A Photographer’s Gift Guide

jamie_beck_photography_gift_guide

I love photography. I love giving and receiving the gifts of photography and what freedoms those items serve to create, to be inspired, to think about photographs in a more meaningful way. These tools, ever changing, are an important part of being a photographer, professional or hobbyist. While I haven’t come anywhere close to owning every photography book or testing every camera I can share with you what I personally have loved and think would be great for anyone interested in the art of capturing life.

Cameras

Sony a7RII: Perfectly small, amazing quality, this is my go-to travel camera. Because you can connect the camera to the app on your phone you can instantly upload photos to put onto instagram or as I have been doing for these self portraits, using it as a remote shutter release. These are the accessories I love to use with it:

Impossible I-1 Analog Instant Camera: As a huge lover of photography dating back pre-digital era I am always keeping up with my vintage film and polaroid cameras, a dying tool I try to preserve in my arsenal of gear and knowledge. I was thrilled with Impossible released a new version of an old instant polaroid camera so modernized you can control and shoot with in from an app on your phone… as you can tell I’m a fan of remote shooting. The photos this camera creates are soft, dreamy and otherworldly and fit right into my vision of the world.

*FYI, giving away TWO of these later this week! Follow on instagram for the announcement!*

 

Canon 5D series: I have been shooting with the Canon 5D series for around 7 years and it has honestly been the best professional camera experience I’ve had. I’ve used this camera to shoot ad campaigns, fashion editorials, images for brand Zines and brand lookbooks, all my NYFW coverage, brand travel stories and so many other … pretty… little… things.

I started out with the Canon 5D Mark II and now shoot with the Mark III. They recently released the Mark IV which I myself have my eye on. Did you know, we created our first Cineamgraph with the Canon 5D Mark II because of it’s capability of also capturing high quality video! These are the accessories I love to use with it:

 

Gear

Gitzo Tripods: I’m 100% loyal to Gitzo tripods. I’ve been using them since college, I believe they are the best. For travel and in Provence I have been using the Gitzo GT0532 Mountaineer Tripod which is perfect size to carry around easily, fits into my duffel for travel, and is light weight while still insanely sturdy. On the head I use a Gitzo Series 3 GH3780QD Center Ball Head which is absolutely my favorite way to shoot on a tripod. Back at the studio we use a Gitzo Series 5 Systematic 3 Section Long Tripod. This is a very heavy duty piece of gear and holds our bigger cameras such as the Red Epic, Pentax 645z and my large format film cameras typically with a Manfrotto 502 fluid head.

MYDigitalSSD 512GB: Super tiny, super fast and affordable SSD hard drive for location shooting.

LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB drive: Our go-to higher capacity drive, great for backups. Also comes in 1TB and 4TB.

iCloth Screen Cleaning Wipes: Your camera screen gets smudged, your phone has fingerprints all over it. Keep a few of these in your camera bag for a quick clean up.

 

Camera Straps

Photojojo Handy Dandy Hand Strap: I’ve had this one strap for years on my Canon. I love it because it’s padded and sturdy for a camera of this size. It’s so warn in now from all we’ve been through the leather has turned a beautiful patina and at $40 you can’t beat it. *see above camera and strap on far right in the top image*

Gordy’s Camera Straps: This is what I have attached on my Sony a7RII. More delicate, minimal, lighter but still solid leather quality, I’m absolutely loving it. And, they are made to order so you can decide what color leather and stitching matches your personality best. Oh did I mention, they start at $18!

Wood & Faulk Neck Strap:  Another strap I’ve had for years, this is the only neck strap I use. I like the extra width for the pressure on your neck or shoulder while maintaining a nice simplicity of design. The leather has worn beautifully, something that will last forever. Comes in tan, dark brown, and natural.

Camera Bags

Billingham 550: If you were to buy one camera bag for your entire life this would be the one. This is my camera bag, this will always be my camera bag and though it’s a splurge it’s also forever.

ONA: Made in New York City, this is a more fashionable approach than your traditional camera bag. From cool backpacks to women’s handbags, they keep your style intact and your gear safe.

Pelican Case: This is for when I mean serious business. There is nothing cool or chic about the way this case looks but when I’m traveling on a big job, carrying a lot of valuable gear, it’s typically too heavy for a shoulder bag and I wanted everything to be as secure as possible. I like that I can roll this through airports, it can stack with luggage and I can put a lock on it for security. It also doubles as a great apple box on location when you need to stand on something to give you a little more height!

Sachtler SC306 Camera backpack: Our backpack for video gear. It’s big, but not big enough that it weighs a ton when full. It fits in overhead compartments on airplanes, has a slim pocket for a laptop and enough room for all the camera bodies and lenses you need. It also stands upright which is a lot more useful than you might imagine.

Photography Books

At Work by Annie Leibovitz: An amazing behind the scenes account by one of the most famous photographers of our time on her career, photoshoots and how some of her most famous images came to light.

Peter Lindbergh: A Different Vision on Fashion Photography: One of my favorite photographers, this book is a beautiful collection of four decades of some of the most iconic fashion photographs in history in his signature black and white. I also love Untitled 116 and Images of Women.

Blood Sweat and Tears by Bruce Weber: An amazing retrospective of one of the greatest American fashion photographers of all time with his beautifully candid and so Americana imagery. The perfect coffee table book that keeps you inspired time after time.

Tim Walker: Story Teller: For those who see the world as a magical place… this is the picture book to end all. For those young creatives with imagination just starting out, Tim Walker Pictures, offers a glimpse into the artistic process.

Herb Ritts: L.A. Style: Some of the most beautiful black and white photographs of fashion, nudes and celebrities the world has ever seen by L.A. photographer Herb Ritts famous for his striking simplicity and powerful natural light imagery. The Golden Hour is a more intimate look into the journey of the photographer himself.

Passage: A Work Record by Irving Penn: One of my all time favorite photography books, this covers all aspects of Irving Penn’s work from fashion to portraits, to his iconic still lives you see hanging on museum walls.

Hold Still by Sally Mann: An intimate dive into the personal history and life of photographer Sally Mann and how that plays out into her esteemed body of work in this interesting memoir.

Edward Weston: 125 Photographs: Containing some of the most striking nudes and still lives in the history of photography, this book is a timeless tribute to the quiet vision of a master photographer.

Imogen Cunningham 1883 – 1976: One of the most prominent women in the history of photography and a pioneer of photography in her own right, this book is a beautiful collection of her most striking photographs from portraiture to flowers.

On Photography by Susan Sontag: A marriage of ideals between the history of photography and what was happening culturally in America in the 1970s that still hits poignant moments relevant to today’s digital society.

Above self portrait taken at my home in Provence with a few of my favorite cameras wearing Of A Kind Permanent Collection and Retrouvai Heirloom Signet Ring in an image inspired by a Francesco Furini painting.

10 Beauty Products for your Retro Diva

You know my affinity for all things vintage and classic… well here are the 10 beauty products I use everyday to transport myself to a world of silver screen gents and sparkling lights…

If your girl is anything like me these will be home runs

1. Start Blissful! Everyday I take care of my skin with these steps (their products smell so good!) and every night I protect it with this

2. Flawless skin! Inspired by old Hollywood movie stars, I even out my skin tone with MAC Studio Fix Fluid. 

3. Let Secrets be Secrets. Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage for under eyes and little “problems”… for extra umpth I use the light side as a highlighter on the top of my cheek bones, eye brow bones, down the bridge of my nose and center of the chin for some photo-perfect contouring

4. Power Puff. I finish out the contouring by using this MAC Blot Powder (I use the tone “Dark”) on my cheek bones, creases of my eyes, down the sides of my nose and under my jaw line. 

5. Apple Cheeks! Right in the apple of my cheeks and give it a nice healthy pop of red with this NARS Powder Blush in Exhibit A, makes you look like a doll!

6. The Framery. Eyebrows frame the face, just look at Hepburn or Bacall, so I give them the Hollywood shape with Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil!

7. All about Eyes. I keep it simple, Le Métier de Beauté in Sugar all over and Tamarack in the crease and at the lash line. For night time I do an extra application of Tamarack for very hooded eyes… ooo la la

8. Play ‘em up. Mascara, mascara, mascara… I love mascara! I do lots of coats of MAC False Lashes mascara which I love because it makes big glossy lashes that don’t smudge around the eyes yet washes off at night easily. 

9. Flirty Eyes. This is where it gets good. It doesn’t take much, just 5 to 7 flares per eye to fill it in but it makes all the difference especially in photographs! I do this almost every single day. 

Step by Step:

  1. Squeeze a TINY drop of Duo Eyelash adhesive (I use dark tone and prefer Duo as it does not damage your natural lashes and washes off easily)
  2. Using tweezers pull 1 flare and lightly dip the base end in the glue. 
  3. With the tweezers holding the flared end set them on top of your eye lashes as close to the base as possible but not on the eyelid. 
  4. Repeat as much as you like! 
  5. Let dry for 5mins or so then apply a final layer of mascara then gently pinch the false lashes to your real ones to give a seamless illusion. 
  6. Bat those babies and break hearts.

10. Paint it RED. What is a retro diva without red lips?! This is my go-to, all time favorite combo. Start on the outside of lips with Cargo Reverse Lip Liner (I use “light”), draw the shape and fill in the lips lightly with MAC Lip Liner in SPICE, Then top it off for show with MAC lipstick in LADY DANGER. VOILA!

10 Great Gifts for the Man in your Life

Guys are hard to shop for right?! That’s why this list is curated with his help! I can tell you, I live with most of these dude things around me so they are From Me To You approved and even at times borrowed because I like them myself!

Here we go:

1. Brompton – Guys love transformers and this is that in real life. A bike perfect for a city dweller meaning you never have to leave it chained up outside to inevitably be stolen. #HardFacts

The best place to buy it from in the US! NYCeWheels

2. Rare Beer Club – Make your beer guy happy at least once a month. This beer club (I mean, can’t you already hear the men grunting) will send your guy 2 rare beers a month… hopefully he will share.

3.  Pro-Ject Debut III – the simplest record player on the planet (from a woman’s perspective) but men love it…. at least mine does

4. Of a Kind – Falling line tie bar by Nikolai Rose, make him your modern day Don Draper. Enough said.

5. EVRT – City Towel – some men like to cook and these are designed smartly by a man who does. OR perhaps if he doesn’t stir the pot then having cool kitchen towels will get him in there with you….

6. Bosca – Old leather toiletry kit – uber classic so he can use it forever. Psst- have it monogrammed for extra umpth somewhere local or Things Remembered can usually monogram anything.

7. Brooks Brothers –  Monogrammed cuff links… I gave him a pair as a thank you gift after this because I told him he will wear them 20 years from now and think of me.

8.  Echo – Echo Touch Gloves because men love gadgets and this way they can look up directions to dinner in the cold while on a date with you 🙂

9. Marshall Minor – Earphones guys love because they are “comfortable, sound great and easy on the drums… of the ears that is”.

10.  Restoration Hardware – Artisan Leather Laptop Sleeve. Makes him look like money. 

I’d love to hear what your guy’s favorite gifts are!…

Now let’s get back to shopping for the girls. 

10 Great Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Girl

Stockings are a B-I-G deal at my house, they totally outshine the other gifts.. maybe it’s because you can be more creative, or it’s because it comes in an oversized sock that it’s way awesome but I take this very seriously.

I was so lucky to experience a lot this year and travel to so many wonderful places. Along the way I picked up tips, tricks, and perfect holiday gifts for my friends and family! Here is what I loved in bite sized pieces, perfect for a stocking stuffers this year:

1. Deborah Lippmann Nail Care set – The basics which I discovered during NYFW, this is her most popular but THIS has become my color ALL-YEAR-LONG. Loooovvveee.

2. Jo Malone – While shooting in Malibu I became exposed to the world of Jo Malone… which I ordered  for my own home….. in-between shots.. on her kitchen counter… with his credit card (muwhhaaa) PS- This is my fav.

3. Patrick Roger –  While in Paris I fell hard for chocolates… THESE chocolates to be exact. *licks fingers*

4. Kate Spade – Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!… but these are a guys- they don’t break the bank! While shooting Katie Ermilio’s Spring lookbook, she outfitted model Rosie in the simplest Kate Spade diamond studs which were just trés chic!

5. Echo Design –  Winter gloves that work with your touch screen devices so you can INSTAGRAM with warm fingers!I discovered these in Boston just as the air started to turn crisp for fall.

6. Oscar de la Renta –  Esprit d’ Oscar Solid Perfume Ring. While backstage shooting at Oscar de la Renta’s NYFW show (ok… I do just love saying that) all the girls were wearing this ring, not to mention SHE always smells so good and that’s a good way for people to remember you.


7. Of a Kind – Buy limited edition, from an artist. Every month I shoot with these girls who run this awesome site that collaborates to make limited edition pieces with designers made by hand. Perfect stocking stuffers would be this or this or that. oh yeah.

8. Savannah Bee –  I popped down to Savannah, GA for some R&R and to stock up on their winter white honey! In tea, on cheese, on a spoon in my mouth… it’s perfect.

9. Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica – Shhhhhh! Beauty secret! While over at her place to shoot some beauty stories I met Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica & fell in love. It’s a pretty penny but it will make you look like one too 😉

10. Charm Co. – This is a special one… one you keep forever. Fathers to daughters, husbands to wives, boyfriends that want to get lucky.

PS- Beer, Wine & Liquor would be on this list but it seems the internet is a little old fashioned… 

Happy Holidays!

10 Great Gifts for your Budding Photographer

I know this is categorically dorky but I can’t tell you how exciting it is when you have an interest in photography and get a new toy to play with. Over the years I’ve seen and done it all and these are 10 of my favorite fun photography gifts to date! Perhaps perfect for that someone who also likes capturing life through a lens this holiday season…. 

1. LomoKino 35mm film Movie Maker– you know, like how your grandparents made home movies but with 35mm film (much easier to buy & process)

2. Handy Dandy Hand Strap – because neck straps are not boss.

3. Lensbaby – because it makes the world a dreamy place.

4. IMPOSSIBLE – anything from the Impossible Project! Find an old camera, pick up a couple packs of film and photography goes back to one of those magical & innocent times.

5. Fuji Instax 210 – Because sometimes you want to point & shoot, watch it appear, then pass it around.

6. ONA Camera Bag – Chic. That is all.

7. 50mm Lens – If I could shoot with only one lens, a 50mm would be it.

8. Old School – Nothing is more fun than an old 35mm film camera (that’s how I got started!) and some good old fashioned black & white film.

9. Polaroid GL10 – How I like to print my Instagrams so I can actually hold them.

10. Mini Diana – Takes 35mm film and ever since I saw her pictures with one I’ve loved it.

Happy Holidays from my camera to yours!