Essential Accessories for Photography & Shooting the Great Outdoors
Photography is a beautiful art form that lets us get out and capture the world as only we see it. But if you really want to get the most out of your outdoor shooting sessions, you need the right photographer tools.
It’ll be much easier for you to capture your vision of whatever outdoor location you visit if you have the right gear with you. That’s why we’ve put together this article. It highlights the best camera accessories for shooting the great outdoors to help you figure out what you need to start taking better pictures.
Keep reading to learn more.
Essential accessories for photography outdoors
Before starting, it’s worth noting that accessories for photographers can vary significantly in quality. You don’t always need to buy the best of the best. But if you want the best photography accessories, it’s probably not a good idea to go with the cheapest option either.
With that in mind, let’s get into the list.
A great camera bag
The first thing you need is a good camera bag to fit all of these accessories into. Ideally, you want something with dedicated pockets for different types of accessories. That way, you don’t have to shove all of your gear into the same pocket and just hope that none of it scratches or breaks.
Cleaning products
Cleaning products are also really important to have while shooting outdoor locations. The best things to have with you are a microfiber cloth to clean your lens and a lens dust blower to get that pesky outdoor dust away from it.
You may also want to bring a specialty camera-cleaning solution with you just to make sure you can get rid of any dirt or grime that gets on your lens. Without this, your shooting day could be over before you want if your camera gets dirty and you can’t clean it.
Solar generator
Many people who shoot photography outdoors like to camp for several days so they can really get to know a location. But if you want to do that, you’ll have to find a way to make sure that your camera battery, phone battery, GPS battery, and drone battery all stay charged throughout your trip.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by investing in a solar generator. These harness the power of the sun to charge a wide variety of gear in a safe, quiet, and clean way. Here are some options if you’re interested:
- Solar Generator 500– A classic generator with increased power for longer trips and bigger devices. It only weighs 13.3 pounds, making it easy to carry wherever you go.
- Solar Generator 1,000– Has a 1,002 Wh capacity so it can charge devices with higher power consumption needs as well as smaller devices for longer amounts of time
Each of these products comes with a set of portable solar panels and a portable power station. You can use the solar panels to recharge the power station on your outdoor excursion so that you have a constant supply of power throughout it.
When you invest in a solar generator, it’ll enable you to use your other important photography accessories as much as you want without having to worry about them running out of power.
Ultra-wide-angle lens
If you go through the trouble of trekking all the way out to a secluded outdoor location, you want to make sure that you can capture it in all of its glory. That’s why it’s also a good idea to bring an ultra-wide-angle lens with you on your trip. Having one of these will let you capture a bigger slice of all of that nature in a single picture.
Collapsible reflectors
Lighting is everything in photography. But it can be really hard to perfect it when you’re in an unfamiliar and unpredictable outdoor environment. That’s why it’s also a good idea to bring a set of collapsible reflectors with you.
These will help you optimize the lighting conditions for your outdoor photos – regardless of what the sun is doing while you’re trying to take beautiful pictures. And they’re collapsible so they’ll fit into your backpack without being a bother to carry.
Handheld GPS
If you’re going to be getting adventurous with your outdoor photos, you need to make sure that you don’t get lost in the wilderness. Sure, modern cell phones have integrated GPS features that can tell you where you’re at. But these only work when you have cell service – something that’s definitely not guaranteed in the wilderness.
That’s why you should also carry a handheld GPS device with you. These are more reliable than cell phone GPS and will give you an extra layer of security to make sure that you don’t get lost and put yourself in danger.
A great backpack
If you’re going to be carrying all this gear with you, then you’ll also need a great backpack to put it all in. It’s a good idea to invest in a backpack that’s waterproof and full of dedicated pockets for different types of gear. That way, you won’t have to worry about your accessories getting damaged no matter where you go.
Remote shutter release
Remote shutter releases can unlock more opportunities for you to get creative with your outdoor photography sessions. They’re one of 2022’s must-have camera accessories because they let you take long-exposure shots as well as multiple shots in a sequence without disturbing the placement of your camera.
Multiple memory cards
If you’re thinking about must-have photography accessories, multiple memory cards should also be on your list. When you go through the trouble of getting to an out-of-the-way outdoor location, you’re going to want to take a ton of pictures of it, and memory cards can fill up faster than you think when taking high-quality photos.
Spare batteries
When you think about photography accessories for beginners, spare batteries are often what comes to mind. You definitely want to make sure that you have at least one of these while taking outdoor photos.
The last thing that you want is to run out of power just as you’re getting started. It’s why this photographers’ accessory is another must-have.
Other things to keep in mind while taking outdoor pictures
We’ve covered 2022’s must-have camera accessories and recommended lots of different photography tools and equipment. But these aren’t the only things that you need to consider while taking outdoor pictures.
Here are some other things to keep in mind that can help you get more out of your outdoor photo shooting sessions:
- Carry a tripod for clearer photos
- Don’t be afraid to add people to your pictures to capture the sense of scale
- Simplify your pictures to focus on the most important elements
- Focus on changing your point of view to make your photos unique
- Try taking action shots with techniques like varying your shutter speeds and panning with a moving subject
Outdoor photography accessory FAQs
What accessories do I need for landscape photography?
Here are some of the best accessories to bring with you if you’re going to be focusing on landscape photography:
- Rain covers, a lens hood, and a waterproof backpack
- Extra batteries and memory cards
- A camera-cleaning kit
- Safe travel gear like a handheld GPS device
What accessories do I need for wild photography?
If you want to take pictures of wildlife, then here are some accessories that will help you do it more effectively:
- Headlamp
- Binoculars
- Long-range camera lens
- Telephoto lens
What devices can a portable power generator charge?
A portable power generator can charge a wide variety of photography and camping gear, including the following devices:
- Camera, cell phone, laptop, and drone batteries
- GoPros
- Electric stove
- Coffee maker
- Television
- And much more
What accessories should I buy for my drone for professional photography?
Using a drone for outdoor photography can help you capture stunning pictures that others aren’t able to get. Here are some accessories that will help you get more out of your usage of a drone for outdoor photography:
- High-capacity memory card
- Drone carrying case
- Spare battery
- Landing gear
- Spare propellers
How do you choose the right power station for your photography?
Picking the right portable power station for your outdoor photography adventure is all about understanding your personal needs. The main decision that you need to make is how much power you need and this will depend on the amount of gear that you’re bringing with you and how long you’re going for.
For example, if you’re just going for a day trip or an overnight excursion, the Solar Generator 300 should be enough for you. But if you’re going for several days or longer, then upgrading to either the Solar Generator 500 or the Solar Generator 1,000 could be a better option.
Portable power generators from Jackery make it easier to shoot the great outdoors
If you’re ready to start getting more out of your outdoor photography excursions, Jackery can help you do it. Our line of affordable, powerful solar generators can help you extend your trips without having to worry about battery life.
Take a look at our solar generator product page to learn more about how we can help you unlock your full potential as an outdoor photographer.