Confessions of the Family Photographer: The Tech That Keeps Everyone's Devices Alive on Vacation
Updated: Oct 1
Somewhere along the way I became the designated family photographer, videographer, flight-tracker, and keeper of everyone's battery percentage. If there's a photo of a moment, it's because I took it. Which also means my phone is always the first one to tap out, usually right around lunch.
I have long arms — I affectionately call them my giraffe arms — and for years every single family photo was a slightly-off-angle selfie, because I was the one holding the camera. A little tripod quietly fixed that. Now I actually exist in our vacation photos, which I think my kids will appreciate someday.
And between my phone, the kids' travel phones (locked all the way down to Netflix, Disney, and two approved contacts, thank you very much), plus our watches and earbuds, there is a LOT to keep charged. So this is my whole keep-everyone-alive kit.
One pro tip I learned the hard way: pack a couple of spare batteries for the tripod remote. There is nothing more deflating than setting up the perfect family shot and realizing the little clicker is dead.
Keeping Everything Powered
Portable chargers are a godsend for me, specifically, because I'm the one taking every picture and video, checking flight times, and keeping the group chat updated, which means my battery is always dropping faster than everyone else's.
I've tried more chargers than I'd like to admit, and my mini portable charger is the one that actually stuck: it's small enough to disappear into my bag, the reviews are genuinely great, and it fast-charges when I'm down to five minutes before boarding.
It's also come in handy for charging the kids' locked-down travel phones, their
headphones, or the sound machine on a long travel day. At night I don't want to
be hunting for outlets or untangling three cords in a hotel room, so our 3-in-1 wireless charging station handles my phone, watch, and earbuds all on one cable while everyone sleeps, which means one less thing to think about before the next day of picture-taking starts.
Capturing It All
The phone tripod with remote is the one responsible for me actually appearing in our vacation photos now, giraffe arms and all. My phone has every single vacation photo on it, so the moment we're near a pool, the ocean, or a splash pad, it goes straight into my waterproof phone case, because losing an afternoon of
pictures to one rogue wave is not a mistake I'm willing to make twice.
Confessions From the Mirror
Getting everyone ready and out the door is its own kind of chore, so I stick the MagSafe car mount right on my mirror while I'm getting ready — it holds my phone hands-free so I can play music, watch something, or record whatever chaos is happening behind me (there's always chaos happening behind me).
It's not exactly what it was designed for, but the family photographer never really clocks out.
If you're the one who always ends up documenting everyone else's good time, this is your reminder to keep yourself powered up too (and to get in the frame once in a while).
Grab the printable so nothing gets left on the charger at home.
Below is the full packing list, broken down by category so you can work through it section by section, or just skim for whatever you're missing.
Wherever I've got a product I actually use and recommend, the item is clickable and will take you straight to my pick on Amazon — I'm still adding links as I go, so not everything is linked yet.
One thing I want to say up front: you do not need to pack every single item on this list. Nobody does. Think of this as a helpful starting point, not a mandate. Pull from it based on what actually makes sense for your family's life stage.
If your kids are older, skip the swim vests and the airplane bed. If there's no pool where you're headed, skip the floaties. This is here to make the "what the heck do I even pack" spiral easier, not to give you one more thing you have to fully check off.
And if you'd rather have this whole thing as a printable to check off by hand, grab your free copy below before you dive in.
This checklist below uses USA Amazon Links. The Canadian Version is coming!!
Want this whole list in one place?
Grab the free printable version — one page, ready to check off by hand, perfect for taping inside your suitcase lid or sticking on the fridge while you pack.
Footwear
♡ Walking Shoes
♡ Dress Shoes
♡ Sandals
♡ Flip Flops
♡ Sneakers
Clothing
♡ T-Shirts
♡ Casual Shirts
♡ Tank Tops
♡ Rompers
♡ Belt
♡ Dresses
♡ Skirts
♡ Shorts
♡ Pants
♡ Bras/Undershirts
♡ Underwear
♡ Socks
♡ Work Out Clothes
♡ Shawl/Pashmina
♡ Jewelry
♡ Comfy Travel Outfit (Click Here to get 15% Off)
♡ Sweater(ClickHere to get 15% Off!)
Toiletries & Personal Care
♡ Toothbrush
♡ Toothpaste
♡ Floss
♡ Deoderant
♡ Face Wash/Cleanser
♡ Cotton Pads
♡ Moisturizer
♡ Make-Up
♡ Razor
♡ Shaving Cream
♡ Shampoo
♡ Conditioner
♡ Body Wash
♡ Soap
♡ Hair Products
♡ Perfume/Cologne
♡ Bobbi Pins
♡ Q-Tips
♡ Shower Puff
♡ Hair Clip
♡ Period Care
♡ Kids Shampoo
♡ Kids Body Wash
♡ Contact Lenses
Health/Safety & First Aid
♡ Cold/Flu Meds
♡ Antacid
♡ Allergy Meds
♡ Prescriptions
♡ Dish Soap
♡ Kids Magnesium (Click here to get 15% off)
Hydration/Snacks & Wellness
♡ Trail Mix
♡ Snacks
Beach & Swim Gear
Tech/Charging & Entertainment
♡ Air Tags
♡ Go Pro
♡ E-Reader
Sleep/Comfort/Packing & Laundry
♡ Eye Mask
♡ Umbrella
Documents/Money & Pre-Trip Prep
♡ Passports
♡ Boarding Passes
♡ Hotel Reservations
♡ Rental Car Info
♡ Itinerary
♡ Emegency Contacts
♡ Cash/Credit
♡ Talk to Pharmacist about Travel Vaccinations
♡ Exchange Currency Before Trip
♡ House Light Automations
♡ Travel Insurance Documents
♡ Health Insurance Documents
♡ Download Customs App (if applicable)
♡ Copy of Imp Documents
♡ Copy of Documents Left with Trusted Person
♡ Pet/Plant/House Sitter Information
♡ Mail Hold/Stop Delivery
♡ Final Home Check - Doors Locked
Made it through the whole list?
Grab the printable version so you're not scrolling back through this post every time you pack. One page, free, ready to check off by hand.
Made it through the whole list?
Grab the printable version so you're not scrolling back through this post every time you pack. One page, free, ready to check off by hand.
At the end of the day, none of this is really about the list. It's about getting out the door with a little less stress, so the trip itself can actually feel like a trip and not just a logistics project.
Because the part that actually matters is everything that happens after the packing is done — sandy toes, sunburned noses, someone begging for five more minutes in the water, the photo you didn't plan to take that ends up being your favorite one.
However much of this list you actually use, and however this trip goes, I hope it gives your family exactly what you're hoping for.
Before you go...
Don't forget your free printable copy of this checklist — perfect for taping inside your suitcase lid so you've always got it on hand.
If there's one thing you'll learn about me, it's that I love finding things that make life feel a little easier. Whether that's a travel essential, a parenting hack, a cozy self-care find, or something that simply makes me think, "Why didn't I know about this sooner?"
I'm grateful you're here and I hope you found something helpful. Wishing you comfort, calm, and a little less overwhelm wherever life takes you.
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