2013 TPW Team Favorite Things

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We know there are some of you out there who still haven’t finished your holiday shopping.  Have no fear – your TPW team is here to share some of our favorite things for gift inspiration!  Or maybe you just want to put some of these items on your own list for Santa…

Lynne Rigby
Orlando, FL

Sony RX100
AMAZING point and shoot. I bought this with the intention of buying the underwater housing for it, but the $900 for that didn’t make it in the budget this year. It’s a great camera to take to concerts and places where you can’t or don’t want to bring your DSLR. I chose this one because it has manual mode and it opens up to ƒ/1.8.

Lifeproof Nuud iPhone Case
Since I didn’t buy the underwater housing for the RX100, I wanted to take pictures underwater somehow and that brings me to this case. My husband has the original Lifeproof case and I don’t like the screen protector on it and I know I would lose the headphone jack piece. Enter the Nuud. No screen protector, it’s thinner and the headphone jack cover is attached. The only drawback is the sound seems to be trapped in the case and my 13 year old claims that he knows kids who have blown their speakers when their volume is too loud.

Vello Freewave Remote
I love it because you don’t have to have direct line of sight, so you can hide it when you’re in the picture. I’m sure I don’t use it to its fullest extent, but it’s so much better than my previous $19 remote.

Creative Cloud, iCloud, Lightroom Smart Previews and MacBook Pro
Two weeks ago none of this was on my list. My old laptop was about 5 years old and it was a barebones refurbished MacBook Pro – it didn’t have enough RAM to run anything but Lightroom. So if I had to do anything substantial, like write lessons or reformat them, then I’d have to head upstairs to my office – away from my family. Thanks to the clouds, I have everything I need on either of my computers – always up to date. Yes, I know that I could have used dropbox for that all along, but for some reason this way makes more sense to me.

Sarah Phillips
Boston, MA

Silver Jeans:  Suki
I love these jeans!  They’re comfortable, very flattering and well made.  They come up high enough to keep your bum covered and prevent muffin top but they’re most definitely not mom jeans!  Rear pocket placement is fantastic!  The denim is soft and comfortable but not stretchy, so there’s no unflattering sagging even if you wear them for a few times before washing.

Booty Barre
One of my top resolutions for 2013 was to get rid of the “Josh weight”.  He was three and I was tired of feeling frumpy and out of shape. Six months of Booty Barre 3 times a week and I have never looked or felt better. If you want to try an effective and really fun workout, I encourage you to find a barre class.  It’s an intense but gentle workout so it’s perfect for all fitness levels.

PicTapGo
Leave it to the folks at TotallyRad to come up with the perfect mobile editing app.  PicTapGo is quite possibly the best $2 you can spend.  While it has fun, creative filters, the real genius lies in it’s “Lights on” and color correction filters.  Making iPhone pictures look clean and pretty has never been easier!

Powell & Mahoney Vintage Cocktail Mixes
All natural and completely delicious.  Their Low Cal Margarita mixer blows the competition away and I’m currently obsessed with their  Lemon Sour with bitters mixer.  Cheers!

Jessica Gwozdz
Bellingham, WA

Finum Brewing Basket
I am hooked on tea and I especially love mixing loose teas to create my own combinations. This brewing basket is perfect for that and I use it every morning. I have tried several single-cup brewers and this is my favorite. The mesh is fine enough that no leaves or flakes get into the tea.

Timbuk 2 Snoop Insert
The extra small is big enough for my D700 with a long lens on it.  What I like about this insert is that it zips closed and is easy to throw in a tote bag with other non-camera things.

Vitamix 5200
What wonderful things can I say about the Vitamix that have not already been said all over the web?  It’s expensive but worth every penny.  Rarely does a day go by that I don’t use it.  I just regret that I waited so long to get one.

Colorescience Line Tamer Skin Brightening Primer
This primer is a miracle in a bottle.  It removes redness, minimizes pores, provides sun protection, and gives your skin a smooth matte finish, all without clogging your pores.  You almost have to see it to believe it.  Friends who have tried some of my primer have been rendered speechless and immediately ordered some for themselves.  For a finished look, dust a little Sunforgettable mineral powder over your face afterwards.

Allison Chewning
Memphis, TN

Buffalo Plaid Flannel Boyshirt
The relaxed fit of this shirt goes so well with my laid-back style. I love that the flannel will keep me warm and cozy all winter, and the buffalo plaid makes my black-and-white-pattern- loving-heart happy!

Kindle Paperwhite
I held off on getting one of these for years, because I had an iPad and thought I wouldn’t use it. Boy, was I wrong! It’s so small and lightweight, plus the screen doesn’t hurt my eyes if I’m reading for a long period of time. I can even read at night in bed! I don’t go anywhere without it now.

Kelly Moore Libby Bag
I literally carry this bag every day! It is so versatile, I use it as my camera bag during photo shoots, my carry-on item when traveling, and to tote my planner, lunch, and other essentials to work. I have it in orange, but I’m lusting after the new gorgeous green color!

Urban Ears Plattan Headphones
I love listening to music or an audiobook while I clean, cook, or do chores- these headphones are so comfortable that I can wear them for hours! They are also perfect for watching Hulu on my laptop while I edit on my desktop. I’m not the only one that does that, right?

Katherine Clayton
Hoopeston, IL

Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Who knew that the coconut oil I bought for baking could be such a fantastic beauty product?!? I use it as a facial moisturizer in the evenings. When my daughter has dry, unruly hair, I smooth a tiny bit through her locks. When my hands are rough or chapped, I use it as a lotion. Amazingly, it soaksin quickly, it is not heavy-feeling and it smells amazing! The best thing is that it will not break the bank!

Smoked Spanish Paprika
I am a simple gal. I love to cook and most of my favorite things revolve around cooking. My most favorite cooking item, by far is. . . smoked sweet Spanish paprika! I use it in everything! I go through about two spice jars of smoked paprika a month! I use it in soups, veggie dishes, casseroles, hummus. . . If I thought I could sneak it into a dessert or two, I might try. It gives such a distinctively rich and smoky taste to just about anything you can think it!

Lensbaby Pinhole/Zone Plate Optic
I would be remiss if I failed to mention my most favorite and cherished piece of photography gear! Lensbaby Pinhole/Zone Plate optic. Ahhhh. . . the convenience of lensless photography in digital form. Love it! The best part for me is that once I get my exposure set, it is point and shoot! The pinhole optic results in softly detailed images and the zone plate gives some unique glow to your subjects. 90% of what I shoot is withthe pinhole/zone plate optics!

Kim Gasper
Bellingham, WA

Expodisc
I love my expodisc. Color is my nemesis, and my expodisc is my best friend!  The original that I use and love has very recently been discontinued.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the new version.

GL-1 Hotlight
This is a continuous LED light that can throw a wide beam or narrow spotlight on your subject. You can easily dim the light or brighten it. The GL-1 is a tungsten light, but you can get a daylight filter for it.

Cheetah Light 360
This is like a speedlight on steroids. It’s awesome! Without the diffuser and cover, you can get 360 degrees of coverage. With the 5” diffuser, it’s a nice soft light. When you buy the combo set, you get everything you need to get started. It comes with the triggers you need (one transmitter and receiver that are very easy to use. The lithium battery pack is powerful. The recycle time is like nothing and the power lasts forever. You can buy a separate cord so that you can use your battery pack with your regular speedlights. Of course, I love the Cheetah so much, I don’t pull out my speedlights quite so often.

Can you tell I’m totally obsessed with light right now? I acquired three new lights just in the last few months. After constantly borrowing a friend’s, I finally had to get my own. Next on my list is a studio light — the Einstein by Paul C. Buff. I currently have so many photography favorites, it was hard to come up with something non-photography related. There is one thing though that I think I couldn’t live without….

Wild Huckleberry Lip Balm
Before I was married, my then friend (now my hubs) and I went on a hiking trip at Glacier National Park. We picked up some of this lip balm at a little market/restaurant, and I’ve been hooked ever since. We used to have to call to get replacements, but they’re finally online now! I seriously can’t go to bed without this stuff on my lips.

Jessica Holden
Sunnyvale, CA

Keurig
I didn’t think I needed one (I had a perfectly good coffeemaker!), but finally this year I got one for my birthday. And I’m in love! Especially paired with the Green Mountain Gingerbread or Pumpkin Spice K-cups—heaven!

Revitalash Lash Conditioner
This product doesn’t help with thickness, but MAN does it make my lashes long—and even my husband notices! It’s costly but lasts a long, LONG time.

Amazon Prime
I can shop in my jammies, 24 hours a day, and my items will arrive on my doorstep within 2 days. What more could I want?

Dreyers Peppermint Ice Cream
It’s only available around the holidays, and is one of the things I look forward to every Christmas!

Pam Korman
Philadelphia, PA

ICE Light
I just recently got mine and I love it. If you aren’t familiar with the ICE light, it is a daylight balanced, dimmable, portable, continuous LED light. It is perfect for those situations when you need some extra light. You don’t have the hassle of setting up your off camera lighting. You just turn the ICE light on and you are ready to go. Can you say easy peasy? And, it can be handheld or attached to a light stand or tripod so it is simple to use by yourself.

Keurig Mini Plus Coffee Brewer
I am a big believer that everything is better in pink and this coffee maker is no exception. Anyone who knows me knows I have a bit of a coffee addiction so when I saw this coffee maker now came in pink I knew it was for me. This is perfect for when you want just a cup or two of coffee. And, if you aren’t pink-crazed like me, it does come in a host of other colors.

TARTE Pure Maracuja Oil
I must admit I am a bit obsessed with this oil, especially in the winter. I think this stuff is like a little miracle in a bottle. You can use it on your face, in your hair but my favorite way is to mix a dropper full (or two) into my body lotion each morning. It makes my skin so silky smooth and not a bit oily at all. And, it keeps my skin from being dry all winter long.

Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue
I got this one from my teenage daughter. If you lips get dry in the winter, this is for you! It is a medicated lip balm that keeps you lips smooth and healthy. It comes in clear but also in tints so you can skip lipstick all together. My personal favorite tint is Soothing Sorbet. You can pick them up almost anywhere from CVS to Ulta to Target.

Sarah Mazza
Manassas, VA

Bo-oing Concealer
While the days of little sleep are still abound, gone are the days of being able to pull of looking like I slept when I haven’t…this little baby is my secret weapon in the daily war on tired eyes. It doesn’t fade or crease and stays put. Love this concealer.

Karen Kell Collection Boho Cuffs
Anyone who knows knows me, knows that I love anything boho. These leather and jeweled cuffs are among my absolute favs of all times and I can’t say (or get!) enough of them. If you have tiny wrists like I do, these fit and don’t slide all over my arm.

Yarn Bowls
If you’re a knit nut like me, get yourself one of these. You can find them on Etsy and other artisan sites, I just wanted to show you my favorite purple and orange one. They’re ridiculously helpful for color strand work, but I love them for any project. Yarn bowls aren’t just pretty to look at, they’re practical too. Off to knit…

Sabra McKibbon
Northern California

Amazon Basics Camera Backpack
I have some pretty, girly camera bags, but most often I use this practical and inexpensive backpack to store my gear. And since I like to bring everything to a shoot just in case (of course!), the backpack goes with me. It has a ton of storage for body and lenses, lots of zippered pouches and pockets for my sd card case, ExpoDisc, wallet, car keys, etc. The foam dividers can be rearranged to keep my gear snug and secure, and at just $30, I didn’t have to feel guilty about adding another camera bag to my collection.

The Wet Brush
I have no idea how or even why it works, but after a shower this brush can untangle my long, thick hair without pulling or pain. My girls love it too, and we each have our own color.

5 in 1 Collapsible Reflector
I’m a natural light shooter, and I use my reflector all the time. The white and the silver are great for putting light in the eyes, and I’ll use the black side when I want to add shadow and dimension in flat light.

Heather Rodburg
Bethlehem, PA

Gap Body PJ Bottoms
I love comfy PJs and the Gap Body line makes the softest, lightweight PJ bottoms.

Keen Mary Janes
I love these shoes—but in a suede brown. I bought them on a whim this summer on final clearance from Dick’s and I wear them every day. Seriously the most comfortable shoes ever and I love how cute they are. Not to mention they show off my expansive collection of striped socks!

Nikon 85 1.4 G
I love this lens. It is on my camera 90% of the time. I have no idea what I did before I had this lens. It is magic—enough said.

PG Tips
PG Tips was the first brand of tea I ever drank when I studied abroad in England my junior year. It was a happy accident a few years ago that I discovered it was sold in local grocery stores here. I am completely addicted to the point when I always pack a baggie of tea bags whenever I travel.

Dana Tate
St. Louis, MO

Urban Decay Naked Pallet
I love all things makeup and Urban Decay is quickly becoming my all time favorite brand! I use the Naked2 pallet daily because you can create natural to dramatic looks with it.

Lipstick Pink Hunter Rain Boots
As a wedding photographer I often shoot in all weather conditions, and I HATE to get my feet wet. My Hunter boots keep my toes dry while being fun and fabulous. I wish I had them in every color!

My I Pad
It goes with out saying that my Ipad is my sidekick. I use it for all my sales sessions, as my favorite cook book, and my life line when I travel.

Holly Thompson
Austin, Texas

Kerastase Nectar Thermique
If you blow dry your hair every day, this product will keep your hair protected against heat damage. Just a little dab works wonders!

Starbucks Sumatra Coffee
How do I like my coffee? “Black as midnight on a moonless night.” (Twin Peaks geek alert.) Sumatra is strong and I like my coffee strong. Yummm…

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG Art Series
I love this lens on my Nikon D700. The color it produces is extraordinary, the bokeh is beautiful, and it’s very sharp… even wide open.

Dani Vest
Logan, Utah

Toms Cordones
I adore comfortable shoes, and Toms are right up there. These combine my love of laces with their classic style. I wear them almost every day!

Canon 15mm fisheye lens
This lens is no longer available brand new, but I bought a used one a few years ago and it’s quickly moved up in my line up of “favorite lenses”. The quirky distortion and super wide angle adds a whimsical feel to my images and can invoke interest in even the most boring of settings.

Great Harvest Cinnamon Burst French Toast
We have a Great Harvest Bakery in our family and so it’s no surprise that I’m super picky about my bread. My daughter and I regularly make french toast from their cinnamon burst loaf and it’s a little slice of heaven, every time.

Anne Wick
France

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
This paraben and sulfate-free detangler spray is my new favorite. It smoothes, hydrates and protects your hair from the heat of the blow dryer and leaves the most addictive scent : think about a delicious cake coming out of the oven. Yup, that’s what your hair will smell like.

Chella Highlighter Pencil
This pencil is fantastic to help you give your face a fresh, « I-have-slept-for-the-last-12-hours » look. Apply it anywhere your face needs light—under the eyes, under the arch of the eyebrow, on your forehead, over the lines around the mouth… I can’t live without it !

Diptyque scented candles
If you love scented candles, Diptyque candles are a must! They smell amazingly good, the fragrance is really strong and it will fill your house with a delicious and sophisticated scent. Of course their quality means they’re not cheap, but they last really really long.

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