How to Capture Stunning Summer Memories: 7 Must-Know Travel Photography Tips

Summer is the perfect time to embark on photography adventures, capturing the beauty of new places and creating lasting memories. To ensure your travel photography goes smoothly, it’s best to plan your storage and memory card needs and stay prepared. Here are our most important tips for keeping your gear organized and your photos safe while traveling.

1. Fast and reliable memory cards are a must

Selecting memory cards known for their reliability is key to safeguarding your data and avoiding card failure. At Exascend, our memory cards boast impressive speed and reliability, freeing you to focus on your creative endeavors without the worry of losing footage. That said, we recommend carrying extra memory cards as a precautionary measure. When traveling, it’s all too easy for items to go astray, especially considering the compact size of memory cards, so it’s always wise to be prepared.

2. Choose memory cards with large storage capacities

When you’re out exploring new places, the last thing you want is to constantly worry about running out of space on your memory card. Opting for memory cards with ample storage capacity will allow you to take more photos and videos between card changes. High-capacity cards are especially useful if you’re shooting in high-resolution formats like RAW or 4K/8K.

Our SD cards and microSD cards cards offer up to 512GB and 1TB high capacity, respectively, while our CFexpress cards on the more professional end tops out at 2TB capacity.

3. Bring backup batteries for your cameras

Many of Exascend’s memory cards, such as the Vigor CFexpress Type B, are designed to consume minimal power, making them ideal for on-the-go. However, camera batteries should also be taken into consideration. It is always a good idea to pack backup batteries for your cameras. Extended shoots and the use of power-hungry features like live view, video recording, and in-camera image stabilization can drain batteries quickly. Having spare batteries on hand ensures you won’t miss shots due to dead batteries.

4. Weatherproof memory cards for hot or humid places

Traveling to hot or humid destinations poses unique challenges for your photography gear. To safeguard your photos, choose memory cards that are durable and weatherproof. For example, Exascend’s Catalyst and Essential series SD cards are waterproof, dust-resistant, impact-resistant, X-ray-safe, and magnetic-resistant, designed to withstand harsh conditions. These rugged memory cards ensure that your data remains safe even in extreme environments.

5. Organize your gear with a memory card holder or pouch

Organization is key to a hassle-free photography experience. Use a memory card holder or pouch to categorize and store your cards. This not only makes it easier to find the right card when you need it, but also protects your cards from damage and loss. A well-organized pouch helps you quickly access fresh memory cards and safely store used ones.

6. Use zip-lock bags for accessories

To further protect your photography accessories, consider using zip-lock bags. Separate your memory cards, card readers, batteries, cables, and other small items into different bags. This simple organization method keeps your cables and adapters dry and prevents them from getting mixed up or lost. It’s a practical way to manage your gear, especially when traveling in unpredictable climates.

7. Regularly back up to an external drive

Travel memories are invaluable, and the last thing you want is to lose them. Regularly back up your content to an external storage device, such as a portable SSD. Portable SSDs are compact, durable, and offer fast transfer speeds, making them ideal for travel. They also tend to come in much larger capacities than memory cards. Exascend’s award-winning Explorer and Gecko Portable SSDs, for instance, offer up to 8TB storage and IP68 ratings, meaning they are completely dust and waterproof and can withstand immersion under water for up to 30 minutes.

Backups ensure that your photos are safe, even if something happens to your memory cards.

Final words

Plan your photography essentials carefully – especially memory cards and portable storage – to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel photography experience. Preparation and organization will help you capture everything your summer adventures have to offer without worrying about memory card failures. And most importantly – have fun photographing!