Inside every photographer there is a small gear nerd. Today I'll let mine out and share how I pack and travel when I am going on assignments without assistant:-)
When limited to what you can carry yourself you have to make some slightly creative choices and it took me a long time to come up with the setup I use today for portrait session.
For example I only bring one main light, the Profoto B2, and insted of having 2 or 3 of these I bring 3 old Nikon SB-26 speedlites which weight nothing, are very inexpensive (around €100,- each on eBay) and are very reliable. With these I use a selection of Honl lightshaping tools like grids, color gels and snoots. This also means that it is very easy for me to move the lights around on a session, not having cables and heavy batteries slowing me down.
I bring two bags for check-in. One tripod bag with three lighting stands and umbrellas, a large suitcase with personal items alongside my Profoto B2 batteri unit, Elinchrom Deep Octa 70cm and Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod.
For carry on I bring my ThinkTank Airport trolley which can contain a surpricing amout of gear including my 15" laptop.
Camera:
Canon 5D mark III
EF 16-35 f/2,8L II
EF 24-70 f/2,8L II
EF 70-200 f/4L IS
EF 50 f/1,4
EF 85 f/1,2L II
EF 135 f/2L
EF 24 f/3,5L TS-E