Every year around this time, my inbox turns into a graveyard of forwarded deal links from photographer friends who don’t have time to vet anything themselves. I get it. The window is short, the discounts are loud, and separating genuinely good deals from repackaged mediocrity takes more homework than most people want to do on a holiday weekend. I’ve been tracking gear prices in a spreadsheet long enough to know that “50% off” sometimes means “50% off a price nobody ever paid.”
That’s why I appreciated this Tony & Chelsea Northrup Cyber Monday breakdown. Watch the full tutorial on YouTube - they move fast and cover a lot of ground. These are creators who actually use this stuff daily, not just unbox it for views. Their list mixes photography essentials with broader tech tools, which is honest, because most working photographers are also podcasters, video editors, and content creators managing a whole ecosystem of gear. Here’s what they covered, what I think about each pick, and where I’d put my own money.
Step 1: Start With Education Before Hardware
Chelsea talking about the Art and Science of Photography course
Before they get into any physical gear, the Northrups lead with their own photography course - over 10 hours of video covering everything from camera fundamentals to compositional theory drawn from masters like Ansel Adams. During Cyber Monday it was 40% off standalone, or bundled with their full book library at 50% off.
I usually skip the self-promotion sections in tutorials like this, but I’m including it here because the advice underneath is sound: before you upgrade your camera body, consider upgrading your eye. I started with a $300 kit camera and shot a wedding that ended up in a local magazine. The gear wasn’t the variable. If you’re earlier in your photography journey, spending $50 on structured education will outperform a $500 lens upgrade almost every time.
Step 2: Check the Joby GorillaPod - Multiple Sizes, Stacked Discounts
Joby GorillaPod tripod visible in the shot, being used on set
The Joby GorillaPod they’re using to film the video itself is highlighted as a Cyber Monday deal, with discounts ranging from 50% to 65% depending on the weight capacity you need. The key variable here is payload - you need to match the tripod’s rated weight limit to your camera plus lens combination, not just your body weight.
This is one of those products I’ve tested multiple times across multiple price points. The Joby holds up. It’s been in my bag for years. If you shoot on location, in tight spaces, or need something that wraps around a pole or rail, there’s genuinely nothing in its category that does it better. At half price, it’s an easy recommendation.
Step 3: Smart Home Tech That Works For Working Photographers
Amazon Echo on display, Chelsea demonstrating voice command
The Northrups mention Amazon Echo devices being on sale across all sizes, and they frame it specifically around productivity - setting timers, controlling lights, playing music during shoots, reading back information hands-free. They also bring up the Nest doorbell camera as something that protects gear deliveries, which is a real concern if you’re regularly receiving expensive equipment at home.
This might feel like a stretch for a photography deals roundup, but I actually agree with including it. Studio environment matters. I’ve used smart bulbs and voice control to set lighting moods during portrait sessions without breaking the flow of a shoot. The overlap between photographer workflow and smart home tech is bigger than most gear sites acknowledge.
Step 4: Sony Full-Frame Bodies at Significant Markdowns
Sony camera deal mentioned, Chelsea listing a7R III and a9 discounts
Here’s where it gets serious for anyone considering a full-frame jump. The Sony a7R III and Sony a9 were both listed with substantial discounts - the a9 at $1,000 off. They also mentioned Nikon D750 and D500 bodies bundled with vertical grips at reduced prices.
A word from someone who tracks this obsessively: these Black Friday and Cyber Monday full-frame deals are often the lowest prices of the year. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about moving to full-frame, this is genuinely when to pull the trigger - not because the hype says so, but because the price history supports it. Cross-reference anything you’re considering on a price tracking tool before you buy. Don’t take any retailer’s “regular price” at face value.
Step 5: The Parrot Anafi Drone - A Legitimate Alternative Pick
Tony holding the Parrot Anafi drone, showing its compact size
Tony specifically calls out the Parrot Anafi at $550 as his most-used drone - which is notable because they have access to far more expensive options. His reasons are concrete: the camera position eliminates propeller intrusion from the frame, it’s compact enough to travel without a dedicated case, and it charges via USB so you don’t need an additional charger in your bag.
That last point is undersold. Travel photography is already a weight management exercise. Cutting one proprietary charger out of the equation is a real quality-of-life gain. If you’ve been looking at drone options and assumed you had to go DJI to get quality 4K aerial footage, the Anafi is worth researching seriously.
Step 6: Wacom Intuos Drawing Tablet for Photo Editing
Chelsea using Wacom Intuos tablet for photo editing at desk
The Wacom Intuos was listed at $50 off, and Chelsea’s case for it is more practical than most: she uses it as a general mouse replacement because of repetitive strain from extended editing sessions. Eight years of daily use on her own unit, still running fine.
If you do serious retouching in Lightroom or Photoshop, a drawing tablet changes how you work with masking, local adjustments, and healing tools. The pressure sensitivity alone makes dodging and burning feel natural instead of mechanical. At a discounted entry price, the Intuos is one of the better investments a post-processing-heavy shooter can make.
Step 7: Blue Yeti Microphone for Video and Podcasting
Blue Yeti microphone visible on desk during recording
The Blue Yeti rounds out the list as a discounted pick for anyone doing video narration, podcasting, or YouTube content alongside their photography. It’s a USB condenser mic with a solid reputation and enough polar pattern flexibility to handle most home studio recording situations without additional gear.
Photographers who monetize through video content know that bad audio kills engagement faster than bad footage. A mid-range USB mic at a holiday price is a smart buy if your current setup involves a built-in laptop mic or a cheap lav.
What I’d Add: The 5-in-1 Reflector at $15
The Northrups briefly mentioned a 5-in-1 reflector for $15 and moved on quickly. I want to stop and highlight it, because this is exactly the kind of deal most people scroll past in search of something more exciting.
A reflector controls natural light, fills shadows, and cuts your dependency on flash in outdoor portrait work. I’ve done blind comparisons with groups of photographers - the difference a $15 reflector makes in a backlit shot versus no reflector is immediately obvious. The difference between that $15 reflector and a $60 brand-name version is almost invisible. This is the deal on the list most likely to improve your actual photos.
The single biggest takeaway from this roundup is that the best Cyber Monday deal is the one you’ve already researched. The Northrups’ list holds up because every item comes with a specific, practical reason they use it - not because it has the largest markdown or the most impressive spec sheet. Shop the same way.
Watch the full tutorial on YouTube to see the gear in context and catch any additional links they reference in the description.
Comments (2)
This is the kind of content that keeps me coming back.
Excellent tutorial. I'd add that from a business standpoint, this technique is incredibly versatile.
Leave a Comment