Here are thirty gift ideas for photographers. The suggested price range is also included. Happy shopping!
1. Portable searchlights. A photographer cannot have too many light modifiers. Reflectors come in many sizes and configurations. Sniff around to see what they have and choose a model they don’t have. Many of these fold up into little cases. Or consider buying a reflector holder for one you already have. ($30-$150)
2. Tokens and more tokens. Not the potato type, but the memory card type. Find out what format your 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 higher memory capacity. ($20-$100)
3. Portable hard drive/imaging tank. These battery-powered devices are pocket-sized and will copy the images from a camera chip and store a duplicate on the hard drive. Some of them also have a nice preview screen and TV out so you can enjoy the photos as a slide show. They act like a hard drive when plugged into a laptop. They’re perfect for on-location shooting or long vacations where you don’t have your computer with you. ($100-$300)
4. Another lens! If your photographer has a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, then choose your brain over the lenses you have and want. This is an area that photographers are very picky about, so you may want to go as far as having them describe the specific make and model. If you want to go “all the way,” 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. Lens filters. There are a variety of filters or modifiers that can be put on lenses. You’ll want to know what size lens (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 (to magnify and zoom in 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 stick with a thread on 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 stability benefits of a monopod. (Monopod: $30-$100; Rotary: $30-$100)
7. Affordable Waterproof Point-and-Shoot Digital Camera. Regardless of your primary brand, having a small, pocket-sized waterproof digital camera is great for everyday use, location scouting, and spontaneous shooting opportunities. These cameras have great resolution and take good pictures; some even record videos. Water resistant 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 online photography forum or training. There are some great pay 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 basics of photography and editing. Find one that matches your interests and you’ll have hours of learning and enjoyment online. ($100-$200/year)
9. Photography magazine subscription. There are many good magazines out there. You might want to consider going to a good bookstore and buying a copy of several different magazines with a note attached that you’ll be buying a subscription to your favorite magazine. That way they can see a lot of posts and you’ll be sure they really enjoy the subscription. ($30-$80)
10. Vacation destination. Okay, this may cost you some time and money, but as long as you are patient and let your photographer stop and shoot the flowers, you will both have a lot of fun and really appreciate the opportunity to travel and photograph. ($cheap-$not cheap)
11. Photo Sharing Gift Certificate. If they already use a favorite online site or local lab, get them a gift card or certificate. Otherwise, check out the best stores and sites and choose one to load an initial account or gift card. ($ 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 photographs. ($10-$100)
13. Connect them with a mentor. Find out who they look up to in the photography world and arrange for them to meet with them. Or try getting a signed or personalized book or video of yours. At best, seeing their mentor would bring them in for a workout or some coaching session. ($ wide range)
14. Gift certificate for a framing shop. You can never have too many framed prints. ($50-$500)
15. Gift card to a major photo store. Whether it’s 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 duct tape. It’s expensive but it’s a great material. ($35/roll)
17. Camera case or backpack. As they get more things, they will need more or bigger camera bags. Or suitcases with wheels or bags for lights and other things. ($30-100)
18. Camera flash mount. These are also a bit personal to suit your needs, but if you shoot with an external flash, a mount can be great for your needs. If you don’t have an external flash, it can 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 really amazing printers out there for hobbyists and professionals. Some will print on oversized paper and create results that will rival those of the big labs. Variations on this theme include paper samples, note cards, and a printer/scanner combination. (Printer: $300-$2000)
20. Slideshow software. Who doesn’t want to see 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. Being able to see true colors on your monitors is essential. These devices will calibrate displays and sometimes even printers and other devices with known settings so that the color you see on the screen is accurate. ($150-$500)
22. Photographer’s vest. Yes, very nerdy, but also very functional. ($50-$150)
23. Camera clothes. Camera weather covers will help in 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 fitted to the camera and sometimes the lens, so be careful to choose the right products. ($50-$200)
24. Find them a concert. Use your network and influence to get them a photo opportunity that they would love to do. This is best for beginner 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 you 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 immediately available will make your photographer smile. ($1,000-$8,000).
26. Photography books. There are excellent instruction books on all kinds 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 photos that they can use for inspiration. ($10-$50)
27. Blank DVD. Many photographers back up their work on DVDs and use them for slide shows. They will appreciate having extras. Don’t forget the jewelry cases if they use them. ($20-$50)
28.DVD/CD label printer. These are quite specialized devices. They will allow the user to print any image on a special DVD or CD. If you are introducing someone to DVDs, this can be a great item for them. Note that some newer printers will also print directly onto these same DVDs or CDs. ($150-$300).
29. Test books or albums. If they print a lot of proofs, 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 could 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 sees it and picks up the hint and maybe circles a few things. You can ask them to create a “wish list” at one of the popular online merchants like Amazon. Or, you can have one of your associates pick your brain on your behalf and report back to you.
To save some money, visit 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!
