Traveling abroad with camera equipment is always a risk, but taking along nice equipment to document your trip is worth the effort. I’ve been fortunate to travel to 16 countries as a photographer without any major incidents (knock on wood). I believe this is a combination of luck and strict adherence to tips I have received from friends and colleagues over the years. This article includes a number of tips to ensure that the equipment you take abroad comes back safely and securely! 

I often photograph from boats or use boats as a method of transport in foreign countries. It is important to be prepared with dry bags and pelican cases for your equipment.

Dealing with Customs

Depending on your destination, customs officials may try to charge you a tax or deposit on your camera equipment when you enter their country. Before going abroad, you should register your equipment with Customs and Border Protection at a United States Port of Entry. They will provide you with a signed document that customs officials abroad can check upon entry and exit. This proves that you did not purchase the equipment abroad and that you are not bringing the equipment to sell. 

I work in many environments that are very humid and rainy. After just a few hours in this cloud forest, I make sure to put my camera equipment in silica to prevent fungus from growing.

To register your equipment, just follow these steps: 

Step 1: Locate the Port of Entry nearest you. 

Step 2: Create a spreadsheet listing each piece of equipment with a serial number if available. Include your laptop!

Step 3: Bring your equipment and two copies of the spreadsheet to the Port of Entry office for inspection.

Step 4: Always carry the signed document with you while traveling and keep a copy at home.

When I take street photographs in foreign countries, I minimize the amount of equipment I take with me and I am aware of my surroundings. I also keep extra lenses in my backpack and only change in an unnoticeable location. Flashing around a bag full of lenses is not a good idea! 

Camera Equipment Insurance

For full peace of mind, I recommend insuring your camera equipment for travel abroad. Some homeowners insurance covers equipment, but you should check your policy to make sure it covers travel outside of the United States. 

I have a separate policy through the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) and Rand Insurance. The policy is built for photographers and protects against breakage, theft, fire, and vandalism. I’ve had a great experience with the company. For more information, go to http://www.randinsurance.com/ and click on the "NANPA" link.

In October, I spent a few weeks trekking into a new conservation concession with a group of park rangers. My equipment could have been damaged on many occasions, but knowing that I had camera insurance helped me relax and do my best work.

Keeping Equipment Dry and Clean

Humidity and cleanliness can be a challenge in some travel destinations. Having worked in the tropics for a number of years, I have developed a system that keeps cameras from developing fungus and from giving out in the humidity. I use a backpack to carry my camera equipment in the field during the day. At night, I transfer each lens and camera to a plastic freezer bag filled with desiccant. Loose silica can be messy, so I recommend buying a few 40-gram silica dry packs. These protect up to three cubic meters of space and reactivate in an oven. 

For my laptop, I use a Pelican case. My 15” MacBook Pro fits perfectly in the Pelican 1490 and the case fits on airplanes. Silica packs also fit in the case.

Almost everyone brings a camera on his or her travels. If you are smart and safe, you will have a fantastic time and make a lot of great pictures to take home!

Know the Tricks

Before you visit a country, it is also a good idea to research common theft techniques. These strategies are usually covered in guidebooks or can be read about on embassy websites. For instance, while walking around with my camera in two cities, I have had a liquid substance sprayed on my shirt. Quickly after being sprayed, a man has stepped out of a nearby shop and offered to clean my shirt with water. This technique is frequently used to rob tourists.

Be Smart and Enjoy the Trip!

Remember not to flash around big lenses or to leave equipment out in the open in your hotel room.  And, it is always a good idea to say you are a tourist, not a photographer. Saying “I’m here on a photography trip” is the same as saying, “I’m carrying lots of expensive electronics – want to rob me?” These tips may seem obvious, but I have frequently seen and heard tourists making these mistakes. If you are smart about traveling with camera equipment, you should not have any problems. Have a great time on your next trip!