2. The “Bad Day at the Airport” Playlist
Airports are stressful. Some are downright painful (looking at you, Indonesia). My fix? A curated playlist of songs that instantly improve my mood. Bad gate agents, delays, and the barefoot dude touching my elbow with his foot suddenly become a little more tolerable.
3. Always Have Two of Everything
Two chargers. Two hard drives. Two cameras, if possible. Keep one in your carry-on and one in your checked luggage. If something gets lost or stolen, you’re still in the game. And for the love of photography—back up your images daily. I don’t care how tired you are. Just do it.
4. Pocket Camera + Window Seat = Gold
Always have a small camera (think Ricoh GR, Leica D-Lux, or even a compact digital with zoom). Window seat? Shoot cloudscapes, city lights, or unexpected moments. One of my published images was taken from a plane window over Kuala Lumpur. You never know.
5. The YouTube Channel Trick (A Customs Loophole?)
If you travel with a ton of gear, some customs officials assume you’re working illegally. That’s a problem if you don’t have the right visa. Here’s the workaround:
📌 Have a YouTube channel.
📌 Pull up a video where you “review” your gear.
📌 Smile and say, “Oh, I’m just filming for my YouTube channel.”
For some reason, that’s totally fine. Meanwhile, the guy with half your gear gets hit with import fees. Weird, but it works.
6. Emergency Cash + AirTags = Peace of Mind
I stash $300–$500 in a hidden pouch (not telling you where). I also put AirTags in everything—camera bags, checked luggage, even my wife (her idea, not mine). If something disappears, at least you know where it is.
7. The Right Credit Card = VIP Travel Life
Not sponsored, but the Amex Platinum card pays for itself with lounge access, travel credits, and perks. Find one that fits your region, rack up points, and skip the airport chaos.
8. Be Firm at Hotels
I don’t need someone showing me how a door works. Or where the bathroom is. Or how to turn on the shower. Just hand me the key, and we’re good. Also, I don’t give out my email or phone number for “hotel promotions.” No thanks.
9. The Right Travel Bags Matter
Your carry-on roller should have four wheels—trust me, your shoulders will thank you. Your camera bag should have a luggage pass-through to slide over your roller handle. If you’re walking miles through massive airports like Beijing or Dubai, this small detail saves your back.
10. Bonus Rapid-Fire Tips
✔ Slip-on shoes for security checks
✔ Lockable suitcase for valuables
✔ Loyalty programs = free upgrades and priority boarding
✔ Tape over your camera logos to make them look less tempting to thieves
✔ Throw away all your lens caps (just use protective filters)
Final Thoughts
I’ve learned all these the hard way. Hopefully, you won’t have to. If you found this helpful, drop your own travel tips in the comments. And if you want next-level travel photography experience, check out my Northern Vietnam Photography Workshop this March here.
Coaching, Workshops, Gear Reviews, Photography Tips https://www.askmottbyjustinmott.com
Wotancraft Bags https://tinyurl.com/5cwvnxua
Watch my full video breakdown here.
