Alex McKean is a travel photographer and filmmaker based in the United States. He started Mystical Footsteps, which has become a blog, Youtube channel, photography print store, and brand all in one. He began his career as a photographer 7 years ago with weddings which then lead to concert photography and the creation of a music magazine. The combination of his desire to travel and document his adventures came naturally once he discovered the Youtube and filmmaking community.
Alex’s love for travel and the world began at a very young age when his mother would share stories of her exotic travels to places such as the Highlands in Papua New Guinea. Alex is inspired to discover distant lands and to venture off the beaten path. This has taken him to extreme parts of the world like the arctic village of Barrow, the Himalayas in India and to the dramatic landscapes of the Faroe Islands.
He is currently traveling the world with his wife, Cheyanne, filming a documentary featuring Earths most remote and beautiful destinations. He also shares cinematic videos from behind the scenes through his YouTube channel, called Mystical Footsteps. He also continues to sell his landscape photography prints through online store.
What's usually in your carry-on?
Cameras, Lenses, Laptop, Chargers
Tell us about the usual type of clothes you bring when travelling?
The clothes that I bring when travelling varies quite greatly depending on where I am headed. I will obviously need to pack different if I am headed the Arctic verses somewhere in the Tropics.
What's the best packing tip anyone has given you? Who gave it?
Best packing tip I know of is to roll my clothes. It really helps save a lot of room and enables me to pack more into my bag. The first time I heard this was back when I had first started travelling at a young age from my parents.
What is the best thing about packing light?
Packing light is great as you save yourself a lot of weight to be carrying around, but I often pack my bags very full and the benefit there would be the number of things I can bring with me at any given time. It really allows me to be fully prepared and have what I need when travelling.
How does your packing for a travel routine look like?
My packing routine really drives me crazy at times but it’s really the only way that works for me. I pack absolutely last minute. I will be throwing the last couple things in my bag only minutes before leaving my house for the airport. Almost everything I bring are things I use on a daily basis so I am needing them up until the very last second.
How do you deal with "excess baggage" situations?
There have been a few times that I have had to reconsolidate my carry on to make it lighter so I can bring it as a carry on but the majority on the time airlines have been very understanding and willing to work with me as almost everything I am needing to carry on is expensive camera gear.
What's your best-kept packing secret?
My best packing secret would be that efficient packing really comes down to having a bag that fits your personality and travel style. There are so many different types of bags out there with different features. It’s important to find one that has lots of pockets and organization if that’s how you tend to be for example. Whatever is going to make it easier for you to easily access what you need to find at that moment.
Quick Q's
- Favourite region? South Asia
- Favourite country? India
- Favourite city? Rishikesh
- Favourite beach? Ho’okipa
- Favourite food? Italian
- Favourite mode of transpo? Air
- Favourite book? Be Here Now
- Window or aisle seat? Window
- Carry-on or check-in? Carry-on
- Hostel or hotel? Hotel
- What's your favourite design from the Cabin Zero collection? I really enjoy my Classic 44L bag. It has everything I could possibly need when travelling.
Follow Alex's adventures with his wife on Instagram, @mysticalfootsteps.
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