Unearth The Voyage
Travel photography should be fun, not frustrating. But shaky videos, blurry zoom shots, and bad lighting can ruin even the best moments. The good news? A few smart phone add-ons can fix these problems without weighing down your bag or draining your wallet.
1. DJI Osmo Mobile 6 (phone gimbal)
Shaky walking footage makes viewers seasick, and nobody wants to watch that. A gimbal smooths out every bump and wobble, turning jittery clips into cinematic gold.
The Osmo Mobile 6 folds down for easy packing and includes a built-in extension rod. That means higher angles, easier selfies, and stable pans without needing extra gear. Whether you’re filming a sunset or a bustling market, this stabilizer keeps everything buttery smooth and watchable.
2. Peak Design Mobile Tripod (MagSafe/SlimLink)
Carrying a bulky tripod on vacation feels like overkill. But group shots, long exposures, and sunset timelapses all need stability.
Peak Design’s Mobile Tripod solves this by attaching magnetically to the back of your phone using MagSafe or SlimLink. It holds your device in portrait or landscape mode and folds incredibly thin for travel. Slip it in your pocket or bag, and you’ll always have a stable setup ready when the moment strikes.
3. JOBY GripTight PRO 2 GorillaPod (mini tripod + grip + wrap mount)
Sometimes you need a tripod. Other times, you need something weirder. Like wrapping your phone around a railing for a unique angle or holding it steady on uneven ground.
The GripTight PRO 2 GorillaPod does all three jobs: mini tripod, grip handle, and flexible wrap mount. Its bendable legs grip poles, branches, and railings, giving you creative shots that flat surfaces can’t deliver. Versatile, compact, and totally worth the space in your bag.
4. Moment 58mm Tele Lens (T-Series)
Digital zoom turns crisp photos into pixelated mush. Optical zoom, however, keeps things sharp.
Moment’s 58mm Tele Lens attaches to your phone and brings subjects 2x closer without sacrificing quality. Perfect for portraits, architectural details, and compressed landscape shots when you can’t physically move closer. It’s a game-changer for travel photographers who want reach without lugging around a DSLR. Just clip it on, and suddenly your phone has serious zoom power.
5. PolarPro LiteChaser Pro Case + Filter System (plus optional Grip)
Water glare, washed-out skies, and window reflections can wreck otherwise perfect shots. Filters fix these problems before you even press the shutter.
PolarPro’s LiteChaser Pro system combines a protective iPhone case with a slide-lock filter mount. Swap polarizers, ND filters, or UV filters in seconds. Add the optional grip for better handling and a Bluetooth shutter button. Instead of spending hours editing out reflections, you prevent them entirely. Smart photographers pack filters, not just apps.
6. Lume Cube Panel Mini (pocket LED light)
Museums ban flash. Hotel rooms have terrible overhead lighting. Night markets are too dark for phone cameras. Travel lighting is a mess, and natural light isn’t always an option.
The Lume Cube Panel Mini is a compact LED panel that fits in your pocket. Adjustable brightness settings and an LCD screen let you control light output and check battery life at a glance. Whether you’re filming a vlog or lighting a portrait, this tiny panel saves shots that would otherwise be unusable.
7. Anker MagGo USB-C Adapter (magnetic SD/microSD card reader + power)
Shooting tons of video or high-res photos? Your phone’s storage fills up fast, and cloud uploads eat through data plans.
Anker’s MagGo adapter attaches magnetically to MagSafe-compatible phones and adds SD and microSD card slots. Offload files on the go without needing a laptop. It even includes a USB-C port for power delivery, so you can charge while transferring. No more deleting photos mid-trip to make room. Just swap cards and keep shooting like a pro.
8. SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe (Lightning + USB-C)
Losing your phone mid-trip means losing every photo. Backing up to the cloud requires Wi-Fi, and public networks aren’t always trustworthy.
The iXpand Flash Drive Luxe has both Lightning and USB-C connectors, making it easy to move files between iPhones, iPads, and USB-C devices. It’s physical backup insurance you can hold in your hand. Toss it in your bag, and you’ll never worry about a single device holding your entire trip hostage. Simple, fast, and reliable.
9. CamKix Bluetooth Shutter Remote
Tapping the screen to take a photo shakes the phone. Timers work, but they’re annoying and imprecise. Group shots become awkward sprints back to the camera.
A Bluetooth shutter remote fixes all of this. The CamKix remote pairs with your phone and lets you trigger the shutter without touching it. Great for group photos, long exposures on a tripod, or any situation where stability matters. Tiny, cheap, and effective—it’s the easiest upgrade you’ll ever make.
