Top 10 Photography Gear Guide for Content Creators & Adventure Photographers
As a full time travel blogger, I enjoy capturing my adventures almost as much as I enjoy experiencing them, and I am often asked about my photography equipment...so this week I’m sharing my Top 10 Camera Gear Essentials. Whether you’re photographing towering sequoias, sweeping landscapes, or close-ups of wildlife, having the right camera gear can make a world of difference. Nate is a professionally published photographer, and I’m a travel blogger, so we both rely on high-quality, versatile equipment to document our journeys together — so let’s dive into our Top 10 Camera Gear Products for photographers and content creators.
Insta360 Action Camera
1. Insta360 X4
I’ve used multiple Insta360 cameras over the years (including the Insta360 GO & X3) and they’ve all been spectacular, but this new pocket-sized powerhouse is truly a game-changer for YouTube videos and Instagram Reels. This tiny, lightweight camera is a must-have for capturing immersive 360-degree footage. Whether I’m hiking through Yosemite or kayaking in the Eastern Sierra, the Insta360 X4 delivers stunning video quality with unbeatable versatility. Perfect for vloggers and adventurers alike, this camera is waterproof, shock resistant and captures the Milky Way with stunning accuracy. If I was building my camera equipment from scratch, this would be one of my first (and non-negotiable) purchases!
2. Insta360 Extended Selfie Stick
I pair my Insta360 X4 with this extended selfie stick to capture unique perspectives and epic aerial shots. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and extends up to an impressive length of nearly 10 feet, making it perfect for adventurers on the go. I love adventuring in our national parks, but drones aren’t allowed there...however, this extended camera stick has helped me capture stunning video that rivals what any drone could.
Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera on Peak Design Tripod in Yosemite National Park
3. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera
Our first starter camera was a Canon Rebel T6 (which I still have and highly recommend for beginners), but as our skills grew we upgraded to this professional-grade full frame DSLR that excels in every environment. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV offers incredible image quality, fast performance, and robust features for landscape, portrait, and wildlife photography. This is our go-to camera for capturing stunning details in every shot. Nate & I often license our photography (we’ve been featured in Travel + Leisure, SF Gate, Visit California and National Wildlife Federation to name a few), and as professional photographers, we think the Canon 5D Mark IV is the gold standard of cameras.
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park using Canon 5D Mark IV with 24-105mm Lens
4. Canon EF 24-105mm Lens
This versatile lens is ideal for everything from wide-angle landscapes to detailed close-ups. The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens is lightweight, durable, and delivers sharp, crisp images—perfect for those who want one lens that can do it all. This lens is definitely our most used and a total workhorse. If I was starting out with one lens for my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, this would be my top pick.
Capturing wildlife photography with Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera & 100-400mm Zoom Lens
Monterey Bay wildlife photo of humpback whale using Canon 5D Mark IV with 100-400mm Zoom Lens
5. Canon EF 100-400mm Zoom Lens
For wildlife photography, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lens is an absolute game-changer. Its extended zoom range allows you to capture subjects from a distance without sacrificing image quality, (making it perfect for spotting that elusive bear in Yosemite). From ocean wildlife swimming to capturing birds in flight, I’m always impressed by the crisp images this lens delivers.
Sequoia National Park photo using Canon 5D Mark IV with 11-24mm Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
Interior photography at Firefall Ranch Yosemite using Canon 5D Mark IV with 11-24mm Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
6. Canon EF 11-24mm Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
Looking to shoot breathtaking wide-angle shots? The Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L lens is perfect for capturing expansive vistas, towering trees, and dramatic skies. A must-have for anyone looking to photograph nature’s grandeur, this lens has allowed us to capture some incredible panoramic and astrophotography shots. As Yosemite and Sequoia locals, we’ve spent our fair share of time photographing the tallest, largest & oldest trees in the world, and this is always our go-to lens for the towering Redwoods and soaring sequoias. It’s also great for capturing hotel rooms and other interior shots.
Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR on Peak Design Travel Tripod in the High Sierra
7. Peak Design Travel Tripod
Compact, durable, and easy to set up, the Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod is a favorite among adventurers. It’s lightweight enough to carry on long hikes (which is important to us) yet sturdy enough to handle full frame DSLR cameras. If you’re looking for something even more lightweight, I’d recommend the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. Perfect for astrophotography and long exposures, it’s incredibly resilient...this tripod has spend countless hours stuffed in the snow and stabilized in the water, allowing us to capture the perfect shot. It also has a built-in adapter to hold iPhones and Androids, which has come in handy when trying to set up a timelapse in windy conditions.
8. Peak Design Everyday Camera Backpack
Professional gear can be very pricey, so we keep our gear organized and protected with the Peak Design Everyday Backpack. This camera bag features customizable compartments (which allow us to pack perfectly for each unique trip), side pockets (sized great for the Peak Design Tripod), weatherproof material, and comfortable straps, making it a reliable companion for any adventure. We’ve had our backpack for 3 years and its still performing as well as the day we purchased it. Every zipper, clasp and divider is in perfect condition after countless camping trips, astrophotography shoots in the desert, snowy mountain hikes, and open ocean sailing trips.
9. Lexar Professional CompactFlash 128GB Card
When shooting high-resolution photos or videos, reliable storage is non-negotiable. This Lexar Professional CompactFlash Card offers ample storage space and lightning-fast transfer speeds, ensuring you never miss a moment. We often like to shoot in bursts, ensuring we capture the just the right action-shot moment, and this card has no problem handling the rapid-fire captures.
Pro Tip: As professional photographers, capturing images is only half the job...keeping them organized and safe is equally critical, so we download and organize all our raw and final edits to our WD 2TB External Hard Drives, which work on both PC and Mac (requires reformatting, but it’s easy to do). Just last month, I had a tourism board reach out to license photos we captured 3 years ago, and having these hard drives organized allows us to quickly and easily access our past work without a problem.
10. Atumtek Selfie Stick Tripod for iPhone & Android
For quick, on-the-go content creation, the Atumtek Selfie Stick Tripod is a lifesaver. If you are just starting out on your photography journey, you may only capture photos and videos on your iPhone...and spoiler alert, I still capture a large amount of the videos for my instagram reels and YouTube videos on nothing more than my iPhone, so I always travel with this compact tripod. I often set my iPhone up to capture time-lapse videos while using our Canon DSLR. Compatible with both iPhone and Android smartphones, this lightweight, compact tripod is perfect for solo travelers capturing selfies, videos, or time-lapses, and it comes with an attached remote shutter I use often to capture the night sky or fun couples pictures with Nate.😉
Wildlife close-up of bison using Canon 5D Mark IV with 100-400mm Zoom Lens
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me today. If you have a favorite piece of gear that I’ve missed, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments and learn about what I can be adding to my equipment in the coming year. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Yosemite astrophotography using Canon 5D Mark IV with 11-24mm Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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What is the best photography gear for travel bloggers? What camera should I buy? As a content creator, I get asked these questions often, so today I'm sharing our top 10 photo gear guide for travel & adventure photographers & creators. Find out my favorite DSLR cameras for beginners & professionals, as well as other essentials, including tripods, camera bags, memory cards & action video cameras.