Are you looking for the perfect gift for your photographer friend or family member? With so many options out there, it can be challenging to find the perfect gift for photographers that they will truly appreciate. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best gift ideas that are sure to make photographers happy, whether it’s for a special occasion like Christmas, a birthday, or just because. So if you know of a photographer, be it someone new or established, and are wanting some inspiration on the best gift ideas then keep reading. Further below are some of the best gift ideas for photographers.
Understanding a photographer’s needs
Photography is a great hobby for anyone to take up. It helps encourage people to get outside, become creative and can also help create new friendships with other photographers. For those serious about photography, it may also become a career as skills are unlocked and new opportunities arise.
So before we dive into our list of gift ideas, it’s essential to understand a photographer’s needs. Photography is a highly specialized and technical field that requires specific equipment and tools to produce high-quality images. Photographers are always looking for ways to improve their craft, which means that they are constantly on the lookout for new gear and accessories, or other ways to learn and get better.
When choosing a gift for a photographer, it’s essential to consider their level of experience, their preferred photography style, and the type of equipment they already own. For example, a beginner photographer may appreciate a book on basic techniques, while a more experienced photographer may prefer a specialized lens or camera accessory.
Factors to consider when buying a gift for a photographer
There are several factors to consider when buying a gift for a photographer. Here are a few essential things to keep in mind:
Quality
Photography gear can be very expensive, and if a photographer is planning to take this art seriously then it’s very important to invest in high-quality products that will not only last, but will product great results. So this means avoiding cheap, low-quality items that may break or wear out quickly and instead opting for products from reputable brands.
Compatibility
There are lots of different camera brands out there. Including the main camera body through to the large selection of lenses available. So if you’re thinking of buying a lens or other accessory or component that will attach to the camera then it’s important to ensure that it’s compatible with the photographer’s existing gear. This includes if you decide to buy a camera bag or item like that, as although many of them fit standard sizes if your photographer friend has a certain lens or other specialist gear then it might not fit. It’s helpful to be mindful of any conversations that you have regarding photography equipment, such as if they say there is something in particular that they need or want and then make a note. For compatibility, if you’re not sure then you could also ask for advice from a knowledgeable salesperson or do some research online.
Practicality
While it may be tempting to buy a novelty item or gadget, it’s important to choose a practical gift that the photographer will actually use. Consider their specific photography needs and choose a gift that will help them improve their craft. So although the product that you’re considering might seem awesome and useful, is it something that will just sit in their cupboard, or be too cumbersome to carry around?
Top gifts for photographers
1. Photography books
Books are a fantastic gift idea for photographers. These can include books that help you to learn the best techniques or are more picture based and therefore provide inspiration. You’ll find books available for all types of photography, from landscape, portrait, night, wedding, HDR and more.
A favourite book of ours is Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography which provides heaps of quality information to help you learn how to take professional and creative pictures, as well as how to plan and prepare your photography trips, the best equipment to use and more. If you wanted to buy a beginner photographer a fantastic gift for Christmas, their birthday, or something else, then this would be a great option. At the time of writing, there are two versions of the book. See 2012 edition or see 2016 edition.
Other books we would highly recommend as a gift for photographers includes the BBC’s Unforgettable Places to Visit Before you Die. This book is part of a series with various travel themes and includes pictures by Steve Davey (an incredible photographer) and come with stunning pictures from all over the world, as well as information on the equipment, settings used and a description of the scene. These books also provided us heaps of inspiration when we started getting into photography, Instagram and blogging.
2. Smugmug membership
Smugmug provides a fantastic service that allows you to quickly build a beautiful online portfolio where you can showcase your pictures. This can be really helpful for those wanting to simply display their favourite pictures, work with clients, or simply have an online home for their images. With the service you can choose from themes, various blocks to easily build a portfolio in a style you want, password-protected galleries and can even sell photographs if you want.
As well as this, and perhaps one of our favourite benefits of Smugmug is that you can upload and backup unlimited pictures. This means that should a hard drive fail, or a memory card gets lost then the images should be backed up online. Of course, this does require uploading the images as well but the upload feature is well-built, quick and very user-friendly.
3. Photography exhibition tickets
One of the best gift ideas for photography lovers would be a photography exhibition. These can provide heaps of inspiration and one of our favourites is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition held annually at the Natural History Museum in London, but all over the world, you should find other events.
Partly why photography exhibitions are such a great event (and gift idea) is because you can often see the settings that were used to take the photograph and sometimes learn about the technique the photographer used. This can be a helpful way to learn as you can then try the same settings and techniques yourself, as well as understand what works for different types of images.
Photography exhibition tickets will also be good if you’re looking for cheap gifts for photographers as the tickets will generally not be very expensive.
4. Lightroom/ Photoshop subscription
Lightroom and Photoshop are two highly popular editing platforms used by photographers all over the world to edit their pictures. Lightroom is generally an easier tool and allows photographers to organise their images, as well as quickly edit them using intuitive sliders and tools. Photoshop on the overhand allows for advanced image manipulation including adding layers, complex effects, masking and much more.
The subscriptions are now provided through Adobe Creative Cloud and can include multiple tools/applications such as both Lightroom and Photoshop. They also start from only $9.99 per month. Once purchased you simply install the application and within a short amount of time it’ll be possible to quickly edit and enhance images into an incredible work of art.
5. Photography presets
If you’re looking to buy a gift for a beginner photographer and they already use an editing tool such as Lightroom or Photoshop, then consider getting them some presets to help with their editing.
Photography presets are designed to assist with editing and transforming images, as well as create certain styles, effects and help with consistency. You’ll find presets available for all types of photography, such as for lifestyle and people, landscapes, real estate, food, weddings and many more themes.
Another thing we like about photography presets is that you can look at the settings that were adjusted to create the look/effect. This makes them helpful as a way of learning what you need to adjust to create certain types of image looks. Presents don’t tend to be a perfect solution that will work magic on every photograph but they can certainly help someone to get started.
6. Magazine subscriptions
Photography magazine subscriptions are great gifts for amateur photographers as well as professional photographers. These types of magazines provide inspiration, tips, competitions and tons more quality content which helps on various aspects of photography.
Magazines such as Digital Camera Magazine are great options to consider and sometimes come with freebies too with the purchase. Different subscriptions may be available in different countries, so have a look in your local newsagent to see what options are available. Often within the magazine, there is a card or information on getting subscriptions or you can also search online too.
7. New equipment
Photography can be a very expensive hobby and this is especially true when using DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras that use interchangeable lenses. As well as this photographers will likely need additional equipment such as a tripod, bags, lens cleaners, and flashes to name a few items.
Photography doesn’t need to always be expensive though and with smartphones and compact cameras now being very high quality and affordable, it makes it much easier for people to slowly start getting into this hobby. There are even cheaper DSLRs available too meaning if you’re wanting to buy a camera to encourage someone to take up photography then it can be much more affordable.
However, if you’re wanting to buy some nice equipment as a gift for camera lovers then here are some ideas. Note that if you’re wanting to buy lenses or tripods (as well as a lot of other photography equipment) then you should make sure it’s compatible and potentially ask for a gift wishlist from the person you are buying for.
- Travel Tripod
- Photography bags (we recommend Manfrotto)
- Lenses – such as wide-angle, telephoto, macro, prime etc
- Lens cleaner
- Camera Flash
- Memory cards
- Reflectors
- External hard drives
- A new camera
8. Photography tours, workshops or lessons
A great way for photographers to improve their photography skills or even to just practice and go to amazing locations is through a photography tour, workshop or lessons. Professional photography tours can last from one day to a week or longer and as well as this can get quite expensive. However, this would be a fantastic gift if you’re buying for someone special and have the budget.
Another option more for exploring with other photographers is to go on a tour. You can find some Instagram and photography tours on Viator and GetYourGuide and these might be in popular destinations such as Bali, Barcelona and many other top travel locations. For these types of gifts we’d recommend finding out where the recipient of the gift is going and then seeing if there are any good options. Better yet if you are travelling with them then that will help you with planning.
9. Online photography course
Finally, our last suggestion of gifts for photographers is to purchase an online photography course. You’ll find options available on websites such as Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera and many other online websites. The best thing about these types of online courses is that they can normally be taken without a time limit, you can see user reviews from previous buyers, and you may even be able to see previews of what the course is like.
Where to find the best gifts for photographers
When shopping for physical gifts for photographers, it’s helpful to choose a retailer that specializes in photography gear and accessories. Online stores like B&H Photo Video (USA), or Jessops or Wex Photo Video (UK) are great options, as well as stores like Best Buy and local speciality camera shops. You can also use websites like Amazon to buy certain gifts and products as well, such as books and equipment that you might know that the photographer you are buying for may want.
For non-physical products such as online tools, courses, exhibitions or other things then you could look at some of our suggestions above, or do some further research and exploring online to specific things.
Of course, don’t forget to read reviews and compare prices to ensure you’re getting the best deal and a high-quality product.
Summary
These are some of the best gift ideas for photography lovers, including online services, inspirational books, equipment and more. Consider buying something from the suggestions above to help those interested in cameras and photography. These ideas should help photographers continue their hobby, provide inspiration to help them develop their skills, and provide a great gift for them to open during Christmas, birthdays or other special occasions.
