Finding the best photography camera bags isn’t as simple as finding the one with the most storage. The right camera bag should fit the way you photograph, the amount of gear you typically carry, and even your personal style.
As photographers, we’re constantly moving. We’re carrying cameras, lenses, batteries, memory cards, film, light meters, laptops, personal items, and everything else we might need for a shoot. A good camera bag keeps those essentials organized and protected without becoming another cumbersome piece of gear to worry about.
And honestly? I think photographers deserve a camera bag that is functional and beautiful.
That’s one of the reasons I love the collection from Ruby+Rae. Their camera bags are designed by a photographer for photographers, combining practical gear storage with a more elevated, stylish aesthetic. Their current collection includes everything from compact crossbody bags and camera harnesses to full-size photography backpacks.
So instead of simply asking, “What is the best camera bag?” I think the better question is: What is the best camera bag for the way you photograph?
Here are some of my favorite options from Ruby+Rae for different photography needs.
The Best Photography Camera Bag for Everyday Sessions: The Sidekick
If you want a camera bag that is compact, easy to carry, and still gives you room for the essentials, The Sidekick is a great place to start.
The Sidekick combines a crossbody camera bag with a camera harness, giving you the ability to keep your camera accessible while still having a dedicated place for the rest of your gear. It has a removable interior divider, a back zipper pocket, and enough room for essentials like an extra lens, batteries, memory cards, your phone, and other small items.
I love this style of camera bag for photographers who don’t want to bring an entire backpack to every session. If you’re photographing an engagement session, portrait session, lifestyle shoot, or simply heading out with a smaller kit, having your essentials close without carrying a huge bag can make a big difference.
Best for:
- Portrait photography
- Engagement sessions
- Lifestyle photography
- Smaller camera kits
- Everyday photography
- Photographers who want hands-free access to their camera
The Sidekick is also a great option if you’re looking for a stylish camera bag that doesn’t look like a traditional camera bag.
The Best Camera Bag for Photographers Who Want a Smaller Backpack: The Rae
Some photographers prefer the comfort and organization of a backpack but don’t need an enormous one.
That’s where The Rae Backpack comes in.
The Rae offers many of the organizational features of a larger photography backpack while keeping the overall design a little more compact. It has a spacious main compartment with removable, adjustable dividers, a padded laptop compartment that fits up to a 14-inch laptop, a water bottle holder, a side pocket, and a trolley strap for traveling.
This makes The Rae a particularly versatile camera backpack for photographers who photograph on location, travel frequently, or simply want more room than a crossbody bag provides.
Best for:
- Travel photography
- Portrait photographers
- Photographers who work on location
- Engagement sessions
- Moderate-sized camera kits
- Photographers who carry a laptop or tablet
- Everyday professional use
It’s a nice middle ground: more space and structure than a crossbody, without moving all the way up to the largest backpack.
The Best Camera Backpack for Travel: The Ruby
If you’re looking for a camera backpack for travel, The Ruby is designed to make carrying both your photography gear and everyday essentials easier.
The Ruby features a dedicated bottom camera compartment with adjustable dividers, a separate top compartment for miscellaneous items, and a laptop compartment that fits up to a 16-inch laptop. It also includes a water bottle holder, side access to the camera compartment, and a trolley strap that can slide over your luggage handle.
That combination makes it especially useful for photographers who are constantly traveling between locations.
Whether you’re heading out for a photography trip, traveling for a destination session, or simply want one backpack that can hold your camera gear and personal items, The Ruby gives you plenty of flexibility.
Best for:
- Travel photographers
- Destination photographers
- Photographers with larger gear kits
- Airport and road trips
- Photographers who carry a laptop
- Full-day photoshoots
One of my favorite things about a good photography backpack is being able to carry more than just your camera. When you’re traveling, you need somewhere for the things that aren’t technically camera gear, too.
The Best Large Camera Backpack: The Lyla
If you tend to carry a lot of photography gear, The Lyla is the largest backpack option in the Ruby+Rae collection.
The Lyla has a spacious main compartment with removable and adjustable dividers, a soft suede interior, a dedicated laptop compartment that fits up to a 16-inch laptop, a water bottle holder, a side pocket, and a trolley strap for luggage.
This is the kind of photography backpack that makes sense when you don’t want to leave anything behind.
Multiple lenses? Extra camera body? Batteries? Memory cards? Laptop? Personal items? The Lyla is designed with that larger load in mind while still maintaining a sleek appearance.
Best for:
- Photographers with extensive gear
- Full-day photoshoots
- Travel photographers
- Photographers who carry multiple lenses
- Photographers who need a 16-inch laptop compartment
- Anyone who wants maximum organization
If you’re the photographer who likes having every possible piece of gear with you “just in case,” this is probably the backpack you’ll want to look at first.
The Best Stylish Camera Bag: The Mae Crossbody
Sometimes you want a camera bag that looks like a beautiful everyday bag rather than a traditional piece of photography equipment.
Enter The Mae Crossbody.
The Mae was designed to blend photography gear with everyday style. It features a structured silhouette, vegan leather exterior, gold hardware, a soft microfiber lining, and removable padded dividers that allow you to customize the interior around your camera and lenses.
It’s designed to fit a mirrorless or DSLR camera with a lens, along with personal essentials such as your wallet, phone, and keys.
This makes it a beautiful option for photographers who want their camera bag to transition seamlessly between a photoshoot and everyday life.
Best for:
- Everyday photography
- Lifestyle photographers
- Travel
- Smaller camera setups
- Photographers who want a camera purse
- Photographers who prioritize style and functionality
If you’ve ever looked at traditional camera bags and thought, “I wish this looked more like something I’d actually carry,” The Mae might be exactly what you’re looking for.
The Best Camera Bag for Film Photographers: The Anissa Film Bag
Of course, I couldn’t write a guide on the best photography camera bags without including the Anissa Film Bag.
Created as part of the Ruby+Rae x Anissa Film Collection, this bag is especially meaningful to me because it was designed with the film photographer in mind.
Film photography has a different rhythm than digital photography. You’re thinking about how many frames you have left, carrying rolls of film, changing rolls throughout a session, and being more intentional about every photograph you make.
Having a camera bag that complements that slower, more thoughtful process just makes sense.
The Anissa Film Bag is a beautiful option for photographers who want a dedicated, stylish bag for their film photography setup. Whether you’re carrying a 35mm film camera, extra rolls of film, a light meter, batteries, or other small essentials, it offers a way to keep your film photography gear together without bringing along a massive camera backpack.
Best for:
- Film photographers
- 35mm photography
- Analog photography
- Film engagement sessions
- Editorial photography
- Travel photography
- Photographers who prefer a smaller camera bag
- Anyone who loves the aesthetic of film photography
For me, film has always been about slowing down and being intentional. The Anissa Film Bag feels like an extension of that philosophy — a camera bag created for the photographers who love the process just as much as the final image.
The Best Camera Bag for Two Cameras: The Duo
If you regularly photograph with two camera bodies, The Duo is designed around keeping both cameras accessible.
The Duo combines a double-camera harness with a detachable crossbody bag. This gives you hands-free access to two cameras while also giving you a separate place for essentials like memory cards and other small accessories. It features two interior compartments and four built-in card slots.
While The Duo is especially popular for wedding and event photography, I think it can be useful for anyone who works with two camera bodies — from portrait and documentary photographers to content creators and travel photographers.
Best for:
- Two-camera setups
- Portrait photographers
- Documentary photography
- Travel photography
- Event photography
- Content creators
- Photographers who need hands-free camera access
If you regularly switch between two focal lengths or two different camera systems, having both bodies immediately available can make your shooting experience much smoother.
The Best Camera Bag for a Minimalist Setup
Not every photoshoot requires your entire camera collection.
Sometimes the best camera bag is simply the one that lets you bring exactly what you need and nothing more.
For a minimalist setup, I would look toward the Sidekick, Mae, or Anissa Film Bag depending on the type of photography you’re doing. These smaller options make sense when you’re carrying one primary camera, a lens or two, and just the essentials.
There’s something refreshing about leaving the giant backpack at home and heading out with a lightweight setup. Fewer choices can even help you focus more intentionally on the images you’re creating.
How to Choose the Best Photography Camera Bag for You
Before buying a camera bag, think about what you actually carry on a typical shoot.
How much gear do you bring?
If you typically photograph with one camera and one or two lenses, you probably don’t need a massive photography backpack.
If you’re carrying multiple bodies, several lenses, flashes, batteries, and a laptop, you’ll want something with more organization and structure.
Do you travel with your photography gear?
If you’re frequently flying or traveling by car, look for features like a trolley strap, laptop compartment, and dedicated camera storage. The Ruby, Rae, and Lyla are particularly suited to photographers who need more room and travel-friendly organization.
Do you want a traditional camera bag?
There’s nothing wrong with a classic camera backpack, but not every photographer wants to carry one.
Crossbody bags like the Sidekick and Mae can be a great alternative if you want something more compact and stylish.
Are you a film photographer?
If film is a regular part of your photography, think about how much film and film-specific gear you carry. A smaller dedicated bag can make it easier to keep everything together and accessible.
That’s one of the reasons I love the Anissa Film Bag.
So, What Are the Best Photography Camera Bags?
The answer depends completely on your photography style.
The Sidekick is ideal for photographers who want a compact, everyday shooting bag.
The Rae is a great choice when you want a smaller photography backpack with room for your gear and laptop.
The Ruby is designed for photographers who need more space and travel-friendly features.
The Lyla is the option for photographers carrying a larger gear kit who want maximum organization.
The Mae is perfect for photographers who want their camera bag to look just as stylish as the rest of their wardrobe.
The Anissa Film Bag is made for the film lovers — the photographers who enjoy the intentionality, nostalgia, and artistry of shooting analog.
And The Duo is ideal when having two cameras immediately accessible is part of your workflow.
At the end of the day, the best photography camera bag isn’t necessarily the biggest, most expensive, or most popular one. It’s the one that works with the way you photograph.
Your camera bag should protect your gear, keep your essentials organized, and make moving through a photoshoot feel easier. And if it happens to look beautiful while doing all of that? Even better.
For photographers who love both digital and film photography, I think there’s something especially exciting about having a bag that feels like part of your creative process rather than just another piece of equipment.
Because the gear we carry may help us make the photograph — but it’s the photographer behind the camera who makes it meaningful.
**This blog includes affiliate links – Anissa D. Photography may earn commission off of purchases made through the links in this blog.
