Joseph EllisNovember 16, 2021Comment

Gift Guide for Parent Photographers

Joseph EllisNovember 16, 2021Comment

Are you looking for a gift that will improve your photos and videos? This year is going to be interesting to watch and see what remains in stock and what you can actually get delivered. According to my wife, the earlier we jump on getting our gifts this year the better because some stores/suppliers are already running out of inventory. I’m going to break down the gifts into sections by price with a special section just for phone accessories, so if you’re looking for a big gift like a new camera or just a stocking stuffer you can find it.

Gifts to use with a smartphone camera

Favorite Cases for photogs
1. Moment Case (Mag Safe accessories) - What’s great about this case is that there are a series of well built Mag-Safe accessories which make mounting/using them very easy. You can get everything from a wallet to a tripod, but my favorite is probably the cold shoe for using accessories like microphones.
2. Smartish Case - I’m gonna throw this one out there, not because it’s a photo centric case, but because I used one all of last year and I loved the grippy nature of the sides. It makes holding and using the camera a really easy/positive experience for me. If you’re not an accessory type person who will carry around gadgets you might really love this case.
3. Peak Design Case (with various compatible mount accessories) - This case also has a proprietary mounting system and a bunch of accessories that will allow you to use your phone during lots of different activities, but my favorite is the loop on the back which is understated but super functional. This loop works like a lot of phone cases on the market, serving the same purpose as a pop socket, BUT the case has the advantage of also being compatible with the other accessories.

Neewer cell phone stand/plate for tripod

A tripod mount for a phone - I love this all metal version from Neewer. Cheap and effective, especially if you have a tripod with an arca swiss mount (many do), so you won’t need any adapters. You can also use this with a pocket sized mini tripod if you want something that fits in your bag. Being able to use your phone on a tripod is a huge help for group photos of the family and a huge variety of creative images. 100% worth being in your kit.

Sound - There are three solutions to sound that I could see a parent using for video.
1. A shotgun mic like this one (see the Moment cold shoe mount to make this easy). OK so this is a great solution for MUCH better sound for videos in situations where the action is happening away from the camera/phone. If you’re trying to record a concert, for example, this will be a big upgrade.
2. A wired lav mic like this one which is great if you want to film within a few feet of the camera and it will really sound amazing. Be aware, you’ll need the adapter to go from Apple Lightning to regular headphone plug (TRRS) to make this work. This solution is really great if you’re making videos for YouTube, TikTok, etc. and you’re speaking to camera from a few feet away.
3. A stand alone sound recorder that you can synch with your video later. This Zoom H1n is great for all kinds of situations where you might want great sound for a video like a concert hall, birthday party, or YouTube video. This small recorder can be used in a great variety of projects, and it can also be used in conjunction with a lav mic for a kind of “wireless” sound option.

Lume Cube Panel Mini - A small LED light for video/stills that easily fits in a bag

Aputure M9 Mini LED light. Super small, inexpensive light for stills and video

Light
1. Lume Cube Panel Mini - I love the specs on this light. I haven’t tried one yet, but I wouldn’t hesitate if it looks good to you. I own the previous version and it has been a dependable and durable light.
2. Aputure AL-M9 Amaran LED light - This one is such a great, inexpensive option that I recommend it all the time. For the money, these are so great to have in the bag. They give enough light to really save a video in many low light scenarios. This is my ‘go to’ light for occasions like a birthday video, where you want the light for a video, but still want to be able to see the candles and feel like you’re in a darkened room and not a gym.

Instax SP-3 Printer for making instant prints from your phone

Instax Printer - What an amazing gift this can be for anyone who loves using their phone to make images but also wants to share and make a print for someone on a mobile printer. Here’s a link to the square print version I love the most. Runs on batteries, makes wonderfully nostalgic instant images, what’s not to love?.. Ok.. it is a bit pricey.

Gifts for making your “real” camera really work well

The big (expensive) stuff

Let’s get the biggest one out of the way first- if you’re thinking of buying your significant other a camera this season then read this guide for my opinions on the top kit from a variety of brands.

Fujifilm XT4 with the XF 50-140mm F2.8 lens.

2. My top lens, the one that I would have every family own, is a fast telephoto zoom lens. A 70-200 equivalent lens solves the majority of problems for parents. It’s a great choice for sports, theatre, graduations, performances - basically anything where you have to be far away from the action and/or it’s in low light (evening/indoor). Choose the one for your brand (mount) of camera: Canon 70-200, Fuji 50-140mm f2.8, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8, Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 , Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8, Sony 70-200 f2.8 are some of the popular brands. This lens will cost a pretty penny, $1000+ , but it will be an investment that will last years and years. (See this article for links)

3. Printers. What an amazing gift a printer can be for a photographer, Seeing your work in print will change you forever, and being able to make prints at home that rival any professional service is awesome. There are two companies that really make great products here… Epson and Canon. My personal favorite is the Epson P900 which is really a professional grade machine that makes up to 17”x22” prints. The best paper is from Red River.

Medium Sized Gifts ($100-$150)

Camera bags, whoa Nellie, this is a big and passionate subject for me… I’m kind of a bag guy. There are three brands of bags that you can’t go wrong with… 1. Think Tank, 2. Domke, 3.Peak Design.
My current favorites:
1. Peak Design Everyday Tote - This bag looks great, has magnetic closure, and can be carried in a variety of ways (including shoulder carry, backpack carry, and as a regular tote). It holds, at most, one camera and three lenses plus a tablet and accessories. Downsides include that it’s not very expandable in the sense of stuffing things into it and it won’t hold an open position to work out of, instead, it snaps closed automatically most of the time. Other pros are that it does stand up on it’s own and it does a nice job of protecting your gear without screaming “camera bag”. 4/5 stars for me.
2. Think Tank Retrospective 7 v2.0 - This is a classic style bag that can hold way more than it appears. You can hold 3-4 lenses and a camera in this bag, but it can also handle a strobe, trigger, and a ton of other stuff if you need to cram it full. The shoulder strap is super comfortable and you can use it while it’s on your shoulder. The bag can close with velcro or you can silence it with special covers for use in more locations. This one is a real shooters bag… all function.
  3. Domke F-2 - These bags have been around since the 70’s and they largely look the same. They’re really well made, easy to use, and hold a ton of gear. The Domke J1 is one of my favorite “pro” bags and the f8 is just a smaller version of that. Highly recommended if you love a tough but retro bag… iPads need not apply.
Lights. There are two main types of lights that I carry in my professional work and both can be so helpful to parents. The first is an LED panel like this one. LEDs are a great source of constant light so you can use them for both video and stills. They allow you to see what you’re doing before you start recording, and if you’re in the dark, they help any camera get better focus. The second is a traditional flash or strobe. The big benefit to a “real” flash is that you can get a lot more power from them, so they work in more situations than an LED. If you buy a good strobe you can also use it to make very pretty light by bouncing or modifying it.
1. My favorite LED lights are from Aputure/Amaran like this one. Be aware that you do need to buy these from a good brand. Cheap lights often give your photos and video a strange color cast (usually green). Also, make sure it’s dimmable.
2. The best value for dollar flashes on the market are from Godox/FlashPoint (same brand) and I really recommend this one. This flash is so great, with tons of power. If you want to get fancy you can tilt and swivel the head, and if you want to get really fancy you can buy two and they’ll talk to one another. If you want to take your photo game to a new level… get a flash. When you buy a Godox flash you must match it to the brand of camera you use (Here’s the one for Fuji) and the model I recommend is the Godox/Flashpoint TT685(F/O/N/C/S) where the letter corresponds to the camera type.

Memory Cards. You can really never have enough of these, and while they’re not a really exciting gift, it’s so nice to have a good size collection of them. Plus new ones speed up workflow. My favorite brand of SD cards, since that’s what most people’s cameras use, are the TOUGH brand from Sony. The main problem with SD cards is that they’re not very rugged and they can break, bend etc. if you’re not careful. The TOUGH cards from Sony have really reworked the durability of the card and put some of the best internals inside. The current king of the hill for consumers (pros are another story) are UHSII speed cards which come in v60 and v90 speeds. I know that’s a lot of junk specs but here is a link to my favorite card that will be awesome for 99% of us.

Smaller Stuff - $50 and under

Bags within bags - these essential little bags really help me stay organized and ready for a shoot. You can stuff them with cables, batteries, caps, etc. so they don’t go wandering around inside a camera bag.

Think Tank Cable Manager - very small but holds at least 25-30AA batteries or 6-8 cables, plus some adapters.
Peak Design Tech Pouch - this is a larger bag than the TT Cable Manager but it should hold almost every accessory a photographer has in their bag. Cables, adapters, cleaning stuff, cards, laptop accessories etc.
Straps - Straps are a deeply personal issue for me. I’ve been a professional shooting for 25 years now and I’ve tried a number of straps. Only two (still being made) have made the cut and it would only be one if I didn’t do a lot of video too these days.

1. The Think Tank Strap - If you never take your camera strap off this is the one to get. It’s also the one to get if you’re 99% shooting stills or if you just like using one shoulder to carry your camera. It’s basic but also fantastic. The strap features really great grip on both sides, old school strap mounting that isn’t bulky/obtrusive, and these straps last forever. No fuss and super functional.

2. Peak Design Slide Strap - OK so the great thing about these straps is that they are a three piece design. First you have the anchors which attach to your camera, and then you have the main strap which goes in between the two. By detaching the strap in the middle, which can be done easily and quickly, you can remove your strap for use on a tripod etc. You can also resize the strap quickly to go between behind-the-neck, bandolero, and shoulder carry. One big downside is that the attachment points for the strap are quite bulky compared to a normal strap and there’s only marginal grip on one side of the strap. I’ve adopted these mainly because if I want to use a tripod or gimbal I like not having to detach my strap to make that happen.

3. Batteries - My advice is to by the OEM batteries and dual chargers from Amazon. The 3rd party batteries available today have what look like big inconsistencies with quality. Some people love them and others have horror stories. My advice is to stick to the original brand of battery, but if your camera comes with a single-bay battery charger Amazon has a bunch of options where you can get an inexpensive dual setup to save space and babysitting time.

Instant Film

Instax Mini Camera including a kit with film/case/album/batteries

Instax Mini Frames (just one idea of many types)

An Instax camera - These cameras are really fun and a great way for kids (and grown-ups) to make images at the holidays or on vacation. You always come away with actual prints they can hang on a wall, put in a frame, or share with a friend. They come in three types- mini (2x3ish inch prints), square 3x3ish inch, and Wide 3x4ish inch prints. I have all three and my favorite is square because it reminds me of old polaroid film. Be aware that there is an increasing cost for each larger size, and typically the mini has the most availability when it comes to film when shopping.
An Instax printer - OK these are so great because they really bridge the gap between an Instax camera and your phone. You use this printer with an app to print any image you want on your camera roll. There are at least two sizes, mini and square, with I believe a wide version rumored on the way.
Instax film - You can get color or black-and-white film in each of the different formats, but just like my childhood, once you’ve loaded a roll you have to finish it to change back.
Instax frames - These are so fun and a great way to give away your Instax prints.