The Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals on Amazon for Photographers in 2024!

I wait alllll year for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and in case you didn’t know, Amazon’s Black Friday Week starts today, November 21! As a photographer, I’m constantly buying gear, accessories, batteries, memory cards, lenses, cameras, everything. It’s just part of the job. But I truly hate overpaying for basic things that I need to help run my business. Every year, I spend the weekend after Thanksgiving updating my gear, refilling my fridge with film, stocking my battery drawer, and occasionally, gifting myself with a camera or lens that I’ve been eyeing all year. :)

I wanted to share a few of the deals I’ve been keeping my eye on this year. These are all great gift ideas for photographers. Or if you’re a photographer yourself, it’s that time of year to buy yourself a little something for all of your hard work! There’s honestly no better investment in your business as a photographer than an incredible lens or camera. It will only help your business grow, prove your professionality, and encourage you to grow as an artist.

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

  1. CANON 5D MARK IV

    If you’re looking for a workhorse of a camera to start your photography business with, the 5D Mark IV is on sale! This is my main digital camera. I use it to photograph weddings, events, musicians, portraits, food, landscapes, etc. It’s incredibly versatile, has dual card-reader slots, great battery life, and is a tried and true DSLR camera in the industry. I originally started my business with the 5D Mark II back in the day and eventually upgraded to the 5D Mark IV. You can read my full blog post about it here! It’s currently on sale for $2899 and comes with a 24-105mm f/4 IS II USM lens! And don’t forget to pick up a super fun vector star filter like this one if you want to get experimental! If you’d prefer a mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6 are also majorly discounted. I currently use the original Canon EOS R as my backup camera, but the R5 and R6 are the newer, updated versions and are equipped with even more settings and upgrades. The images I’ve taken with my EOS R are ridiculously sharp and it has amazing low-light capabilities. You can read more about it on my blog and see samples photos here! If you’re hoping to stay in the $500 range, the Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera is on sale too! You honestly can’t go wrong with Canon. Just start where your budget allows and then upgrade over the years as you’re able!

2. GO PRO HERO 12 BLACK

I’ve been through about 5 Go Pros over the years because every time they come out with a new one I want to buy it! I love them so much because they are super tiny and inconspicuous, but are capable of capturing high quality video during my travels. I’ve used Go Pros for years to film parts of YouTube videos when I'm traveling, and for secondary angles when I’m filming videos at home. Plus, they are so fun to take underwater if you’re at the beach or somewhere tropical and want to spy on the fish creatures. They are pretty incredible little cameras. The Go Pro Hero 12 is $100 off at the moment! You can check out the deal here! And make sure to pick up a GorillaPod too, which is also on sale for Black Friday! The Go Pro Hero 11 is also on sale here if you’d prefer to save a little cash!

3. APPLE 2024 MACBOOK AIR 15-INCH LAPTOP WITH M3 CHIP

There is nothing better than a good laptop deal during Cyber Weekend. Every few years I’ll cave in and upgrade to a new one. This year, the 2024 Macbook Air 15-inch laptop with 512 GB SSD storage is running for only $1199, which is honestly incredible. Sadly, I’m not in need of a new laptop at the moment, but if I was, I would totally go for this one. You can find the deal here. Just don’t tell me that you got it because I’ll be majorly jealous. I currently have the M1 14-inch Macbook Pro and I’m obsessed. I even posted a YouTube video about it here! All of my Macbook computers have lasted forever. As in, they never actually stopped working, I just grew out of them and ended up selling them. I’ve never had one die on me. But I would also consider myself a responsible laptop owner and try not to drop it, bend it, or spill anything on it.

4. FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 11 INSTANT CAMERA

This is one of those deals I actually might seriously take advantage of this year. I currently have the Instax Mini 8, which works just fine if you know what you’re doing, but the Instax Mini 11 is fully automatic and is super easy to use. The Instax Mini 11 would be great for a photographer at any level - beginner, amateur, professional… it doesn’t matter. They’re fun for anyone. Plus, they are tiny and cute and colorful. Everyone should have one if you ask me. :) Check out the current $59 deal here! Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a super cute carrying case that is also on sale here!

5. SANDISK 128GB EXTREME PRO SDXC UHS-I MEMORY CARD

Not the most exciting gift in the world, but I can tell you from experience that having a large memory card makes all the difference, especially if you’re shooting weddings. It’s important to replace your old memory cards every once in a while too, just so you don’t end up in a bad situation with a faulty card. The SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card is only $18.99 at the moment so make sure to snatch one up here! I’ll likely be grabbing one or two or three of these for myself too!

6. POLAROID NOW+ GENERATION 2 - CAMERA + FILM BUNDLE

I have enough Polaroid cameras to last a lifetime, but I always want more! They’re so cute and collectible. What I love about the Polaroid Now+ is that you can get super creative. It comes with lens filters, multiple exposure options and even has bluetooth connectivity. You don’t necessarily need to be a professional photographer to use one of these, though I would say you need a bit of patience to get used to the various settings. I’d just read through any paperwork it comes with first so you know how to get the best photo possible in different lighting scenarios. Amazon is currently offering a camera + film bundle so make sure to check it out here!

7. EMART BACKDROP STAND 10x7FT (WxH) PHOTO STUDIO

If you’re starting to build your photography studio, the EMART backdrop stand kit is only $37.99 at the moment. You can’t really get much better than that! Not to mention, everything folds up really small and fits into the carrying case. It’s the perfect addition to any home studio. There are different size options available too. I’m in the process of building a studio shed in my backyard so I’ll be picking up another one of these soon. I like to have 2-3 backdrop set-ups prepared for shoots, just so my clients have options. And I’d also recommend scooping up a Neewer ring light. They’re 30% off for Black Friday! I use mine for literally everything. Sometimes even as my only light for in-studio photo shoots!

8. BEATS STUDIO PRO - WIRELESS BLUETOOTH NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

Creating this list is just making me want everything… I’ve been unhappy with my current headphones and have been on the lookout for noise cancelling headphones for a LOT of different reasons. My husband is a musician so he’s literally always making noise - whether he’s playing guitar, drums, piano, or just walking around the house singing, it never ends. I’m just over here trying to focus and get some work done! I like to watch relaxing tv shows or listen to music while I’m photo editing because it helps pass the time and makes the experience a little less daunting. I also travel a lot and airplanes are SO LOUD. I’m extremely sensitive to sound, especially when it’s a stressful sound (like terrifying random airplane creaks and groans) so I’ll definitely be considering upgrading to these Beats Studio Pro headphones

9. SONY ALPHA 7R V CAMERA

If you’re more of a Sony camera person, or more of a videographer, then you might want to check out the Black Friday deal on the Sony Alpha 7R V Full-frame Mirrorless Camera. The Sony a7 III is also on sale WITH a 24-70mm lens for only $1498! If I wasn’t so obsessed with multiple exposures, I’d switch to Sony. Their cameras are insanely sharp, fast, and compact. I seriously considered switching to Sony before I bought my Canon 5D Mark IV, but it just didn’t make sense for me personally. If you’re wanting to focus more on video but still want to be able to take incredible photos, Sony is perfect for that. I’m just more of a photographer first, videographer second. You can find out more about the current discount on the a7R V here! If you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend so much money, the Sony ZV-1F is also on sale for only $398. It’s particularly great for vlogging and YouTube videos, and isn’t quite so chunky and intimidating.

10. AMAZON GIFT CARDS

If you truly can’t decide what to get for someone, you can absolutely never go wrong with a gift card. Amazon has a million different gift cards to pick from throughout Cyber Weekend. Definitely take advantage of that while you can, even if it’s just buying yourself a gift card to use next year when you’re in need of something for your business. I mean, why not?? You can look through the gift card options here!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I hope this list helps you come up with a few gift ideas for the photographer in your life. Or if you’re a photographer yourself, I hope this list reminds you to invest in your business and believe in yourself! I’ve been a full-time photographer since 2012 and it all started with my first Canon 5D Mark II. It truly only takes one amazing camera and one amazing artist to create a successful business.

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more Black Friday/Cyber Weekend camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

10 Perfect Gift Ideas for Film Photographers from a Photographer's POV

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Film photography can be a bit of a niche thing and not everyone knows what kind of film or gifts to buy for the photographer in their life. Every year, I end up sending a list of links to my friends and family members with very specific kinds of film and camera gear that I want. Otherwise, no one has any idea what to get me! I’m here to help you find that perfect gift for the film photographer in your life. These are all things that I want too, so *hint hint*, if you’re a friend looking for a gift for me, any of these will do. :) :) Here are 10 Perfect Gift Ideas for Film Photographers from a Photographer's POV!

Holga 135BC

1. HOLGA GCFN OR HOLGA 135BC

If you follow my work, you know the Holga GCFN is my all-time favorite film camera. It’s a 120 film camera and is super affordable, quirky and fun to try out. Every photographer should have one of these, in my opinion. Even if they don’t end up using it, it looks cute on a shelf! It’s a great way to start learning film photography too because it’s easy to use, hard to break and exciting to experiment with. It’s known as a “toy” camera because it’s made of plastic and the photos have a very specific vignette to them, giving the images a surreal and moody atmosphere. I’m obsessed with the Holga camera, which is why I made this blog post and this YouTube video about it. :) The Holga comes in a ton of different colors, which is also why it makes a great camera to collect. I’m currently working on owning one of every color and so far I have about 10 different ones! The colorful ones are more likely to be found on eBay, bought from a secondhand seller. Currently, only the classic black style is being produced, which you can find brand new on Amazon. Hopefully, one day they’ll start producing the colorful ones again and they’ll be a bit easier to find. If you’re photographer friend prefers to shoot 35 mm film, there is a super cute red version that you can buy brand new on Amazon here. I have a blog post and YouTube video about the 35 mm version too! It’s just the 120 version that is currently only available in black if you prefer a brand new camera. And there are other versions of the camera, I just prefer the GCFN version because it has a glass lens, as opposed to a plastic lens, which I find to be a bit sharper.

WHERE TO BUY:

Holga GCFN 120 Camera on Amazon
Holga GCFN 120 Camera on eBay


Holga 135BC Camera on Amazon
Holga 135BC Camera on eBay


2. PROFESSIONAL AND UNIQUE FILMS TO TRY

This might seen obvious, but sometimes as a gift-giver, you might have no idea what film to buy for the photographer in your life. If you’re looking to impress, you can never go wrong with Kodak Portra 160 (available in 120 or 35mm) or Kodak Portra 400 (available in 120 or 35mm). It’s quite pricey but is known as one of the best and most accurate color films out there. I hardly ever buy it for myself because of the price, which is why it would make a great gift. Trust me, they won’t be disappointed! If you’re looking for a more affordable, normal film, Kodak Gold 200 is always great too (also available in 120 and 35 mm)! If you’d prefer to buy a more unique and fun film, I’d recommend Lomography LomoChrome Purple (120 or 35mm) or Turquoise (120 or 35mm). These are exactly what they sound like - a purple film and a turquoise film. Not all photographers are down to experiment with these kind of colors but personally, I love them! I’m always looking for ways to make my photos more unique. You can also check out my blog post about some of my favorite color 35 mm films here if you’re interested in reading more!

WHERE TO BUY:

Kodak Portra 160 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Portra 160 35mm film on Amazon

Kodak Portra 400 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Portra 400 35mm film on Amazon

Kodak Gold 200 120 film on Amazon
Kodak Gold 200 35 mm film on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Purple 120 on Amazon
Lomography LomoChrome Purple 35mm on Amazon

Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 120 on Lomography.com
Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise 35mm on Lomography.com

NEOPAN ACROS 100 35mm II (new version)

Amazon

eBay

NEOPAN ACROS 100 120 II (new version)

Amazon

eBay



Polaroid 600 One-Step Camera

3. POLAROID CAMERA

Another camera that every photographers should try out at some point! I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love a polaroid. And while those Instax mini’s are cute and great, there’s something classically special about the standard, old school polaroid. For a while, the Polaroid brand was dead and gone. But a company called The Impossible Project began producing film to work with vintage polaroid cameras. It wasn’t the most reliable film at first, but they eventually procured the rights to the Polaroid brand and now produce consistent, beautiful film that works perfectly with vintage polaroid cameras. They also make brand new polaroid cameras, like the, which are also fun and would make an incredible gift! There’s nothing like an instant photograph. it’s a great way to capture moment with friends and families, especially during the holidays! You can scoop up vintage ones on Amazon ( I prefer the classic Polaroid One-Step 600 camera) or Polaroid’s new cameras like the I-2 or Polaroid Now, on Polaroid.com. Plus, they have TONS of other gift ideas on their site, including Bluetooth speakers, camera straps, frames and film styles. They always have great Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

Vintage Polaroid One-Step 600 on Amazon
Vintage Polaroid One-Step 600 on eBay

Polaroid I-2 on Amazon
Polaroid Now on Amazon

Polaroid.com for the I-2 and Polaroid Now



4. RING LIGHT

If your photographer friend has a small studio or likes to take portraits, a ring light is a great gift. I always have a ring light set up in my studio because it’s the perfect amount of light for a perfectly exposed polaroid portrait. They’re a great fill light but can also be used for a million other purposes. If your photographer friend shoots models, it’s great for a makeup artist to use while getting ready for the shoot. The Neewer 19-inch ring light that I have has temperature adjustment, an iPhone selfie holder and brightness control. It’s extremely easy to use and automatically makes every photo look amazing. It’s great for TikTokers too!

WHERE TO BUY:

Neewer 19-inch Ring Light on Amazon




5. SSD DRIVE

My husband recently bought a Crucial X6 1 TB portable SSD to use for his work but I ended up stealing it from him because it’s so amazing! For years, I’ve used normal external hard drives and have had issues with them disconnecting from my computer, breaking or just not showing up when I plug them in. An SSD, or solid state drive, doesn’t have any of those mechanical disks inside that are so easy to break with the traditional hard drives. Plus, the one I have is super small, easy to travel with and has tons of storage space. These are incredibly handy for dropping files onto them after a shoot, especially if you’re traveling and worried about losing your files. They’re super fast, shock-resistant and reliable. Photographers can never have too much storage space, especially if they shoot video or scan their own film in high resolution. Those files can take up tons of space and this is the perfect solution for that and is much easier than those desktop hard drives that are huge and unsafe to move around. 

WHERE TO BUY:

Crucial X6 1 TB Portable SSD on Amazon

6. ONA BACKPACK OR BAG

ONA is a stylish and long lasting brand of camera bags and backpacks. I’ve had two different ones over the years and I’ve loved them both dearly. They are extremely well-made and the quality is top notch. Any photographer would/should be stoked to receive one of these! I started off with the Monterey style but ultimately switched to the Clifton style because it had space for more cameras. I shoot with a LOT of different film cameras and I typically travel with at least 5 cameras in my backpack at any given time. The inside dividers are adjustable so you can change them to fit all of your weird quirky camera shapes. I also love that they have a refurbish program that I plan on taking advantage of soon. I’ve had my current Ona backpack for at least 10 years and it’s probably about time for a little TLC. For $50 you can send it in and they’ll repair and treat the leather or canvas to make it look brand new! It’s definitely on my Christmas list to myself this year to send mine in and get that done. :) I’m hoping to scoop up one of the shoulder bags one of these days too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

ONA The Monterey Leather/Waxed Canvas Backpack
ONA The Clifton Camera Backpack

7. FILM SCANNER

I’ve had my Epson V750 for over 10 years and have definitely run it into the ground. A nice film scanner will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. I scan all of my own film so I never have to pay a film processing company to do it for me. Plus, I get full control over how my images turn out. I can color adjust before or after scanning, depending on my preference, and I can scan in incredible high resolution to make gigantic prints. These scanners last forever. The newest version is the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Photo Scanner. They aren’t cheap but you have to think about it as a long term investment. Scanning film after I get it back from processing is one of the most satisfying and fun parts of my job as a photographer. It’s also just fun to learn the process and to have that control that allows you to fully make your photos your own. 

If you’d prefer a film scanner that’s less expensive and much smaller, you can try the Kodak Slide N Scan Digital Film Scanner or Kodak SCANZA Digital Film & Slide Scanner.

WHERE TO BUY:

Epson Perfection V750-M Pro on Amazon

USED Epson Perfection V750 Pro on eBay
Epson Perfection V850 Pro on Amazon



8. FUN FILTERS & PRISMS

If you’re looking for something that is quirky, lighthearted and not too expensive, you can always get them an interesting filter or prism to use to create unique photos. I love getting weird with my photos and trying out new techniques. I’ll shoot through empty plastic bottles and clear plastic sandwich bags to create a different atmosphere with my images, but a prism or rainbow filter would probably be a bit more of an exciting gift to open! You could go for the NEEWER 58mm Kaleidoscope Prism Lens Filter or the KOGJAERS Prism Glasses 79mm Handheld Kaleidoscope Prism. These would make great stocking stuffers too! 

WHERE TO BUY:

NEEWER 58mm Kaleidoscope Prism Lens Filter on Amazon
KOGJAERS Prism Glasses 79mm Handheld Kaleidoscope Prism on Amazon





9. STORAGE BINDERS FOR NEGATIVES

Storage binders for loose negatives are a great gift too. These are a necessity in my life. I’ve filled quite a few of these over the years. If the photographer in your life tends to leave their film negatives strewn across their house, this is a great way to help them organize them and keep them safe. Make sure to get the sleeves too (available for 120 film or 35 mm). I label all of my binders and negatives and finally have a good system down. Plus, the negative sleeves that go inside are archival quality and will keep the negatives safe for many years to come! 

WHERE TO BUY:

Vue-All Archival Safe-T-Binder with Rings on Amazon
Archival 120 Size Negative Pages, Pack of 25 on Amazon
Archival 35mm Size Negative Pages Holds Seven Strips of Five Frames - 100 Pack




10. GIFT CARDS!

When all else fails, an Amazon gift card is always great because you can find the majority of film styles and cameras on Amazon. KEH camera is another great idea because they sell used camera gear. The majority of film cameras are vintage and used, and keh camera has a great system of checking and rating the quality of used cameras and lenses. I’ve ordered quite a few cameras over the years from KEH and have always had a great experience. If you know that your photographer friend prefers eBay, you can always pick up a gift card there too! 

Amazon Gifts Cards

KEH Camera Gift Cards

BONUS IDEA:

I’ve been using Smugmug as my online gallery/storage system for over 12 years. I upload my photos directly from Lightroom and keep all of my photos organized in galleries by year, photo shoot, location or film type. I honestly don’t know what I would do without smugmug. I send gallery links to all of my clients through smugmug and from there, they can download the photos in high-res, order prints and gifts and share the links with others! Not to mention, the smugmug app keeps my photos accessible at all times, and even backs up the photos and videos on my phone! It’s an amazing online storage service and is super affordable for what you get, in my opinion. You can get 15% off of a subscription for your photo friend here!

I hope these ideas help you in your search for the perfect gift! As a full-time photographer, I would be thrilled with any of these gifts and I really think the photographer in your life will love them too!

Have a happy holiday season! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

#commissionsearned

<3 Myles