Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Christine Kaaloa

What to pack for a film shoot abroad?

Being a female solo travel vlogger and freelance camera operator, I film stories in exotic and new destinations both, at home and abroad. As filming is my job and I do not get many do-overs on a trip shoot, being prepared for the shoot is often more important to me than packing for my travels. This post shares an essential packing list for travel vloggers and adventurous filmmakers.

Read How to Make a Travel Video

Packing List for Travel Vloggers & Adventure Filmmakers

Here are 11 essentials to pack for a film shoot abroad.

1. Travel documents

Passport, visa, immunization shots, medical records and Covid vaccination shot card.

2. Equipment Insurance

What are the odds something could happen to your camera equipment gear when you’re on the road?  Many travel vloggers, bloggers and freelance videographers I know carry insurance for their gear, whether at home or abroad. Homeowner’s Insurance is a popular one.

I purchase World Nomads travel insurance for its tech equipment coverage for lost, stolen or damaged gear.

2. A good travel camera bag

A good solo travel camera bag can be your production assistant in the field. Buy a bag based on your equipment and your travel shooting style.

Cinematic travel filmmakers take time with their shoots and like bags they can rest and unzip to see its organized contents.

Travel vloggers might have a more vlogging or journalistic approach and like to keep fluid, capturing the Keroac essence of motion. They require bags with quick access to equipment.

Find a bag that works for you and don’t be disheartened if you’ve not nailed it on the first try. I’ve gone through a handful of bags to find my perfect fit. See my travel camera bag reviews.

Recommended: Manfrotto NX CSC Backpack, Manfrotto NX CSC Backpack

2. Compact luggage

If you’ve book a rental car and a nice hotel to plunker down in for your entire stay, whipping out your behemoth rolling suitcase may work.  But for adventure travel filmmakers who will be using public transportation and filming in remote locations, you want your luggage to fit in small spaces like crowded country buses. The minimal packer can fit into more local spaces without standing out.

Highly recommended: Eagle Creek Expanse 21″ and Load Warrior 22.  Read my review.

 See my solo travel vlogging gear list

3. Power banks and backup batteries

Essential to any packing list for travel vloggers are batteries and power banks. Traveling to different shoot locations, you will have little down time to charge your batteries outside of your hotel. Bring power banks and backup batteries to ensure you’re prepared.

Recommended: Anker 10,000 mAh for a day’s charge. A 5,000 mAh lipstick charger holds one full mobile charge.

4. Extra memory cards

Memory cards are not something to scrimp on when you’re a serious travel filmmaker. The last thing you want to happen is to find yourself in the midst of crucial filming when your card hits Full. Memory cards are inexpensive to buy and you will always find a use for them. If you are not offloading footage to an external SSD drive while traveling, but are waiting to do this when you get home, taking a card per day is sufficient.

Starting at YouTube channel => See my YouTube Starter bundles

5. A SSD Storage Drive

Backing up memory cards onto a SSD storage is a godsend. SSD’s are a bit pricier, but the benefits are tenfold. SSD storage drives are lightweight, compact and ultra rugged. They are a literal godsend if you’re porting around your gear like a sherpa.

Recommended: I take two 2T SanDisk Portable Extreme SSD with me. Read my review.

6. Headlamp

You never know where your travels will take you or the resources available when you arrive. Headlamps are always handy. You can use them for outdoor activities like caving, camping or night safaris, but they have their practical moments for adventurous situations like staying in villages where your toilet is located in an outhouse.

Check out my Solo Travel Vlogging & Blogging Gear

7.  Emergen-C packets

It’s easy to forget to take your vitamins when you travel. But it is essential in that it helps improve your energy. I love dissolvable vitamins and Emergen-C Multi-vitamin packets and am more likely to remember to take them. Not only do they flavor my water but I carry them in my camera bags for an extra pick-me-up!

8. Instant meals and power snacks.

For a great pick-me-up snack or food substitute power bars are the best. As a vegetarian, I often either have to bring my own food or pack an instant pick-me-up meal options in the case I can’t find things to eat or have to chow on the run. Protein/power bars, granola, dried fruits and nuts are the quick-n-easy health snack on the run (I take them when I’m hiking, as well).

Also, many hotels offer a standard coffee maker in your room to boil hot water. I pack a couple of packets of Instant Quaker Oats Oatmeal (Costco offers it in a big variety box) or dehydrated soups ( like instant miso soup) where you just add hot water!

9. Microfiber cloth and carbon pen

A microfiber cloth should never be far from your camera. It’s important to clean you camera and lenses before and during each shoot. With dust, humidity, fingerprint smudges, the last thing you want to discover in your edit bay is that your precious video footage had schmutz over its lens.

I like to carry a Carbon Pen as well. Carbon-tipped pens are a powerful tool which picks up dirt particles, when your microfiber cloth just seems to be pushing the oils around.

10. Dust blower

A dust blower shoots air into your lens to get fine particles of dirt out. Ideal for dry and dusty locations.

Travel Resources for any trip

Booking.com – Hotel bookings. No cancellation fees
Safety Wing – affordable travel insurance with COVID & quarantine coverage
NordVPN – Online security and the ability to watch Netflix. Use “grrrltraveler” for 70% off 3-year plan + 1 month free
Klook – Book tours in Asia
Get your Guide – book tours

What would you add to this Packing List for Travel Vloggers ?

Enjoy this post? Pin to pinterest