Capture the Best Gifts for Photographers
When you know someone that has a passion or works in a very specific field that you don’t know too much about, it can be hard to shop for them, especially during the holidays. You don’t want to get them something they won’t use or already have, but you want to get them something that speaks to their favorite thing. That’s when gift guides like ours come in, we’ve found the best gifts for photographers so you can celebrate the person who is always making you look your best. So let’s get things in focus and get started!
All-Purpose Gifts for the Photographer in Your Life 📸
You really can’t go wrong with any of the gifts we’ve found here:
A Portable SSD
Something to take with them on the go! Image courtesy of: B&H Photo Video.
Any photographer will tell you that you can never have too much backup, especially when you’re someone who likes to be on-the-go with your camera. Making sure the pictures you take stay secure is top priority, that’s why we love the very well reviewed Samsung 1TB T7 Portable SSD from B&H for $109.99. It’s tight and compact and can fit in the palm of your hand which means you can keep it in the smallest compartments of your camera bag no issue. With 1TB of storage, you’ll have plenty to burn through before you’re onto the next SSD.
A Camera Bag
A five star product is what we LOVE. Image courtesy of: Bagsmart.
Speaking of camera bags, if your photographer has been in the game for a while now there’s a chance they have had the same old camera bag for years. And like with any bag that’s used a lot, it can wear over time which means getting a new bag would make for a major gift.
Obviously there are a lot out there to choose from but we’ve found the Paz 4L Featherlight Camera Sling from Bagsmart for $45.99 is the optimal choice. It’s not too big, not too small, call her Goldilocks the way she is just right. It comes in four different color combos and features a padded interior that is built to fit various camera types and sizes, a detachable mini bag for drives and cards, and a multifunctional tripod strap, this bag has got it all.
Camera Cleaning Kit
Always make sure everything’s in tip-top shape. Image courtesy of: Bower.
There’s many great companies out there that specialize specifically in camera-related products including Bower. Affecioandos will know the name Bower well and may even have a few of their products. We're taking a look at their 7 PC Cleaning Kit for $24.99 which comes with tools to help keep your camera lenses, filters, and LCD screens smudge and debris free.
A 5-in-1 Reflector
Get the exact kind of light you need for your set. Image courtesy of: Neewer.
Lighting makes a picture go from good to great and every photographer knows this well. Unfortunately the circumstance of your lighting set up may not be exactly where you want it. Luckily there’s things like the NEEWER 5-in-1 Collapsible Light Reflector for $19.99+ to help with that problem.
It comes with silver, gold, black, white, and translucent reflectors that have a spring frame so it’s easy to set up and fold back away for storage purposes. There are also five sizes to choose from: 12"/30cm, 22"/60cm, 32"/80cm, 43"/110cm, and 51"/130cm which cost more the bigger you go.
A “Photography” Coffee Table Book
Open conversation on one of your favorite topics. Image courtesy of: Barnes & Noble.
Aesthetic is very much a word I would use to describe a photographer's life, they are always looking for the thing that makes them stand out amongst other artists. So having something to look back on and see the “visual history” of the world is a great way to spark their very own niche. Photography: The Definitive Visual History by Tom Ang, TOM ANG PARTNERSHIP from Barnes & Noble for $50.00 is a great gift to give as a “coffee table” book. Over 200 artists’ bios and their work litter this fine book and makes for a great piece for any photographer’s home.
A Vintage Camera Lense
Capture the look of film on your modern camera. Image courtesy of: Retropia.
Nostalgia-like cameras have been all the rage in recent years, with people heading to their local thrift stores to find cameras from decades ago to shoot with. You can search online through places like eBay and/or Facebook Marketplace to find vintage camera lenses for your photographer’s camera. Or you can take a look at Retropia which makes reusable camera lenses that make it look vintage and retro.
Their Retriopia® Repurposed Disposable Film Camera Lens on sale for $39.99 (normally priced at $60.00) is repurposed for mirrorless cameras, is light and compact, and will make for a great addition to your portfolio. They also have other products you can “bundle & save” with this lens which includes lens filters, flashes, and more.
A Subscription to Lightroom
One of the most popular photo-editing softwares available. Courtesy of: Adobe.
If you aren’t a photographer then you might not be familiar with the software Lightroom. Lightroom from Adobe is their number one photo editor, it’s a go-to for almost anyone looking to level-up their photos. Anyone from professionals to amateurs use it and you can give a year-subscription to them for $119.88 (prepaid) or go monthly for $17.99 a month. This will change the game for them, trust us, it’s more than worth the money and it’ll make them ecstatic to learn they can play around with this software for a whole year.
Get their Work Printed
There’s something special about seeing your work physically made to hold.
Most of the time photographers will only see their work through the digital screen, which sucks when they really have a picture or few that they’re most proud of. You can surprise them by getting their best photos printed using a myriad of services like Printique, New Mexico Fine Arts, or your local grocery or retailer like Walgreens might have select printing services you can use for a cheaper price.
“Vintage” Photography Apparel
Now they can shoot with style. Image courtesy of: Etsy.
There doesn’t just need to be camera equipment on this list, no we can get creative too! What better than to spark conversations with fellow photographers out and about then wearing something like this Kodak Film Sweatshirt from Etsy user printoisseur for $42.00+. We love repping out favorite movies, books, TV shows, and video games on our shirts, but what about our favorite photography companies that have pioneered how we look at film today? Etsy, the place where you can find products unique to only the seller, has a bunch of really cool options including this yellow mustard sweatshirt that comes in sizes S to 5XL as well as five different colors.
A Fancy Tripod
Set up the exact type of shot you’ve been after with ease. Image courtesy of: Kentfaith.
Like B&H, Bower, and Kodak, Kentfaith is another photography company that has a lot of amazing products to peruse through including their 62"/1.6m Professional Carbon Fiber Tripod on sale for $129.99 (normally priced at $249.99). There are a lot of flimsy tripods out there in today’s world and if there’s one thing photographers hate, it’s flimsy equipment. This tripod is not that.
It’s made with “aerospace manufacturing-grade carbon fiber material” which means it’ll last you years before you even think about needing a new one. It also has a 360°Panoramic Ball Head which means you don’t have to adjust or move your tripod around to pick up the action. There’s a detachable monopod so you can get the moving shots you need without having to buy something else. This tripod is worth the splurge that’s for sure.
A Film Carrying Case
Keep your things organized so you can make shoots seamless. Image courtesy of: Amazon.
We talked about how the Retriopia® Camera Lens can make your mirrorless cameras change from modern crispieness to a vintage sheen, but there are a lot of photographers out there that work with and want to continue to work with film only. So when you have rolls of film, the last thing you want is them bouncing around in your bag or getting lost.
With the Kodak Steel 35mm Film Roll Case from Amazon for $25.00, they can keep up to five film rolls tucked away safe and organized to your standards.
A Disposable Camera
Keep photos of silly and heartfelt moments with you forever! Image courtesy of: Best Buy.
Sometimes the simple presents are the ones we remember the most. We love our big expensive cameras, but if you want something that’ll capture the glow of the world and the love of the moment, the Fujifilm QuickSnap Disposable Camera for $19.99 from Best Buy is where to be. It can take up to 27 photos and is super easy to use, it can be a major throwback for them as well.
Instead of using your camera and keeping them digitally, take some with this camera and later get them developed so you can keep them in an album or hang them on your wall. It’s easy to keep in your bag and you don’t need to worry about making sure everything's safe in your bag since this guy is disposable. It’s meant to be fun and that’s why we love it.
Get the Gift that Gives the Photographer the Tools They Need 🎁
Oftentimes photographers will be on the lookout for very specific camera parts, lighting set-ups, tri-pods, etc. but what’s frustrating is those products might no longer be sold by the original retailer or the asking price is too far out of their budget. Luckily there is one place they can go to to make the most of their money and that’s good ol’ eBay.
eBay has been around for eons, it’s the online marketplace that’s essentially run by everyday people. You’ll see thousands upon thousands of listings of products that aren’t being sold anymore or parts you can only buy through individual sellers. Photographers can look through eBay to find exactly what they need no problem.
Get them an eBay gift card so they can finally get that obscure lens they’ve been talking about.
PerfectGift.com is all about finding, well, the perfect gift! With hundreds of popular eGift card brands available, you can personalize and send someone a gift in just a few minutes. Pick between multiple restaurants, famous retailers, online subscription services, and more for your first PerfectGift today.
PerfectGift+ which takes gifting to a whole new level as it allows you to give the amount of money you would be putting on the gift card, but not tie it to any specific merchant. Instead the recipient gets to choose any merchant they want from our vast catalog. What makes PerfectGift stand out from the crowd is our flexibility.
Become the perfect gift giver.
Finding the best gifts for photographers was a fun challenge, but we think we’ve found products that’ll make them happy this holiday season.
