I hope you all had a great holiday, and were able to buy the things you needed, wanted, or for gifts. In the spirit of the season, here is a clip from Mad Men with the best pitch of all time.

I know that many times the photos/video we make are not personal, but business.

This product, no longer used or made, gives a reason for its being.

Yes, more product reviews and gift guides coming up!

Ok, let’s talk about audio.
You know that it’s 50% of your content, unless it’s bad. Then it’s 80%

Remember there are links to all of the gear mentioned for your ease of deeper diving.

When you want the choice to go more mobile, connect directly into your camera , or to a portable mixer, this now standard from Rode, the Rode Wireless Pro just works . With a receiver and 2 wireless mics, you can quickly hook up your subjects for an interview situation. Plus this new setup gets you 2 lavalier mics for a more discreet mic situation.And finally, a compact charging and storage case. In NYC, I’ve seen the local news station using these as they cover the local beat.

This new version features a 32 bit float, which is essentially a secondary recording that can ensure a quality recording when you go to edit. Basically a secondary track with a lower audio ceiling so you do not get “clipping” or distortion. N0t able to use that feature direct into your camera, but it’s your audio  insurance. Read more about 32 bit floats here.
Good news is that it is also compatible with a lot of other Rode products. Honestly it may be a bit harder to find due to the popularity, but worth the hunt.

They have just introduced a smaller set of 2 mic/transmitter plus a receiver called the  Micro 2-Person Ultracompact Wireless Microphone System with USB-C Connector

It is aimed at the mobile creator, and is about 1/2 the price of the Wireless Go, although you get a lot less in the package and versatility. It is available in USB-C OR Lightening plug.

Another solid choice is the ProMic from Shiftcam, Compact shotgun, comes with a fuzzy cat, bag, and, for me, one of the best features is the headphone jack so you can monitor the audio. Nothing like knowing you are getting the audio you need! Only about $79

Looking like many mini mics on the market, and a nice compact package.

In the same vein, is the Joby Wavo Pro mic. A fave of Casey Neistat, this mic has the capability of adding another mic, like a lav, on the body so you can mix your questions, with the respondees answers with no moving back and forth.

Plus it has multiple DB or sensitivity options that you can adjust on board depending on your subject. You can record a second track, similar to a 32 bit float, giving you recording insurance.

It is going away so the prices have dropped, dramatically. you can pick one of these up for about $129!

If you can sit down with your subject, get a couple of the classic Shure SM58

Add in 2 Manfrotto PIXI tripods, best solution I’ve found and your set. When you buy the Shure mics, you’ll get the mic holder you need. What I like about this tripod is the height it sets the mic at. Perfect!

Let’s go more pro, if you want to get some of the best:
Sennheiser receiver/ transmitter system has been in my kit for years,

For lav mic I prefer the Tram tr50

,
or the Sanken COS 11-D

It’s funny, as i think the Tram is more popular on the west coast, and the Sanken on the east coast.
If you live in a major metropolitan city, like AL, Chicago or NYC, I would suggest going into a local vendor to actually hear the mics to make your best choices

If you are going into podcasting world in a studio or stationary place, a perfect mic is the
Shure SM7B

Couple it with the best headphones Sony MD 7506, around $90
Yep, that good for the best price. Nice and flat so you can mix as you like. Get one for each of your guests

What do you plug into for your podcast?
If you are going to be stationary, I’m partial to the Rodecaster Pro.

Yes, there is a newer version, the Rodecaster Duo, smaller footprint, only takes 2 mics, plug in or the wireless Go series, but the original still does everything I need and more. Plus they do firmware updates, so a great unit at a reduced price.



which mixes, records, and exports to my fave podcasting platform, Anchor, now owned by Spotify. Once you export to this platform , it will send your podcast to all the majors.

For the pro needing a small footprint, If you are on the move, and really only have need for no more than 3 mics, the MixPre 3II is a great choice, with a reduced form factor and high end pre-amps, 32 bit float, and some of the best preamps around.

plus support with upgrades to the firmware when needed. While I love this mixer, I use jingle pads (added sound buttons) on all podcasts, so it does require editing and mixing after a recording. Good time to engage with your 32 bit float as well. Super high quality, however. The pro unit.

Pack all of that into an Orca bag , (click the link for options) . Your size needs will vary, so choose the bag based on the gear you’ll transport and use.

More guides coming!!

Ahhhh, the holidays!
One of the joys of gathering with friends and family is sharing the good times, current, and those in the past.
Sure, we live on screens, send digital files to each other on all the socials, yet sometimes a physical remembrance goes a long way. Nothing to open up. It’s just there.
Like a printed photo.

Growing up we always had Polaroid cameras around, to say nothing of the countless envelopes of 4×6 prints from the one hour photo, but those have gone the way of the dodo.
This season is the perfect time to enjoy and embrace this type of photography.

The company doing the best job in keeping this flame alive is Fuji with the Instax line.
Whether you are shooting with an Instax camera with 3 possible sizes.
(mini, square, or wide) OR taking the photographs you made on your phone and printing them out with a variety of film types, an even a montage of images per frame. Plus you can give a print immediately if you are an event or street photographer.
Here are my favorite cameras, and printers per format:

FUJIFILM INSTAX LINK WIDE Smartphone Printer
One thing I will point out is the wide printer which also give you the option of adding a QR code to the print, which can be a voice recording, a location, or, get this, maybe a link to your website! There is also that QR feature available in the mini line of printers

Yes, I have used preferred image with a QR code, as a handout for special client so they can have an original photo and it’s an interactive experience with the QR code. It works! Yes, Springsteen from some glory days and my music photography

FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI LINK 3 Smartphone Printer

FUJIFILM INSTAX SQUARE LINK Smartphone Printer

FUJIFILM INSTAX WIDE 400 Instant Film Camera

won’t lie: wish there were other color choices.

FUJIFILM INSTAX SQUARE SQ40 Instant Film Camera

FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 40 Instant Camera and Monochrome Instant Film Bundle

I know what you’re thinking. Love the physicality of the photos, but how about the cost of the film? Maybe this hybrid is more what you are looking for:

The Fuji Instax Mini Evo!

Shoot film AND digital at the same time! Maybe decide what to print later? Or keep it digital and connect to the Fuji App! It is from the mini series only. Internal memory holds approximately 45 still images and a microSD/SDHC memory card slot can be used to expand storage capacity.

There are other companies joining into this revival with printers of their own.

Canon SELPHY Square QX10 Compact Portable Photo Printer, Instant Photo Printer, Mobile Friendly, AirPrint, Black make a much thinner print than Fuji and app options are not as great.Still, a good option to consider

Getting back to Polaroid, there have been attempts to resurrect the brand, and that is because something in us knows that holding a photo is a special thing.I wa a huge fanboy, and only recently sold a Pola 110b using peel apart film, and said goodbye.

There are a few models in the current line-up.

Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 i-Type Instant Camera with App Control

The reviews have suggested that you may need to take more photos than you wanted to to get the proper exposure. Plus the cost of the film is much higher than the rest.

Here is a bit of nostalgia:

Hope you all had a wonderful feast on Thanksgiving!
Maybe you got the gear purchases sorted, and maybe you’re still making the list and checking it twice

There will be more gear lists ready for Cyber Monday, don’t worry!

This year, some of our favorite galleries and photo organizations are doing Black Friday sales!OK, some are holiday sales,so not as intense of a rush!

Like Magnum:
A prestigious organization of celebrated photographers, started by people like Henri Cartier-Bresson.
This year they have sales on a few of my favorite things. If you were ever thinking that photos in the past, primarily commercial photographs, weren’t worked on, here is some of the proof that master printers had hands on these. Make sure you check out some of the options for prints.  Below is a photo of James Dean, with printing notes.

and then they have enlarged contact sheets from some famous sessions. get an insight into a photographer’s mind, and what images were made around the final one chosen.
A unique offering.

Contact Sheet Print: Marilyn Monroe. New York, 1956

And AIPAD, the association of international photographic arts dealers, who mount one of the finest photo art fairs in the world, have selected some photographs to add to your collection, or give as a gift.

Robert Langham III Mourning Dove Twister, 2018 Silver gelatin print Edition of 20 + 2 AP Image: 10 x 8 in Unframed $750 KOSLOV LARSEN Gallery

One of my favorite photo organizations, Aperture, is as a major book seller. Shop their curated collection at a nice discount right here . Plus there is a special new edition of the Americans book, a classic, in a slipcase.

Morrison Hotel Gallery, the premier place to purchase original photographs of the artists of the musical world is offering their version of Black Friday, with discount print, AND in some cases free framing.
Yep, having a print is nice, but putting a framed piece on you wall is the best!
Check out some of the images available of your favorite musical artists, taking by the master of the category!

John Lennon, New York City 1974

There we have it for today!

I’m out testing, trying, and getting ready for reviews, more gear.

I hope you get yourself, and your giftees, some of the fruits of your favorite art in the form of photo books, and/or photos for the wall.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you are getting ready to watch the Macy’s Parade, or maybe putting together your Black Friday/Cyber Monday gift buying guide, here is a list of the guides to where we are at to date to ease your shopping questions.

The categories:

*Get A Grip

*The Tools You Need

Media Storage & Drives

*On the Road Again

Mobile Content Creation

*Camera Bags

*Power Up

*Software

Oh yes, there is more to come! Have a great turkey day!

The Classic Meal Add-On!