The best camera bag for women of course depends on what you need it to do. Are you looking for a crossbody camera bag, something that’s small, cute and stylish so you look good whilst taking pictures, or do you need a large camera bag that looks professional and is practical? The photography industry has typically been advertised to men, with the change in societal norms and the rise in influencer culture, this has largely (and thankfully) changed. As the father of a daughter, I’m glad the world is moving towards a position of equal opportunity, and that has to be seen across all things, education, advertising etc. Big brands now seem ore inclined to market how their product fits into your lifestyle, whether it be through shooting videos for YouTube, taking pictures of your children or documenting birthdays and Christmases. This is good.
I’m assuming the market of female photographers remains quite small as there doesn’t seem to be a huge range to choose from in terms of camera bags that were specifically made for women. That being said there are a few to choose from that marry style and function, as well as being lightweight and in a variety of colours. For some large camera bags, the size of the clasps and the rugged nature of the bag itself is something of a necessity as they are designed to carry heavy gear, take a beating and last for years. In my career as a photographer I have only ever needed to purchase one bag. In 2009 I bought a Lowepro, and only this year has one of the zips broken, so it pays in the long run to invest in a quality piece of kit. That being said your needs may change as your career evolves. You may start needed a large camera bag and then eventually want a camera bag that looks like a purse.
If you make a purchase from the links in this post I will make a commission, this money is used to preserve old growth forests in the UK, I hope this is ok with you.
This list is a mixture of camera bags, some are fashionable, others are pure function. Depending on your gear needs I’m sure you’ll find a bag that fits the bill. Whether you need a crossbody camera bag to carry one SLR on your daily walk or if you need large camera bag to transport multiple cameras and lenses, I’ll hopefully be able to point you in the right direction.
I’ve broken them down into the following order:
- stylish camera bags for women
- professional travel camera bags for women
- affordable camera bags for women
- large camera bags for women
Hopefully this makes it easier to navigate to the bag that you want!
Stylish camera bags for women
Introducing the beautifully designed and crafted Tog Bag. A stylish camera bag that is cool, sleek and can house plenty of gear for the city photographer on the move. Need a bag that holds all your stuff and that doesn’t look like a camera bag? This is the one. Whilst I’m an advocate for buying rugged gear that will last, the problem is, if you buy a bag that can hold two cameras, three lenses and all sorts of accessories, chances are you will fill it. Having a smaller, lighter bag forces you to much more realistic about you should be taking out with you on your photography trip. This not only means that you wont overload the bag and ruin it’s shape, but it also means you wont be carrying anywhere near as much weight, which your back, neck and shoulders will thank you for in the long run. Not only is this bag super cool but to top it all off this is a vegan leather camera bag, so you can get your insta snaps whilst knowing you’re contributing to a better planet. Handy Velcro dividers means that if you’re planning on taking a single DSLR and lens out for the day you can reconfigure the insides to hold your laptop, a waterproof, phone and purse so you only need one bag all day long. TIP – check the colour when purchasing as the stock rotates so it may be black, brown or grey, check first to be sure.
Gracie Mint Stylish Camera Bag for Women
Next up is the Gracie bag in a cool mint colour. Stylish and practical this bag has ample room to be used to carry your cameras as well as anything else you’ll need on a day trip. The zip across the top of the bag makes access easy in case you’re moving from location to location and want to easily take your camera out and place it back in again with zero fuss. These stylish camera bags serve a dual purpose as they don’t look like camera bags so will make you less of a target on public transport. The Gracie can easily hold a camera, two lenses an iPad and a jumper/waterproof so there’s more than enough space for everything you’ll need for a day trip. The front two pockets are magnetic and are a good place to hold any memory cards or smaller accessories such as filters. The bag itself is leather so it’s hard wearing, but given the city chic style of the bag you’ll want to keep it in as good a condition as possible. Such is the problem with lighter colours, they don’t take on the aged look so well. If you want something that’s affordable for the coming spring summer season then this is perfect. If you’re looking for a bag that will take a beating and be just as good in ten years, maybe check out a darker leather bag, or something from Lowepro.
The smallest of the stylish camera bags on this list, the megagear bag from etsy is the perfect companion for the natural light photographer who knows they’ll only need one camera and one lens all day long. When choosing a bag one needs to be realistic about how it will be used. Often we get ourselves ready for the day ad think ‘I’m going into the city today, hmm what if I’m cold, what if it rains, what if i need a tripod’. We overthink it, and then overpack. This bag is well made and durable, and will likely suit a hobbyist photographer who someone on holiday taking a day trip out from the hotel. It’s lightweight and looks good in all seasons and has an adjustable strap with a shoulder pad to ensure it’s comfortable to wear all day. With room for a camera, a lens, your wallet, keys and mobile phone, this makes for a perfect day companion.
Professional travel camera bags for women
NOMATIC Professional Travel Camera Bag by Peter McKinnon
Now then, this bag is expensive for a rucksack, but that has to be expected when it has a designer name on it. But. It is a good bag, and here’s why. First and foremost for a travel bag, it needs to fit in your an overhead locker or an aeroplane, which this does, so that’s a win. This rucksack boasts space for a DSLR and a spare lens and charger in the zipped compartment at the bottom, a 16″ laptop and iPad Pro, hoodies, snacks, mobile phone, wallet, keys cables, glasses and accessories. As long as you’re not the type of person who hugely overpacks, you’ll be able to fit everything you need for a long weekend into this bag. With padded protection on each side, water resistant materials and an expandable section for even more space, the bag offers peace of mind when packing your precious camera for your trip.
Made of heavyweight 14oz canvas, this bag is hard wearing, looks good and makes a brilliant travel companion. Able to hold a DSLR and two lenses, an ipad or laptop, this shoulder bag is more suited to an overnighter where you’ll only need a fresh t-shirt and pants as there’s not sufficient room to pack in a whole other outfit. You’ll have no trouble fitting in a toothbrush, deodorant and any other small accessories, but i’d say this bag was more for someone who’s going to do a full days shoot, then crash somewhere and go home the following day, you know the situations where you’re not that fussed about your overall appearance and just want to get home. Where was I? A fully adjustable shoulder strap and leather padding makes it comfortable to wear all day. It has to be mentioned, a good travel bag needs to hit the perfect balance when it comes to size, yes this isn’t the biggest bag, but it does force you to pack economically which in turn massively reduces the amount of weight you’re carrying. And, if you’re travelling, chances are you’ll be carrying it a lot, so don’t write it off just because you cant fit in those extra two layers and pair of shoes you might normally take for ‘just in case’ moments.
TARION Waterproof Camera Backpack
Apparently this bad is IPX5 waterproof, which would be great, if we knew what that meant. Googling…can resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray…so it can take showers but not a proper soaking. This bag is pretty big and will offer enough room for anyone taking a longer photography related trip, it’s large capacity of 18 litres can hold a 15.5 inch laptop, two DSLR cameras, four lenses or flashes as well as additional clothing, toothbrush etc that you’ll need for a weekend away. Side entry to access a camera is always handy so you don’t have to scramble through t-shirts and biscuits to dig out a camera that’s at the bottom. Easy to overlook but an underrated feature is the drawstring close on the top section. If you’re an active person (and the need for a travel bag would suggest you are) then chances ae your bag will get thrown around a bit. There’s nothing worse than trying to get from A to B and your backpack gets turned upside down and small items fall out of the top. You need a bag that is compact and keeps everything tightly bound together, it also makes it alot harder or anyone to steal something out of your bag without you noticing as they’ll have to get through two layers. German made, this thing is built to last and can hold a huge amount of stuff, definitely one to consider.
BAGSMART Camera Backpack, Anti-theft bag
Similar to the Tarion above, I like this bag because it has a pulley string on the top part of the bag to keep everything tightly packed and safe from any thieving hands and sudden showers. This bag is versatile, giving you plenty of room to fit a DSLR with a considerable size zoom lens in the main compartment and then a selection of mid size primes in the remaining slots. Available in khaki, blue and black this back is not only practical but looks good too. A separate and really well padded section is roomy enough to fit a 15″ laptop and the main clothes compartment will easily fit spare t-shirts, pants, toothbrush and a decent thickness of jumper. Adjustable chest straps make it comfortable to carry if you plan to be on your feet all day hiking for example. With all this space, you’ll be pleased to know that it meets carry on requirements too. I don’t know about you, but I hate the idea of checking in my camera gear to be put in the plane hold. I’ve seen what those baggage handlers can do, I’ll keep it on my person thank you. Top tip. Wear a coat with loads of pockets to the airport. If your bag is overweight. Put all your lenses in your pockets and get it reweighed. I’ve had to do this before. They weren’t happy, but I got my bag on as carry on and then simply put them all back into the bag after walking ten paces past security.
Affordable camera bags for women
Personalised vintage brown camera bag
Hopefully you come to this site because you trust what I’m writing. So here’s something you need to know. This bag is sold by multiple vendors on Etsy, the only difference is the marketing images they use to sell it. I’ve seen the exact same bag listed for double the price, admittedly the pictures were really good, but still, shop around for this one as I’m sure by the time you read this the price on the link will have changed, so if you like it have a look for a few other sellers to get the best deal. Lightweight, durable and able to carry an slr with a medium sized prime and one spare lens, this bag makes a decent day companion and at a reasonable price. It takes a while to deliver, but it’s worth the wait as you get a quality bag at an affordable cost.
BAGSMART Camera Backpack, DSLR Camera Bag – Water Resistant – pink
Well…bonus points for being the only pink bag on this list. I think it’s kinda cool! It costs about a third of an equivalent lowepro bag, but you get what you pay for. This bag is decent enough for the price and boasts plenty of room. A DSLR and two medium sized zooms or primes are no problem size wise, you can even fit a 14″ laptop on there too. This bag is neat and will suit most enthusiastic photographers who need a bag for moderate day to day use. The problem is in this price range you never know just how long they’ll last. The pink is cute sure, but light colours don’t age well, they pick up dirt and show marks much easier than darker materials. Photography is not as fancy as many Instagrammers will have you believe. If you’re on a job, then things get dirty. If you’re doing a day out in the city this bag is a great companion. If you’re looking for something to use whilst hiking, get a leather bag or something more durable in black or brown.
Large Camera Bags For Women
This bag can be monogrammed, so immediately I’m in. What’s better for showing off how fancy you are than having a bag in what I call ‘yacht stripes’ with your initials marked on it? If you’re a professional photographer wanting to lug gear around, then this large bag may seem tempting, but do remember that multiple cameras and lenses get heavy. If you have a porter (having this bag would suggest you do) then they can worry about how heavy it is. Otherwise be mindful that it has a single shoulder strap or two shorter handles for hand holding. Don’t give yourself a back injury for the sake of looking cool. A photography career is a long time and takes a physical toll, make sure your bag isn’t adding to it. Made of canvas and leather this bag will last providing you look after it. Able to carry an slr and three lenses easily (or two bodies and two lenses depending on your configuration) this bag boasts ample room for all of your kit and clothing for a weekend away on your boat in Sicily…This bag is a great purchase because it will happily double up as a regular day bag for the gym, I’m all about multifunction.
Hopefully some of these have been useful, if you come across some bags that I should add to the list let me know.