Great gift ideas for photographers
Here are about thirty gift ideas for photographers. The suggested price range is also included. Happy shopping!
1. Portable reflectors. A photographer can’t have too many light modifiers. Reflectors come in many sizes and configurations. Sniff around to see what they have and pick a model they don’t have. Many of these fold up into small cases. Or consider buying a reflector holder for one you already have. ($30-$150)
2. Chips and more chips. Not the potato type, but the memory card type. Find out what format their cameras take—Compact Flash, Smart Media, whatever—and buy a couple more. They are very cheap to buy in large capacities. Take one out of your camera or chip holder and write down the manufacturer and model, and try to buy the same or larger memory capacity. ($20-$100)
3. Portable hard drive/imaging tank. These battery-operated devices are pocket-sized and will copy images from a camera chip and save a duplicate to the hard drive. Some of them also have a nice preview screen and TV output so you can enjoy the photos as a slideshow. They act like a hard drive when connected to a laptop. They’re perfect for on-location shoots or long vacations when you don’t have your computer with you. ($100-$300)
4. Another lens! If your photographer has a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, then pick your brain on what lenses you have and want. This is an area where photographers are very picky, so you may want to go as far as having them describe the specific make and model. If you want to go “maximum,” ask them to tell you about their dream lens – is the one they really want (but probably don’t need), and won’t buy for themselves. ($100-$5000)
5. Filters for lenses. There are a variety of filters or modifiers that can be put on the lenses. You will want to know what lens size (measured in millimeters) and what they have or want. A couple of ideas are: a circular polarizer (which reduces glare and deepens the colors of the sky), close-up lenses (for zooming in and out on small objects), and neutral density filters (which reduce some or all of the light). the picture) . ($30-$150)
6. Monopod and swivel. A monopod is like a walking stick with a string at the top. It’s a great substitute for a tripod when you can’t use it. Better yet, get a swivel head for the top of the monopod and your photographer can rotate the camera from landscape to portrait and still get the benefits of a monopod’s stability. (Monopod: $30-$100; Swivel: $30-$100)
7. Inexpensive Waterproof Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera. Regardless of your primary brand, having a small pocket waterproof digital camera is great for everyday use, location scouting, and candid shooting opportunities. These cameras have great resolution and make good images; some even record videos. Waterproof means you can swim in it, shoot in the rain, and leave it in your sweaty pants pocket all day. ($200-$400)
8. Subscription to an online photography forum or training. There are some great payment sites on the net. Digital Wedding Forum is designed for new professionals as well as seasoned wedding and portrait photographers. Web Photo School is great for learning the fundamentals of photography and editing. Find one that matches your interests and you will have hours of online learning and enjoyment. ($100-$200/year)
9. Photography magazine subscription. There are many good magazines out there. You may want to consider going to a good bookstore and buying a copy of several different magazines with a note attached that you will be purchasing a subscription to your favorite magazine. That way, they can see a lot of posts, and you’ll be sure they’ll really enjoy the subscription. ($30-$80)
10. Vacation destination. Okay, this may cost you some time and money, but as long as you’re patient and let your photographer stop and photograph the flowers, you’ll both have a blast and really appreciate the opportunity to travel and photograph. ($cheap-$not cheap)
11. Photo Sharing Gift Certificate. If they already use a favorite online site or local lab, get them a gift card or certificate. If not, check out the best stores and sites and pick one to load up an initial account or gift card. ($you choose)
12. Make a product out of your work. Once my wife made me a calendar with some of my images and I loved it. Think about how you could highlight her work. Check out some of my other articles on creative ways to display or use photography. ($10-$100)
13. Connect them with a mentor. Find out who they look up to in the world of photography and arrange for them to meet up with them. Or try getting a book or video of yours signed or personalized. At best, seeing their mentor would bring them along for a workout or some training session. ($ wide range)
14. Gift certificate to a framing store. You can never have too many framed prints. ($50-$500)
15. Gift card to a major photography store. Whether it’s at your local store or one of the bigger ones like Adorama or Beach Camera, your photographer will find great things to buy. ($50-$500)
16. Duct tape. Black tape that does not leave a residue like masking tape. It’s expensive but it’s a great material. ($35/roll)
17. Camera case or backpack. As they get more stuff they will need more or larger camera bags. Or suitcases with wheels or bags for lights and other things. ($30-100)
18. Flash support for camera. These are also a bit personal to suit your needs, but if you shoot with an external flash, a mount might be great for your needs. If you don’t have an external flash, that may also be a good idea. Be sure to get your camera’s specifications for the flash and mount. (Support: $100-300; Flash: $200-$400)
19. High-end printer. There are some truly amazing printers for hobbyists and professionals. Some will print on large paper and create results that rival those of large labs. Variations on this theme are paper swatches, note cards, and printer/scanner combo. (Printer: $300-$2000)
20. Slideshow software. Who doesn’t want to watch clever slideshows set to music? Does your photographer already make or sell slideshows? ProShow Gold is a great start and Proshow Producer is even better. ($50-$300)
21. Color calibration. Every monitor is different. It is essential to be able to see true colors on your monitors. These devices will calibrate displays and sometimes even printers and other devices with known settings so that the color you see on your screen is accurate. ($150-$500)
22. Photographer’s vest. Yes, very nerdy, but also very functional. ($50-$150)
23. Camera clothing. Protective weather covers for cameras will help in the event of drizzle or other inclement weather. Waterproof housings allow the camera to be used underwater. Blimps will reduce shutter sound to allow use in very quiet situations. These are custom fit to the camera and sometimes lenses, so be careful to choose the correct products. ($50-$200)
24. Find them a job. Use your network and influence to get them a photo opportunity that they would love to do. This is best for beginning photographers – professionals may have different ideas. For more ideas, check out my article on 10 great ways to grow as a professional photographer.
25. A new body. Camera body that is. If they have an SLR, consider buying a duplicate body or a higher model, if they use the same lenses. Having the flexibility of a rear camera or two lenses available right out of the box will make your photographer smile. ($1000-$8000).
26. Photography books. There are excellent instruction books on all types of photography. Or consider getting them books on business or technology like Photoshop or web design. Or pick up some coffee table books with great photography that they can use for inspiration. ($10-$50)
27. Blank DVD. Many photographers make backup copies of their work on DVDs and use them for slide shows. They will appreciate having extras. Don’t forget jewelry cases if they wear them. ($20-$50)
28.DVD/CD label printer. These are pretty specialized devices. They will allow the user to print any image on a special DVD or CD. If you are presenting DVDs to someone, this can be a great item for them. Please note that some newer printers will also print directly to these same DVDs or CDs. ($150-$300).
29. Test books or albums. If they print a lot of tests, don’t hide them in a box. Get them several albums so they can display them and use them to show others. There are some “self-adhesive” albums that allow you to press the print onto a sticky background and create a very professional album. ($10-$200)
30. More power! It can be AA lithium batteries for those flashes and point-and-shoots, extra batteries for your model camera, portable batteries to run your lighting, and extension cords and power strips for all your electronic toys. You can never have too many cables! ($10-$100)
How to choose the right gift? You can print this out and leave it where your photographer will see it and catch the clue and maybe circle a few things. You can ask them to create a “wish list” on one of the popular online merchants like Amazon. Or, you can have one of their associates pick their brains for you and report back.
To save some money, check out sites like eBay, Craigslist, and other areas where people may be selling items. Also visit local camera stores for consigned or used equipment.
In any case, enjoy choosing and giving one of these gifts to your photographer. They will appreciate the time and effort you put into it!
