Everyone knows a creator—everyone is a creator. Being a creator is easy these days, especially with so many different social media platforms available to share your work and interact with others. There are also those among us who get way into it and want their streams, TikToks, YouTube videos, or Instagram posts to be the best they can be. If you know someone like that and want to find them the perfect gift, we highly recommend checking out this list.
1. Smartphone Gimbal
With video becoming incredibly good on mobile devices, the ability to make that footage look even better has been in high demand. Enter the smartphone gimbal. The one thing that ruins a lot of footage is a shaky cam, and the smartphone gimbal is an easy way to smooth out every take. Our recommendation is the DJI OM4 SE. This portable gimbal has a stronger motor than its predecessor and has a magnetic mount, so it isn't a pain to attach your phone.
2. LED Ring Light
With an LED ring light, you will look stunning in your next TikTok, thanks to soft shadows and circular catchlights. Look no look further than the Raya Bendie-Brite Folding USB Bi-Color LED Ring Light. Measuring 10" in diameter, it is very manageable and is USB powered to run from a computer, power bank, or standard 10W USB power adapter. It also has a flexible mount that fits most smartphones, as well as a ball head for easier mounting. Plus, it folds in half for storage and travel and has a cold shoe to add other tools, like a mic.
3. USB Microphone
Audio is super important for almost all time-based media, whether that is a stream, a team meeting, a video voice-over, or a podcast. A USB microphone that plugs right into your computer is one of the best solutions for most people. RØDE hasn't led us astray yet, so its NT-USB Mini USB Microphone, with its "studio-quality" mic, is going to be a great but affordable choice.
4. Portable RGB LED Light
Not too long ago, if you wanted to add a splash of color, you needed a library of finnicky gels to put in front of your lights. Now, we have a wide assortment of RGB LEDs that can be tuned to millions of colors and be programmed for special effects—think lightning, emergency lights, fire, and more. Luxli has been doing well with its Orchestra-series LEDs and has just released the Fiddle, a pocketable RGBAW LED light that can help you light up a subject or background with ease.
5. HDMI to USB Capture Device
Everyone experienced a moment this year in which they realized that their computer's built-in webcam is bad. Really bad. And to make things worse, many have lamented the fact that they had a nicer camera sitting next to them not doing much. Now you can connect your camera to your computer with an HDMI to USB Capture Device. I'm liking the Atomos Connect 2 4K because it will accept a 4K signal and then convert it to the universal USB Video Class standard (UVC) so that it's compatible with most software, such as OBS, Twitch, and YouTube Live.
7. Wireless Mic System
When you start getting into more involved setups with tripods and lights, you'll want to get out of the habit of only being an arm's length from the camera. In this case, you'll be looking to maintain audio quality at a distance—and it's 2020, so we are all finished with cables. RØDE's Wireless GO II 2.4GHz system is what we recommend. This system is solid because it is easy to use and the transmitter has a built-in microphone, in addition to a 3.5mm input, so you are ready to go without any wires whatsoever.
9. Portable Camera
A little pricier than your average stocking stuffer, a pocket camera can be a huge help for creators looking to get something better than their smartphone without relying on a larger mirrorless kit. It's hard to go wrong the DJI Pocket 2. It's small enough to fit in a pocket, has a built-in gimbal, and has awesome 4K video capabilities. You can get smooth handheld footage without any effort and in a comfortable form factor.
10. B&H Gift Card
When in doubt, you can't go wrong with a B&H Gift Card. Also, if this is truly a last-minute gift purchase, electronic gift cards will be delivered faster than almost anything else and you won't even have to leave your room!
The holiday season is quickly coming to a close, so you are going to want to jump on this before it's too late. And if you still need help figuring out what to get that special someone, our sales team is always willing to help—or you can drop a comment or question below.
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