Aspiring Photographer? Grab these Black Friday deals to get started

websitebuilder • 21 November 2019

Do you love Black Friday as much as I do...

I'm a big fan of Black Friday... while some retailers use it as an excuse to get rid of old stock, you can actually pick up some really great bargains… Especially if you go in prepared. For me, the key is knowing in advance what you want to get your hands on, and checking out current, and historic prices. 

Camel Camel Camel is a really fantastic place to check out if this is a real bargain or not. If you type in the name of the item you’re looking for, it will not only show you what Amazon (and other retailers) are currently selling it for, but will track their historical prices to show if the “previously sold at” price it is being discounted against, was actually the general price of sale for a consistent period, or actually just a spike on the price so they could say it had previously been more expensive.
Graph showing the historical prices for items from CamelCamelCamel.com
And that brings me on to a few deals I have already spied that I think would be great for an aspiring photographer who wants to get some kit to play around with and take some nice photos at home of their family and pets.

This camera, the Nikon D3500, is actually the newer version of the first DSLR I purchased when on my Honeymoon 9 years ago. I had no idea at the time that my new hobby, would by the end of that year, become my new career as a photographer. 

This is a great little camera, and in this deal comes with the 18-55 non VR kit lens for £299 gives a saving of £180.00 (38%) and is less than the camera is selling for on it’s own, so you’d be crazy not to get the combo… 

Don’t get me wrong, you’re probably not going to become the next Yongqing Bao who won the prestigious wildlife photographer of the year 2019 title for his image The Moment, using this camera, but it’s a really lovely entry level camera for someone who doesn’t have thousands of pounds to shell out just yet, for what can become a very expensive hobby.
Nikon D3500 camera
So, you’ve found the camera, now you need memory to store your images. For the above camera this comes in the form of an SD card… I use SanDisk's most powerful SD memory card for maximum speed, performance and reliability. The SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card provides uncompromising image and 4K UHD video quality from your DSLR. Transfer speeds up to 95MB/s move your data fast. Write speed of up to 90MB/s handle rapid shots, sequential burst mode, and RAW plus JPEG capture with ease. This is the card that means I never miss “the” shot when shooting fast moving dancers and dogs.
SanDisk products are constructed to the highest standards and rigorously tested. You can be confident in the outstanding quality, performance and reliability of every SanDisk product.

And at just £9.99 from pic-stop, with 70% retail price, this black Friday it’s an absolute steal.
Sandisk Extreme Pro 32GB SD memory card for DSLR camera
Once you've brought your camera, lens and SD cards, you need to keep all that kit safe, so a protective camera bag is a must. 

I've had a few myself, and most recently pimped up a rucksack designed as a nappy bag, because I loved the design, it had enough zips pockets, compartments and pouches for my main camera, spare body, all my lenses and even snacks and for when I’m photographing a wedding. For just the one camera though, something much smaller will do. I love the National Geographic Australia Camera Holster/Belly Bag for CSC to keep your photography gear safe. The combination of materials used is inspired by the red and blue of Australia’s outback and seas. It is designed with careful attention to detail and premium materials: earthy-red, genuine Italian leather and water-repellent fabrics evoking Australian scenery and colours. On the inside, the bags feature a colourful eucalyptus-leaf print lining reminiscent of Australia’s typical natural landscapes. A fresh look and essential design helps photographers keep a casually low profile while gear is kept safe by the renowned Manfrotto Protection System.

Perfect anywhere - from desert to downtown – this bag fits a Compact System Camera with kit lens and additional standard zoom lens. By simply removing the internal divider, it can also fit a medium DSLR camera. It can be used as a traditional holster or as a belly pouch by detaching the shoulder strap and re-attaching it to the rings on the back of the bag. When a smaller size is enough, the two buckles can be attached to each other, making it more compact. A front zip pocket provides additional room for your belongings. At just £29.95, 50% off from its usual price of £59.90 it’s a bargain from Manfrotto.
Manfrotto  NG Australia camera bag for DSLR, and spare lens
Keep an eye out – I’ll be releasing information on more early Black Friday ideas over the next week, and a heads up that I might just be releasing one or two unbelievable offers myself.

If you'd like to be the first to know about my deals and offers, sign up to my Newsletter by telling what you're interested in on my contact form - Beginners Photography courses, studio photoshoots, on location shoots, weddings, dance shoots and events... See my gallery to find out more about my work.

by Joanne Lewis 4 December 2020
A picture of Santa and me...
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... Buy one, Get one Free*
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... a second print using the same photo for free*
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... a mounted print of a photo she's created for me*
Gift Voucher for Photography Sessions
by Joanne Lewis 26 November 2020
I couldn't let Black Friday 2020 go by without some amazing deals for my wonderful and valued customers... I've missed you all so much this year, but have loved the few shoots I was able to squeeze in between lockdowns and Home Education. With all the optimism I can muster for next year (I am naturally a pretty positive person) I am offering some spectacular deals on vouchers for my Hertford Studio and outdoor or on-location sessions next year (packages may be given as gifts, but please confirm preferred locations around Hertfordshire and some parts of London, Cambridgeshire and Essex with me before booking).
by Joanne Lewis 28 October 2020
You will need: an egg box scissors black and white paint paint brush googly eyes glue (hot glue gun ideally) black felt tip pen string or ribbon for hanging
by Joanne Lewis 28 October 2020
You will need: an egg box scissors white paint paint brush black felt tip pen or sharpie goggly eyes and glue (optional)
by Joanne Lewis 28 October 2020
You will need: an egg box scissors Orange (or yellow and red) paint paint brush black felt tip pen or sharpie lollypop stick glue green paper/card for leaf
by Joanne Lewis 28 October 2020
You will need: an egg box scissors black paint paint brush googly eyes glue Red paper/card for bow-tie White paper/card for shirt and teeth
by Joanne Lewis 28 October 2020
You will need: an egg box scissors green and black paint (or I used a green egg box for the head) paint brush googly eyes glue black paper/card for hat orange paper/card for hair 
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