It might be your parent, partner, friend, or sibling, but we all have a person — or two — in our lives who loves all things photography and videography gear. You know what to get them, but your tech knowledge might be limited to DSLR cameras and lenses.
Fear not, because we have you covered.
Seth Miranda, photographer and host of Adorama’s “Live View” show, breaks down all of the technical jargon and has put together this gift guide of cool and affordable gear the photo and video enthusiast in your life will love.
Rosco Color Gels ()
Gels are a fun way to add something different to your shots. You can add colored shadows, sculpt light . If you’re not sure which gels to get, Seth recommends the Rosco CalColor Kit and Rosco Color Correction Kit.
Domke Protective Wrap ()
Thinking practical? Reach for the Domke wraps. They’re made of padded, velcro-compatible knit with a non-scratch nylon backing that you can wrap around your lenses and stuff in your bag.
Op/Tech Rainsleeve ()
Stay on the practical route and help them protect their gear from extreme cold conditions with the Op/Tech Rainsleeve. For only , this accessory will wrap the camera but won’t hinder the image. It doesn’t go over the lens and the viewfinder glass, but it protects their expensive camera.
Aputure M9 LED Light ()
The Aputure M9 is the perfect stocking stuffer for the filmmaker in your life who’s always on the go. It’s a powerful LED fill light that fits in your pocket. It’s perfect for your friend who’s always shooting videos on their phone or covering events.
Atmosphere Aerosol Haze/Fog Spray ()
If you’ve been watching Seth’s “Live View” on Instagram every Monday, you’ve seen him use the Atmosphere Aerosol. No need to lug around a heavy fog machine or look for a power outlet. The Atmosphere Aerosol is like a fog machine in your pocket.
MicroGAFFER Tape ()
Every photographer and videographer loves gaffer tapes. It’s the quick fix for everything and unlike duct tape, it won’t leave any residue. The tape is also color-coded so you can mark your gear, color code your cables, and mark the floor for your talent. Seth recommends the Adorama microGAFFER tape because they’re very compact (only 1” wide) so you can easily carry a few wherever you need them.
Joby GorillaPods ( – )
GorillaPods are perfect for content creators on the go because no matter where you are, you can grip and mount your gear onto something. If you don’t have the ability to carry around a big tripod, you can find a tree or a pole or anything that’s tall, wrap the GorillaPod (the 1K, 3K, or 5K) and you’ll have yourself a steady mounting point.
Rode Microphones SmartLav+ Lavalier Microphone ()
If you’re wondering what Seth uses to record audio for his YouTube videos and Instagram Live, it’s the Rode SmartLav+ microphone. It gives your videos a more professional sound and they’re portable, so you can carry it and be ready whenever you need to record audio.
Joby GripTight PRO Smartphone Mount ()
Another piece gear he uses for his weekly Instagram Live videos is the Joby GripTight PRO Smartphone Mount. It fits any smartphone and offers a robust, locking, and rotating solution for more optimal set-up of photos and videos.
LaCie 2TB Rugged Thunderbolt Hard Drive ()
Hard drives are often overlooked when people are shopping for gifts. They aren’t necessarily exciting purchases for content creators but they are very crucial to their kit. Seth recommends the LaCie Rugged 2TB or higher.
Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker ()
Looking to liven up your shoot with some music? The Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker is a small, but powerful Bluetooth speaker for only . One cool feature for photographers is the magnetic strap. You can wrap it around a light stand and now you have music while shooting in the studio or on location.
Tether Tools Mounting Plate and Extension Cables ( – )
The Tether Tools TetherBLOCK MC Multi Cable Mounting Plate is a lifesaver. It fits under any camera to prevent unwanted movement and damage to your camera data port connection. To go with this, you can get them any Tether Tools extension cables.
Ricoh Theta V ()
If you’re looking to really impress someone, give them the Ricoh Theta V 360 Degree Camera. It’s easy to use and compact enough to carry everywhere. With just one button, you can record high-resolution, 360-degree still images and 4k videos at 30 fps.
Tenba Reload Memory Card Wallet ()
The Tenba Reload Memory Card Wallet is another great stocking stuffer. It’s perfect for someone who shoots weddings, events, or anyone who needs to mark their memory cards and keep them in one spot.
Fujifilm Instax Smartphone Printer ( – )
One of the coolest gifts you can give on this list is the Fujifilm Instax SHARE SP-2 Smartphone Printer. Your friend can finally take all those photos on their phone and print credit-card sized Instax photos. You can also print in square format with the Fujifilm Instax SHARE SP-3.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 ()
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 is a fun gift for your photographer friend who needs a break from taking commercial photos. They come in different colors and are perfect to use during holiday family gatherings.
Check out the video below to see all of the products in action and let us know what you think. Follow Seth at @LastXWitness and tune in every Monday at 3 pm EST for his “Live View” on @adorama’s Instagram.
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