Back when I first got into photography in the early 2000’s it was impossible to find stylish camera bags for women that also protected your gear and didn’t look like a camera bag. The only camera bags available were those ugly black camera bags. You know the ones. They were typically carried around by men. They were bulky, ugly (they might even include a bright yellow band), and they also scream “I’m a camera bag!” to anyone in the vicinity. But thankfully around that same time (2008 or so) many female photographers started coming out with their own lines of attractive cameras bags…and I bought them all.
Really, almost all of them.
As a professional photographer for nearly 20 years, I’ve tested more camera bags than I can count—I believe I have owned over a dozen camera bags in my photography career.
I’m not really into designer anything, but I do love me a good bag. So now that it is much more popular to have an attractive backpack or purse for your camera, I rounded up the best stylish camera bags that really don’t look like camera bags. I found and tested budget options to some popular favorites—yes there’s a true lookalike to my very favorite camera bag—and found some more well known companies that are available on Amazon. And let’s be real, Amazon is often just the easiest to buy from. So let’s get into it.
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU.
My Top Pick
If you’re here just for my best recommendation, this one is it. I’m currently really loving having everything in one bag that is easy to toss on my back. If you’re looking for something else, keep reading.
My Favorite Camera Backpack
Call me biased, but a backpack makes my life so much easier when I am shooting solo! If you love the elegant leather look of premium camera bags but want something more budget-friendly, this backpack is a popular Amazon option that offers a similar aesthetic at a lower price point.
Meliae Chic Camera Bags
Meliae Chic Camera Bags are exactly that…chic. These bags are classic looking, with premium leather, and truly look like a purse while you are wearing it. So it’s essentially a camera purse instead of a camera bag. These camera purses are generally best for smaller portrait shoots, think 1 camera and/or 1-3 lenses. But there is padding between lenses, spaces for your phone, and extra pockets perfect for a photographer on the go. If you’re a woman looking for a stylish camera bag (err…purse) this one is excellent.
What I Like: I love the structure of this bag, having a bag that doesn’t flop around or fall over when you put it on the ground is really important. This is excellent for traveling as well—when I want to look put together, but still want to carry my big camera around to take amazing photos.
Divvia Camera Bags
When I was looking for a camera bag that would protect all of my gear while also still being attractive, I discovered the camera backpack. Divvia bags bridge a gap in between bulky gear bags and stylish bags that don’t actually protect your camera. This bag looks good walking into a coffee shop, traveling, or heading to a shoot, while still keeping my camera gear organized and protected.
If you’ve heard me talk about my favorite camera backpack—the Divvia Aura backpack is the budget version of it. I purchased this bag to see if it was, indeed, the same as it’s luxury counterpart.
Is it perfect? No. It’s nearly 1/3 of the price of the luxury bag that I love, so I didn’t expect the same exact quality.
The leather is a PU leather and isn’t quite as pebbled as the vegan leather on my favorite, the zipper quality isn’t quite the same. But everything else was really spot on! Size is the same, it can hold as much stuff, the interior can be rearranged exactly like my favorite, and the the pockets and sections were really really similar.
What I Like: This really is the budget option for more luxury bags you’ve seen on the market. It has a clean, everyday look, but inside it’s designed like a true camera bag with padded dividers and smart storage for your gear.
Ruby & Rae Camera Bags
Sometimes you want a stylish camera bag that is a little more on trend. Ruby and Rae is a woman owned company and they carry a few different bag types, but I’m partial to their crossbody bag—called the sidekick. If you like a crossbody style bag, this will hold a lens or two while you are wearing your camera, which is especially easy when swapping lenses. This is an excellent option for a smaller portrait shoot where only 1 or 2 lenses might be needed. This bag is compact, made of vegan leather, and comes in 3 colors—I personally love the gray pictured here.
What I Like: I often only bring 2 lenses to a portrait shoot. Because of this, a smaller crossbody bag works really well because it easily holds the extra lens I’m not using while I’m photographing with the other camera/lens combo.
Rofozzi Leather Bags
If you’re looking for a real leather bag with a bit more structure, the Rofozzi bags has beautiful options. This Rofozzi crossbody can fit a mirrorless or DSLR camera, plus a couple of lenses. The structure of the bag makes it feel more protected and there are front and side pockets, as well as a back zipper pocket for a phone, keys, or wallet.
What I Like: This bag feels vintage in its style and the leather looks like it will age well. I like the structure of this bag and the fact that it is a bit more unisex than the other options (perfect for when you’re traveling and you want to pass the bag over to your partner to carry for a little while).
Budget Friendly Non-Leather Camera Bags
I gave you some excellent options above, but almost all of them are leather or a vegan leather alternative. I really like a leather bag, personally, but if you’re looking for something different that that is a bit more of a budget option (most of them are under $30), these bags are great. You can also view the full list of stylish camera bags for women on Amazon that has all of my updated recommendations, including all of what you see here.
THE LIST
➡️ See the full list here ⬅️
How To Choose The Best Stylish Camera Bag
Finding an attractive camera bag shouldn’t mean sacrificing protection for your gear. Whether you prefer a leather backpack, a compact crossbody, or a budget-friendly option, there are now plenty of bags that look like everyday purses while still protecting your camera equipment.
It’s important to mention that there are different uses for each of these bag styles. It’s not just about the best stylish camera bags for women, but what do you actually need from the camera bag? Below are some differences in how the bags stack up for your particular needs.
Bag | Best For | Material | Price |
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| PU Leather | under $100 |
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| Premium Leather | under $200 |
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| Vegan leather | under $100 |
For instance, I love using a backpack now because I’m almost always solo shooting. Since I focused my photography business on elopements and micro weddings, I need to be able to throw all of my gear into one back and easily carry it around the city while being present with my clients. But if I’m just doing a quick portrait shoot or a mini shoot, then my needs that day are different. Hence that afore mentioned collection of camera bags.
And if you’re building your photography kit, you may also want to read my guide to the best cameras for beginners or dig into how to set up your camera with my camera settings cheatsheet.
