The kit I use for seabird photography

Seabird photography demands both precision and adaptability. You’re working at the mercy of the elements and have to fully surrender and respond to wind, tide and light. Sometimes on the edge of cliffs, sometimes with the challenges of swell on a bouncy RIB. Always aware that the next moment could unfold in any direction. The right seabird photography kit doesn’t just make the work possible; it makes it safe, sustainable and joyful.

For me, finding balance has been everything. My equipment has evolved to allow me to move lightly across land and sea without losing the quality or control I need. Each piece of photography kit plays its part in helping me stay connected to the moment. Ready for the story as it unfolds.

The art of travelling with lightweight kit

Switching to Fujifilm (more on that here) completely changed the way I photograph seabirds. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s transformed my entire practice. My old DSLR setup demanded two heavy bags to cover the same focal range that now fits into one, from 16mm to 600mm. That shift in weight and size has been revolutionary. I can move more freely, explore more intuitively and respond faster when I’m immersed in the wildest of edges.

With everything I need in a single Shimoda Action X40 V2 backpack, I can hike to remote colonies that cling to cliffs, board small boats and even carry my underwater housing in my second carry on bag if I am flying. All without compromise. This photography kit and freedom has completely changed how I work. It’s given me the ability to stay in the field longer, travel lighter, and immerse more deeply in the environments I photograph.

My Fujifilm photography kit has opened up a whole new way of creating. One that aligns perfectly with how I see and move through the world. With this compact yet powerful setup, my seabird storytelling has evolved rapidly. Allowing me to move seamlessly between photo, video and drone work across earth, sea and sky.

Camera bodies and lenses

Seabird photography isn’t forgiving. The window to capture that liminal moment of a dive. That exchange of a fish between parent and chick, might last less than a second. But when everything aligns, the bird sharp in frame, the light catching the spray, the energy of ocean and air alive around it, the result is electrifying. These images carry the wild energy of the place. For me it is this awe-inspiring feeling that makes seabird photography so thrilling. I am literally obsessed.

This is why choosing the right seabird photography kit for you is essential. I love my Fujifilm mirrorless system because it’s light, reliable and beautifully intuitive. I shoot primarily with the Fujifilm X-T5, a camera that balances image quality with portability. My go-to lenses for seabird photography are the Fujinon XF150-600mm f5.6-8 LM OIS WR and Fujinon XF50-140mm f2.8 LM OIS WR.

Depending on the scenario, I’ll often carry two camera bodies on my Holdfast Money Maker harness. One with the 150–600mm for distant action and one with the 50–140mm for closer interactions. It means I can switch instantly between focal lengths without fumbling with lens changes in the field.

For wider context shots that place the seabirds within their landscape, I turn to primes, especially my Fujinon XF16mm f1.4 R WR. These establishing and contextual frames are vital to my storytelling. Grounding the subject within the wider ecosystem and showing that seabirds are part of something much bigger. The living ecosystem of the ocean itself.

Drone photography

It’s rare that I’ll use drones near seabird colonies. Unless it’s for a specific, ethically approved part of a commissioned brief. Drones have immense storytelling potential, but they also have the capacity to disturb if used irresponsibly.

When aerial perspectives are required, I work with both the DJI Mini 4 Pro and DJI Mavic 3 Pro. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is my preferred choice (more on this here) because its zoom lens allows me to capture sweeping views of colonies and coastlines. Without ever encroaching on the birds. Every drone flight is carefully planned. With permissions and flight plans that are sensitive to nesting seasons, local regulations and the wellbeing of wildlife.

Used thoughtfully, aerial and drone imagery can reveal the interconnectedness of ecosystems. How cliffs, sea and sky form one continuous stage for life. But using drones as part of your seabird photography kit should never come at a cost to the creatures we’re there to celebrate.

Underwater photography kit

With Seafrogs housings for my Fujifilm X-T5 and X-T2, I’ve been able to explore another dimension of seabird life. The world beneath the waves. Snorkelling with puffins and gannets has revealed a side of them few people ever witness: their astonishing agility underwater.

Gannets slice into the sea at incredible speed. Then open their wings again to steer like torpedoes through shoals of fish. Puffins, too, are masters of this underwater dance. Their wings become flippers as they fly through the blue with quiet elegance.

This seabird photography kit setup strikes the right balance between reliability, flexibility and affordability. It’s robust enough to handle the cold Atlantic waters of Iceland, Scotland and Wales. Yet light enough to travel with in hand luggage. Essential when most of my work takes place in remote island environments, I never want my kit separated from me. The controls are intuitive, even in thick 7mm neoprene gloves, and interchangeable ports mean I can use both wide-angle and close-focus lenses.

Working underwater with seabirds is a rare privilege that demands patience, calm and deep respect. The housing gives me the technical confidence to focus fully on presence. To witness the grace of these birds beneath the surface and translate that experience into story.

Tripod

A Peak Design Travel Tripod has become one of the most indispensable tools in my seabird photography kit. At first, I bought it as a lightweight alternative for travel, but over a year later I’ve never gone back to my heavier tripod.

Compact enough to fit easily into my backpack side pocket, yet stable enough to withstand the coastal winds that buffet the cliffs of Iceland or Shetland. It’s become a small and sturdy steed! The quick-release design means I can set up in seconds. Responding instinctively to changing light or the sudden movement of a bird in flight. Its small footprint is ideal for tight spaces. Like working near colony edges where every movement must be deliberate and steady.

I also use the Peak Design Travel Tripod for video work, particularly when I’m documenting colony behaviour or transitions between land and sea. Its versatility allows me to shoot both stills and footage without needing to carry separate gear. When I know I’ll be based in one location for a long time, for example, inside a hide or working on a fixed observation point, I’ll often add a gimbal head. This allows smooth panning with long lenses and stabilised footage. That captures the natural rhythm of the seabirds and their environment.

This tripod has proven itself time and again in challenging conditions. It’s the kind of photography kit that quietly disappears into the process. Reliable, responsive, and supports me to seamlessly get the seabirds shots and footage in my minds eye.

Backpack – a breakthrough for photographers with boobs!

Equally vital is my Shimoda Action X40 V2 Women’s Backpack, designed specifically to fit the female frame. It’s been an absolute game-changer. I can carry everything I need in my seabird photography kit, from 16mm to 600mm, in one pack without experiencing shoulder, neck or trap strain.

I think it goes to underscore how lacking the industry can be. Especially when it comes to female photographers working in the field. That this is still the only bag range, to my knowledge, that is designed for women. Women’s bodies are different, let’s not be coy, we have boobs. Boobs are a contour of our bodies and ergonomically they are not accommodated for with chest straps on male-focused designs because the strap cuts in the wrong place.

This bag has two chest straps that are adjustable and go above and below the boobs. Allowing me to tighten the bag as if it was hugging me. I can instantly feel the weight of it being carried through my body not solely on my traps, which historically would see my day end in a tension headache because of how poor the ergonomics were with previous bags.

It’s never let me down

The adjustable back harness means the straps can be adjusted for difference sized bodies and the supportive aluminium frame distribute weight evenly. Making long hikes across cliffs or boggy island paths far more manageable. It’s weather-resistant, durable and modular, with an internal core unit that protects my seabird photography kit, cameras and lenses. While still allowing quick access when the moment arrives. The roll top section means I can put food, extra layers and drones in, so I am set for immersive time in the field. I’ve carried this pack through rain, salt spray, biting winds and even temperatures down to -26°C, and it’s never let me down.

The freedom this backpack gives me is transformative. It means I can move comfortably, stay out for longer and explore remote places that would have been impossible to reach with older, heavier DSLR setups. When you work in wild, unpredictable environments, comfort and reliability aren’t luxuries. They’re what allow you to stay present and create. And importantly they’re what sustain your career because you’re reducing the wear and tear on your body.

The right tools for wild edges

Ultimately, the best kit for seabird photography is the one that lets you stay connected. To your body, your environment and the story you’re telling. The right equipment should never feel like an obstacle. It should dissolve into the experience, enabling presence, safety and creative flow.

For me, my Fujifilm system, Seafrogs housings, Peak Design Tripod and Shimoda pack form a perfectly balanced ecosystem. One that allows me to move seamlessly between earth, sea and sky. Each piece reflects years of refinement, lessons learned in wind and salt, and a deep respect for the wild edges where these stories unfold.

If you’re getting into seabird photography, click here to dive deeper with me. Or read this and start planning your seabird photography adventure.

offical fujifilm x-photographer 2026 – present