Travel Clothing/Make-up tips for Girlfriend Photographers

It’s that time again – the beginning of the travel year in earnest.  I’ll be traveling to 4 countries in the next three months which requires some necessities for the road.  Tomorrow, I am heading to Baja with National Geographic Expeditions.  One of the most important things  to consider in the tropics is SPF protection.  After I complete my assignment in Mexico, I’ll be headed to our Maui headquarters.  Both places require sun protection but also a little bit of dress code.  Some of my favorite pieces have been with me for a long time, so it was time to find replacements.  I hope that this blog post helps all of the women photographers out there who might be in the same boat. 🙂

The first thing I’d like to discuss briefly is skin care and a wee bit of make-up.  These are the items that I generally pack in my carry-on:

cosmetics for the camera bag

I’ve found the Neutrogena ultra-sheer SPF 55 sunscreen to be the best for my face.  It seems to adhere well, isn’t greasy and doesn’t burn my skin like so many other products I’ve tried over the years.  The absolute best sunscreen I recently discovered is the Susan Posnick brush on sunscreen.  It’s a full spectrum powder sunscreen, so you don’t have to worry about it being confiscated by TSA.  It also is very handy to carry around and apply often, particularly to the nose, and it works.  It fits in my sunglasses case for protection from crushing.  Once you buy the brush, you can buy refills as needed which saves money and packaging.  The tiny Vaseline  is the best for dry, chapped lips and although it doesn’t offer sun protection, it keeps my lips from getting too chapped by wax based products.  When I’m working on ships, wind is a factor and the Vaseline prevents wind burn and can be applied to other areas on the skin.  I prefer the cocoa butter version, but the regular does just fine.  For a quick dress-up look, BLINC mascara can’t be beat.  It washes off with warm water and doesn’t tend to flake, so you don’t have to carry any strange cosmetic cleaners to get the stuff off at the end of the day.  These mini-dental floss dispensers are about the size of a quarter and for those long haul flights, it’s a great way to keep dental hygiene on the up and up.

I’ve been buying and testing SPF clothing for several years and was disappointed when Patagonia discontinued their fly fishing tops for women.  The ones they’ve re-introduced this season aren’t nearly as tailored as the older models, but luckily, Kuhl has a top that is very similar to the old Patagonia model.  It’s tailored for a flattering fit and has two zipper pockets for whatever you want to keep on your person such as currency, identification, keys, etc.  It’s also SPF 50 and has roll-up sleeves with a blue lining.  I chose white because of the heat factor for my next few destinations.  I like to layer these over some kind of tank top to help wick moisture away from my body.  An REI tank top that breaths but is form fitting does the trick.  Not only does it add a little color to the outfit, it can double as a sports bra for those of us who are, ahem, not as endowed as others.  Hiking in the islands in the Sea of Cortez can be very hot, so I’ve found that a skirt is often more comfortable than pants if there aren’t many sticky things around, (hello, cactus).  Cargo skirts, which are my absolute favorite for hiking, are starting to go out of fashion, but Marmot has one available now.  This particular skirt is also SPF 50, but it sits just above the knees, so sunscreen or other coverage will be necessary.  The waist band is soft which is great because I’m often using a holster type camera bag and sometimes other materials can cause chafing.

The last detail for the outfit is sun protection for the ears and neck, but can also be used as a headband or other head protection.  Buff makes a 50SPF gator.  It’s pictured below and not only adds a little color to the outfit, but keeps you from getting a red neck from either the sun or chafing camera straps.

Kuhl 50 spf top with side zippers and a tailored fit for women

An REI tank top to layer underneath really helps to wick sweat away from the torso

Marmot’s short cargo skirt keeps things cool while allowing you to zip in a driver’s license, keys or passport

Buff spf 50 gator for a versatile look – either around the neck or as a head band for sun protection

Voila! Cute and practical outfit for warm weather shooting. Just add whatever leg-wear is appropriate

Hasta pronto and a hui ho!  Thank you for visiting my blog.

I hope that you found the information helpful.  I am not sponsored in any way by any of these companies, so the opinions of this blog are solely my own.