My Accessoires
Street photography is often about travelling light, staying alert and being ready when an unexpected moment unfolds. While the camera and lens form the heart of my setup, a small selection of carefully chosen accessories helps me work faster, more comfortably and with fewer distractions.
I regularly get asked questions about my photography gear. That is the reason I’ve compiled a list of my street photography accessoires. I don’t usually emphasize the gear aspect of my photography, but I hope this is helpful to someone. I am not sponsored. All my gear was acquired with my own funds.
Street photography has always taught me that less equipment often creates more freedom. When I walk through a city, I want my attention to be on people, light, movement and the small moments unfolding around me. The last thing I want is to be distracted by unnecessary equipment.
My camera and lens therefore form only the beginning of my street photography setup. Around them is a carefully selected collection of accessories that make working on the street easier, faster and more intuitive. Some are purely practical. Others give me new ways of interpreting what I see.
I also believe that accessories should never become a reason to carry more than necessary. Everything I take onto the street has to justify the space it occupies in my bag. It should solve a problem, make me more mobile or offer a genuine creative possibility. If it does none of those things, I probably do not need it.
Because ultimately, street photography is not about how much equipment you carry. It is about being present, recognising possibilities and being ready when an ordinary moment suddenly becomes a photograph.
L-Plate Brackets
An L-plate is an L-shaped metal bracket fitted closely around the bottom and side of your camera. Both sides normally have an Arca-Swiss compatible profile, so you can attach either the bottom or side directly to a compatible tripod head.
Its biggest advantage is switching between landscape and portrait orientation. Without an L-plate, you usually tilt the tripod head 90° into its side notch. This moves the camera away from the centre of the tripod. With an L-plate, you simply remove the camera, rotate it 90°, and clamp the other side of the plate.
The result is better balance, greater stability and — importantly — almost exactly the same camera position.
Cable remote
Pressing the shutter button can introduce a tiny amount of camera movement. At normal shutter speeds this rarely matters. But when the camera is locked on a tripod and you're making exposures of several seconds, avoiding physical contact with the camera is preferable.
A cable release also lets you watch the scene instead of the camera. This is actually the bigger advantage for street and city scape photography. You can frame your composition, step slightly away from the camera. And observe people approaching, releasing the shutter at exactly the moment the elements come together.
Spare batteries
Spare camera batteries are one of the least exciting but most essential accessories I carry. They don't change the photograph creatively, but they ensure that I can keep photographing when the interesting moments arrive.
For street photography, spare batteries are especially important because I may spend many hours walking and observing without knowing when the best photographic opportunity will occur. Mirrorless cameras can consume considerable power through the electronic viewfinder, rear screen, autofocus and image stabilisation. Cold weather can reduce effective battery life even further.
Spare memory cards
Spare memory cards are another small accessory that I consider essential whenever I go out photographing. They provide extra capacity, but more importantly, they give me a backup when a card becomes full, damaged or unexpectedly unreadable.
For street photography, I prefer carrying several reliable cards rather than one very large card. This allows me to spread photographs across multiple cards and reduces the risk of having an entire day’s work stored in one place. A small protective memory-card case keeps unused and completed cards organised and safe from dust, moisture and physical damage.
For sports photography, spare cards are even more important because high-speed continuous shooting can generate hundreds or thousands of images during a single event. Fast cards also help the camera clear its buffer quickly, particularly when shooting RAW files or long bursts.
Lens cloth
Lens cloths are among the smallest and simplest accessories in my camera bag, but also among the ones I use most frequently. A clean front element is especially important when photographing in strong sunlight, where fingerprints, dust or moisture can increase flare and reduce contrast.
It becomes particularly useful when photographing in rain or mist, when small droplets can quickly collect on the front element or filter. When shooting towards streetlights or the sun, even a small smear can become surprisingly visible in the final photograph.
I prefer carrying two or three individually stored microfiber cloths rather than relying on a single one. Once a cloth becomes wet or dirty, continuing to use it can simply move dirt around the lens instead of removing it.
Swiss army knife
a Swiss Army knife may not seem like an obvious photography accessory, but it can be surprisingly useful to have in a camera bag. Its small tools can help with simple adjustments and minor problems that inevitably occur when working away from home.
A screwdriver can be useful for tightening a loose tripod plate, L-bracket, camera grip or other accessory, while the scissors are handy for cutting tape, cord or small pieces of material. Tweezers can help remove small pieces of dirt from equipment, although I would never use metal tools close to a camera sensor or delicate optical surfaces.
For street and travel photography, I particularly appreciate that several practical tools are combined in one compact item without taking up much space. It can be useful for small repairs to a camera bag or strap and for countless non-photographic situations encountered during a day on location.
I see it primarily as a problem-solving tool rather than a photographic tool. Most days I will never need it, but when something becomes loose or needs a quick adjustment, it can save the day.
Business cards
Street and sports photography constantly bring me into contact with people, and sometimes a brief encounter develops into a conversation about my work. A business card provides a simple and personal way to share who I am and where my photography can be found.
In street photography, I particularly value having a card available after photographing or speaking with someone. It allows people to discover my work afterwards and provides reassurance that there is a real photographer behind the camera. It can also turn a spontaneous street portrait into a meaningful connection rather than simply a passing encounter.
During sports photography, business cards are useful when meeting athletes, organisers, coaches, journalists or other professionals around an event. Instead of exchanging details on a phone while working, I can simply hand someone a card and continue photographing.