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.)
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.
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.)
