Do you have a special photographer in your life that you want to get something special for this holiday season? Is that special photographer especially difficult to shop for? You want to get them something that they would really like but the problem is they already have everything they already want. This can be difficult, because if you are like me, you are picky about your photography gear, and you already buy everything you need already. It can be hard to shop for a person like that, my wife says that I am hard to shop for.
Well look no further, here we have created a comprehensive list of the best things to get for that person in your life that loves photography with something to fit within all budgets.
$10-$100
Photography Apps (iPhone, android) – there are some incredible photography related apps available for iPhone, and android. Some of the most useful Apps that I use are ones that help you plan where the sun and moon are going to rise, edit your photos on the go
Rocket Blower – no matter how clean you try to be, or how quick can you change your lenses, You’re going to get dust and gunk in and on your camera. It rocket blower is one the most useful and essential items have in my camera bag. Every photographer needs to have a blower of some sort to blow the dust off the front element of their lens, or any dust that gets inside the camera onto the sensor. There are other blowers available, but the rocket blower if my personal favorite.
Micro Fiber Lens Cloth – an absolute must for any photographer. I always try to have a few extra microfiber cloths in my camera bag with me at all times. You may be a clean person, but the front element of your lens will still get dirty and dusty. Get The photographer in your life a pack of 10 of microfiber cloth. That way they can just throw them in all their camera bags, have one in the car, where you store your gear, and you can even lose a few and still have some left over.
Velcro – Velcro might sound like a lame gift, but Velcro is extremely handy to have around. I have Velcro stuck to several pieces of my photography gear. I have a strip stuck to one of my tripod legs that I use to attach my intervalometer remote to so it’s not just dangling below the tripod. I have strips of Velcro wrapped around the ends of charging cables, USB cables, and others so I can stick them to a strip when its not being used to charge something. But I never have to look for the right cable when I need to charge something, its right where I stuck it. I don’t have time to go searching around for my cables.
Trigger trap – The trigger trap is a fun accessory that allows you to create all sorts of timelapse videos. It is extremely capable and useful, and it does not cost very much. The Trigger Trap is a little dongle that plugs in your camera, and the other and plug it into your smart phone and you control your camera from your phone. Instead of using a cheap dumb Intervalometer to record a timelapse, you can use your incredibly smart cell phone to control the trigger trap. Because you are using your phone to be the brains of the trigger trap, it enables you to have all sorts of different functions like star trails, motion sensing, sound sensing, lightning sensing, etc. The trigger trap packs a lot of function into such a small/inexpensive dongle.
Platypod Pro – The plot a pod is a small plate that a ball head for a tripod connects to and lets you mount your camera on to. It is basically a tripod that will fit in your pocket. This way you can go someplace and not have to lug your large tripod with you, or go someplace that does not allow tripods altogether. Places like churches, concerts, observation decks, temples, etc. But you will still be able to use your Platypod and get a rock solid shot because you can still bring it inside. You will be able to get a shot that nobody else there will be able to.
Smart Phone Lenses – The camera on your smart phone is getting better and better with every new version of the phone that comes out. But they are still somewhat limited. You can buy small little lens adapters that flight over the corner of your phone over the camera that will alter the image. You can get a wide angle lens, a fish eye lens, and a telephoto lens. These nifty little adapters allow you to have more flexibility and creativity with your smart phone camera. And they fit in the palm of your hand or your pocket.
Photography books – Its easy today to just look at the millions of pictures people are taking, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without the hard work put in by the pioneers of photography. There are so many amazing books that show the work of the greats before Instagram, before Facebook, before digital cameras all together. The masters of photography had so much knowledge of their craft that anybody can learn something from them. I like to have a bookshelf full of various photography books to inspire me when I am in a creative block.
Multi-tool – Everybody needs a good multi-tool. How often do you come across something that needs to be pinched, bent, cut, pulled, twisted, tightened, loosened, and any other verb you can think of. Photographers come across these things especially often. It seems like you always need to tighten something on your tripod, or the plate to the bottom of your camera is loose, or a bolt gets stuck that you can’t loosen by hand. A good multi tool is something that every photographer needs in their bag.
Gift Cards – Gift cards may not take much thought, but they are practical. Consider getting one to your local camera store, or an online lens rental company.
Warm gloves -When you are out there taking pictures before the sun comes up, or long after the sun has set. It can get really cold out there. Every photographer person needs a good pair of gloves. Consider getting a pair that has places where your finger tips can pop out so you can have better control of your camera. But if you don’t want those, at least get the ones that work with touch screen devices. They will have a different material sewed onto the tip of some of the fingers.
Cold Weather Thermal clothing – Every photographer also needs some good cold weather thermal clothing to wear under their jacket, and pants. Photography is all about being patient waiting for the light to get just right. But this can mean waiting in subfreezing temperatures for an extended amount of time waiting for the light to change. If you are not creating any body heat by moving, it can get cold fast. A good pair of thermal long underwear can make all the difference. If you are not focusing on how cold you are, or heading back the the car, you can instead focus on your photography and ultimately create better pictures.
Fast memory card reader – I say it all the time, you can never have enough memory cards. Cameras are getting higher megapixel counts with every new generation, and that means your old 8gb memory cards will no longer be able to store as many pictures it once could when you were shooting on your old camera. This is why a photographer can never have enough memory cards. I try to have atleast 64gb with me whenever I go out shooting, but usually its more.
Camera clothing – If you know somebody who loves photography so much, that they have to express it every way possible. How about getting them some photography related t-shirts. Perfect for the person that’s a photographer and they want you to know it.
Fancy New Camera strap – Lets face it, the straps that come with cameras are pretty lame. They are uncomfortable, touristy, and are a large advertisement for the camera you are shooting. There are all sorts of different types of camera straps you can get instead. Or skip the strap all together, and get a hand grip or a clip type connector.
Peak Design Capture Pro Camera Clip – This little camera clip is great for attaching your camera to any strap on your backpack, or on your belt. Even a pair of suspenders if you feel so inclined. It is an aluminum clip that pinches a strap or belt so it holds it in place. Your camera then connects via an Arca-Swiss plate to the Peak Design plate. I find it great for active situations like hiking or biking where you don’t want your camera tucked away in a bag, or swinging on a camera strap.
Good Flashlight – How many times have you dropped something in the dark when you are out taking pictures at night. Only to grasp into the dark attempting to find what you dropped Or you cant find that item in the bottom of your camera bag that you are looking for. A good small flashlight is essential for every photographer. I keep this one in my camera bag because it is bright, small, takes AAA battery (I use rechargeable)
Headlamp with Red Mode – Every photographer needs a good headlamp. When you watch the sunset from the top of a mountain, it means its dark when you hiking out. And photographers usually have camera gear with them so they hands are often full. Get a good headlamp and you wont have to worry about carrying a flashlight, it is strapped to your head so it points exactly where you are looking. I suggest you get a headlamp that has a RED light mode. The red light allows you to see but not lose your night vision. It is the same reason that photography dark rooms have a red light in them. The red lights did not ruin the developing film, but you could still in the red light.
Rechargeable Batteries and a Charger – chances are, if you if that special photographer that you know is is like me, they probably have all sorts of different electronic devices that all require batteries. Instead of buying those jumbo packs of disposable AA and AAA batteries, instead invest a little bit more money in a quality set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. The batteries cost a little more upfront, but they will soon pay for themselves because he will not to be buying a box of batteries every few months.
Paper Maps – If you are like me, than you often head out into the wilderness to find those secluded waterfalls, or alpine lakes. Your smart phone will get you most of the way there, but at a certain point you lose service and you are unable to load the maps or the battery dies. Your “smart” phone is suddenly a paperweight and you are stuck up a creek (No pun intended). But a paper map never runs out of power, a map never loses service and becomes useless. Just because we live in a high tech society, it doesn’t always mean the high tech way is the best way.
$100-$250
A Large Print (Paper, Metal, Canvas) – That special photographer in your life spends so much of their free time taking these amazing pictures only to post them to Facebook and that’s it. Do them the honor and purchase a large print of one of their best photos either for yourself, or for themselves. It might cost a little bit, but when you see your image printed large. It is truly breathtaking. Metal and canvas prints are especially cool. I print most of my prints on metal.
Tripod – A good tripod is something that will take your photography to another level. It allows you to create shots that would be impossible to create shooting hand held. Every photographer needs a solid tripod. If you know a photographer who does not own a tripod, get them one! To learn more about how to choose the correct tripod for you, check out the Photo Lowdown Guide To Choosing a Tripod HERE.
Photoshop + Lightroom Creative Cloud – $9.99/Month – Adobe Lightroom is an absolute must for any photographer. Lightroom allows me to edit my pictures to make them shine. The taking picture part of photography is only half the battle, the real magic happens during post processing. There are all sorts of different programs you can use to process your pictures, but few can hold a match to Lightroom. Lightroom also helps me manage the many tens of thousands of pictures I shoot every year.
Photography training – there are all sorts of different photography training resources available on the Internet, if you know a person that wants to learn more about photography or how to use their camera, consider getting them some online photography training from places like Lynda.com, or CreativeLive.com. (not affiliate links, just good resources)
$250-$1000
A GoPro Camera – The GoPro is best the best selling action camera on the market today, and for good reason. The GoPro is a durable HD camera that you can take with you to those places you wouldn’t dare bring your expensive camera. Because the go Pro is so popular, there are an endless supply of accessories to trick out your go Pro camera. I think the most accessory kit for your GoPro is the waterproof housing. This allows you to go underwater to capture a whole new world of pictures that just a few years back required all sorts of expensive waterproof gear. Some of the other accessories available our head mount to strap the camera to your head, dog mounts, to strap the camera to your pooch, suction cup mount, clip on mounts, and basically anything else you could attach it to you.
Travel Someplace New – Nothing inspires a person to take pictures more than traveling to an exotic new location. This can be a getaway weekend to a new city, to the beach, across the country, or even to the other side of the planet. When a person sees the same scenery day after day, they begin to have “blinders” to the beauty that surrounds them. But when a person travels to someplace new, they experience all sorts of new things, and if they’re like me, they get to really inspired to photograph all those cool new things. Treating a person to a trip is one of the best gift you can get that special photographer in your life.
$1,000+
A New Camera – Maybe that special somebody has been shooting the same old camera for years and years. Chances are they are reaching the limits of that camera. A good camera will not automatically make you a better photographer, but it sure doesn’t hurt your ability to create amazing pictures! Check out the Photo Lowdown Recommended Gear section to see what cameras are the best out there.
Lenses – nothing shows a person how much you care about them more than a new camera lens! If they only have the kit lens that came with their camera, consider getting them a wide angle lens. If you don’t want to get the wide-angle lens, consider a telephoto lens, or a super telephoto lens. Check out the Photo lowdown recommended gear section to see what lenses I recommend.
A New Computer – In the era of the digital photographer, a camera is only half of the equation. A photographer needs a reliable powerful computer these days.
Workshop – A photography workshop is an incredible way to learn photography. You get to learn in a small classroom like situation and a better instructor can give you one on one help with anything you’re struggling with. A photography workshop can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands of dollars. It all depends on where it is and who is leading the workshop.
These are only some of the great gifts a photographer would love to receive, these gifts may not be for everyone but I sure would be happy to receive any of them.
I want to know what photography related gear you gave or received this holiday season. Head on over to the Photo lowdown Facebook page and leave a comment. I hope you have a happy holiday and a happy new year. See you next year!