Thursday Thread #119

 

Hey there! I have something a bit different in store for today’s Thread, a gift guide for the photographer in your life! Whether a novice, a photography enthusiast, or a bonafide pro, they are sure to like these gift ideas that I have put together; there’s a little of everything on this list!

 

 

 

1. Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Film Camera. This little guy is so much fun. I got it last year for Christmas from Santa and it is hands-down one of my favorite gifts ever. They come in several different colors (I have white) and are super easy to use. You end up with the most adorable little polaroid-type photos, which are great for regular displaying, OR you can use them to make unique gift tags, magnets, or a mini photo album. The possibilities are endless! ~$100

 

 

2. Chatbooks. I know I have mentioned this company before but I really REALLY love them and I know you will too once you try them out. For $6ea, you can get a 60-page, 6″x6″ book of your favorite images. And almost all of their options have free shipping — sweet! I recently took advantage of their subscription option where you create a series of books based on your Instagram images and they automatically ship your next book to you once you hit 60 images. You can choose to omit the photos you don’t want, customize the titles and covers, and have all of your favorite images in a beautiful, tangible product. The pages capture the dates and captions of the photos too, which is so convenient! After spending only 30 min or so culling through and selecting all of the images I wanted in my books, I was thrilled when they finally arrived (they shipped all of the 60-page books from the start date I chose — two years ago when we were pregnant with Bree — until now) and Chatbooks continues to send me a new book every month or so once I hit 60 new images. It is so special to me to have all of these photos in one place, just in case something ever happens to my Instagram account! ~$6

 

 

 

3. LightScoop Deluxe. I have featured this little device in all of my workshops because it is the coolest, most affordable contraption for taking photos using your camera’s built-in flash. I first reviewed the Original LightScoop a few years back, but I think they have made major improvements with the release of the Deluxe, including a swivel feature so you can bounce flash easier. The LightScoop “redirects the small light from your camera’s built-in flash to the ceiling or wall, creating a larger source of light that comes from a natural direction (rather than from the middle of your forehead). Softer, more diffused light coming from a natural direction will instantly improve your photos.” Find out more using the link below! $36.95

Click here to purchase the LightScoop.

 

 

 

4. Editing Day Mug. This mug is perfect for those of us who spend what feels like eons editing images! I love everything about its whimsical design and Click and Blossom has even more fab photo-based products in their Etsy shop. Not an avid photographer? Don’t you worry. Click and Blossom’s shop includes a number of other items that would be great for the non-photographer too (moms, dads, bloggers, fashionistas — you name it!). $16

 

 

5. 50mm Prime Lens. Everyone asks what the best non-kit lens is, and in my opinion, it’s the 50mm prime. Prime means it’s a fixed focal length (you cannot zoom in or out). The cool thing about this particular lens is the great depth of field (blurry background) and bokeh (out-of-focus points of light) you can achieve.  Canon makes three: the 50mm f/1.8, f/1.4, and f/1.2. The price jumps significantly from the f/1.4 to the f/1.2 since it’s an L series lens, but the price point for the f/1.8 and f/1.4 are extremely reasonable, especially for the quality and variety you get when compared to your kit lens. So I always recommend the 50mm f/1.8 to people who don’t want to spend a ton (~$100), but want a great prime lens, and the 50mm f/1.4 if they want to go a step up (~$400). I reviewed several Canon lenses here, including the 50s. Nikon users don’t fret, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 is a great option for you! ~$100-400

 

 

6. Multi-Card Reader.  I could not live without a card reader and aside from a great camera and quality lenses, I think this ranks up there as one of the most important pieces of ‘gear’ you can have, especially if you shoot a ton of photos! I had this one to begin with and it worked well for a while, until it didn’t. It fell apart recently and the cord connecting it to the computer eventually stopped fitting snugly so I purchased this reader a few weeks ago and am loving it so far. Plus, the price is awesome. So why get a card reader instead of plugging your camera into your computer to download images? The list is extensive, but I will summarize by saying that it’s safer, faster, and you can download from several cards at once. ‘Nuff said 🙂 $12

 

7. Kelly Moore Bag: Ponder. I have a few Kelly Moore Bags and I love them for their stylish look paired with great functionality. The Two Sues is my go-to bag right now but Kelly Moore has come out with a few new collections this year and I am really wanting to switch to the Ponder bag. With its completely removable padded basket, eight convenient pockets, and its NYLON fabric, it’s a total dream come true. Being a mom has made me greatly appreciate nylon and all things wipeable, and the Ponder bag seems perfect for balancing the role of mom and photographer. This bag is currently on pre-order but there are so many lovely options you could choose from if you need something sooner, or if you want something different. They have it all. $229

 

 

 

Hopefully this list will help you with your gift-giving (or getting) as we draw eerily close to Christmas — just 14 days, y’all!! Have a wonderful rest of the week, and have fun shopping!