A picture-perfect friendship is not easy to find, so when you do meet a person with whom you click, you want to show them you care with a picture-perfect gift. The photographer in your life has captured countless precious memories through a lens; they deserve a genuine, heartfelt gift that captures your admiration for their work. But what exactly are the best gifts for photographers? Below, you will find an assortment of incredible gadgets that are guaranteed to make your beloved camera operators smile for the camera.
Gifts for Photographers
All Weather Rolling Camera Case
Photographers get to experience the world from an original, creative perspective most of us can never understand. That perspective comes with a hefty price tag, though, so it’s no surprise that your loved one is determined to take such good care of their equipment. Since they can’t avoid taking their camera out on the road, gift them the luxury of traveling with peace of mind, secure in the knowledge that the durable camera case will protect their gear through it all. With soft foam padding interiors and weatherproof exteriors, these quality rolling cases will get your photographer’s gear to their destination every time.
Dual Shoulder Camera Strap
The quality of a shot ultimately comes down to the tools used to catch it; But in the middle of the action, a photographer doesn’t always have time to switch cameras or lenses for a single perfect picture. With a camera strap, switching back and forth between cameras doesn’t have to take more than a second. By securing 2 cameras securely at your photographer’s side, those most gifted with photography can keep their most frequently used gear within arm’s reach for last-minute, spur-of-the-moment changes that make all the difference between a good shot and a truly breathtaking one.
This Book is A Camera
Those aspiring photographers that think they need the most complex, high-tech cameras to capture great images, think again! This camera book is proof that photography doesn’t have to be complicated and inaccessible if you don’t want it to be. Distributed by the reputable MoMA, it is a fully-functioning camera that does away with all the unnecessary bells and whistles. In this gift, your photographer will get the fold-out camera book, photo paper film, a lightproof bag, and instructions on how a seemingly ordinary book can possibly capture genuine photographs. Photography and science lovers alike will appreciate not just the working book, but the accompanying explanation that answers every how and why along the way.
Nikon Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Camera lenses are delicate pieces that require a gentle touch. Fortunately, the Nikon cleaning cloth is every bit as soft as it is portable. Microfiber design means that the cloth is able to wipe down a camera without scratching, cracking, or otherwise harming any of its fragile parts. Available in a portable Nikon clip-on bag, a photographer can easily attach the cloth to their bags or camera case, allowing them to keep their equipment perfectly neat no matter where the photo shoot might be taking place. For photo-ops in the city or the wilderness, guarantee your photographer is prepared for whatever elements life might throw their way with this soft, gentle gift from Nikon.
Atmosphere Aerosol
A layer of haze can change the entire mood of a photo shoot. Your photographer doesn’t have to wait for the clouds to roll in to get that strange, ethereal fog, though: Atmosphere Aerosol puts the weather in their camera bag! Gift any photo a surreal, stunningly real layer of fog at any time of day with just a few sprays of Atmosphere Aerosol and completely change the tone of the shot. With a pack of 6 cans, your photographer will be prepared for countless un-fog-ettable photo shoots to come.
Neoprene Camera Lens Bag
A camera’s lens is one of the most delicate parts of a photographer’s entire set-up, so gift your loved one’s favorite pieces the protection they need and deserve. Altura lens bags are designed to keep DSLR camera lenses safe from the dust, debris, and unexpected knocks that so often come with the work of a traveler. The set of 4 neoprene pouches includes 4 uniquely-sized bags designed to accommodate a range of DSLR lenses, regardless of your photographer’s go-to camera brand. Convenient carrying clips don’t only make travel safer for your photographer’s lenses, but also significantly easier on your loved one, too.
Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader
After a long afternoon of shooting pictures from every angle imaginable, the last thing a photographer wants to do is wrestle to download those photos to their devices. The hard part of photography should be taking the pictures, not downloading them, and the lightning to SD card reader ensures that that’s the case. Capable of transferring photos and videos to an Apple device, this card reader is a must-buy gift for the Apple user serious about their photography career and eager to begin sharing their work with the public right away.
Vidpro Professional Skater Dolly
Shaky cam has its time and place, but a professional photographer should be able to capture footage through a range of techniques. For photos and video when a smooth, sliding shot is much more appropriate, the skate dolly is the steady foundation a photographer really needs. Smooth rubber wheels glide across surfaces, giving pictures and video a consistent, steady look no photographer can achieve on their own. Bring your photographer’s work a new level of consistency with the reliable stabilizer from a reliable friend.
Lume Cube 2.0
The master photographer must also be a master of lighting. For instant images and long-exposure projects, a consistent, reliable light source is key to setting the mood of a photographer’s work. The Lume Cube LED light is the ideal gift for photographers whose work calls for perfect lighting, even when their projects take them to the opposite side of the globe. A small, compact build lends the light portability lacking in classic box lights, but doesn’t impede an impressive 1.5-hour battery life or an 80-degree beam that leaves no corner in the dark. With wireless controls for your photographer’s convenience, perfecting photo shoot lighting has never been easier.
A Photography-Inspired Watch
On or off the clock, photography is never far from your loved one’s mind. Get a gift that commemorates your photographer’s greatest joy with a unique watch made just for them. Photography enthusiasts will adore the aperture-themed face of the watch, complete with numbers placed to mark the hour at hand. The hands of the watch even extend from a set of aperture blades, giving the impression that your photographer could attempt to snap an image at any second. For those that can’t get enough of photography, it is a fun, stylish testament to the hobby or profession that makes your creative soul’s life worth living,
Easy-Macro Lens Band
The camera on most modern smartphones is certainly not a bad quality piece of equipment, but it lacks the potential for customization that a photographer really needs in their career. Since a person can’t very well change their phone’s camera lens, the lens band is the perfect gift for the phone-based photographer in your life. When they wrap the band around their phone and line up the lens correctly, your photo pro will be able to snap pictures at 4x the regular zoom, changing their phone’s perspective on the world and redefining their career from here on out.
Splat 3N1 Flexible Tripod
A phone is not designed for capturing long, steady shots, and most tripods aren’t designed to support the photo photographer. The Splat 3N1 tripod is another story altogether. This flexible, anti-slip tripod keeps a phone firmly in place as your loved one captures photos and videos, ensuring smooth, unshaken visuals worth sharing. It doesn’t interfere with integrated flash or lighting, so a photographer can still get perfect lighting in every picture as well as a steady base. If your loved one is still just starting out in photography and isn’t ready to invest in a costly, complex studio set-up, a smartphone and a tripod is all a photographer needs to begin documenting their life in stunning quality,
Foldio3 Foldable Lightning Studio
For those who specialize in photographing small, simple objects, a full-sized studio is an unnecessary investment. With a foldable studio, a professional photographer can control their entire project from the comfort of home. The collapsible studio provides the space and lighting a photographer needs to capture the best side of every product, but doesn’t clutter up their office once the photo shoot ends and the work behind the scenes begins. Lightweight, incredibly portable, and with 2 unique backdrops included, the portable studio has everything a full-sized studio can offer – just, scaled down to be the perfect gift for your loved one.
Capturing Couture Scarf Strap
Snowy photo-ops look amazing, but your photographer shouldn’t have to catch hypothermia to pull them off. A camera scarf allows a photographer to stay warm and cozy for projects in the cold, giving them the strength to remain on set until they’re sure they’ve captured that perfect picture. The built-in camera straps gifts a photographer total control over their camera, preventing any unfortunate drops that could end up costing a fortune for their company without interfering with their comfort or fashion. A hidden pocket even offers a place to store their other photo shoot essentials, or perhaps a pair of mittens for when all is said and done.
Photography Prism
When a picture is in need of something special, a photographer can never go wrong with a little light manipulation. Photography prisms can add a unique twist to a standard photo: by refracting light waves as they pass through, the Prism gives an image a dramatic rainbow effect better than what editing can offer. This gift includes more than just a prism, though: with the cleaning pouch included within the gorgeous packaging, your photographer can keep their triangular prism looking sharp until it’s time to hit the set.
Moment Wide Lens for Smartphone
Nowadays, one of the best tools for an aspiring photographer is the camera on their phone. Modern smartphones are no replacement for specialized equipment of course, but are a viable option for those just dipping their toes into the career. Smartphones are limited, though, both in quality and capabilities. The moment wide lens is the ideal photography gift for the smartphone photographer – with this simple attachment and the phone in their pocket, photographers can capture wider, higher quality images than they could ever imagine.
Sony Wireless Shooting Grip and Tripod
Snapping a quick selfie with a few friends is one thing; capturing quality long exposure works of art is another altogether. For serious shots that require complete stability, particularly video footage and long exposure photos, photographers need a gift that is as reliable as it is portable. The Sony shooting grip is all that and more; with this professional grip, photographers can take advantage of remote Bluetooth control, full tilt and directional functionality and resistance to the elements. Once they grip onto this grip, your photographer is never going to let it go!
Insta360 Sports Camera
Photography, like any creative pursuit, is notable for its versatility. A professional photographer understands their tools, their environment, and always knows how to uniquely and completely capture the scene around them. Gifts such as the Insta360 action camera are essential to photographers because of the versatility they lend them. For instance, this sports camera functions as a high-quality 360-degree camera or wide-angle camera depending on the situation, granting photographers the chance to get creative with their shots.
Winter Photography Glove
What is the ‘Markhof’ a serious photographer? The ergonomic gloves! They don’t just look cool – they are designed specifically to keep a photographer toasty even as the temperature plummets. Comfortable, cozy and water-resistant, the markhof ergonomic gloves are the perfect gift for the Arctic photographers. Come snow or sleet, no weather will stop this professional from shooting their shot – literally!
DJI Osmo Pocket
Unlike clunky, expensive camera equipment, the DJI osmo pocket camera is built for the photographer on the go. For photographers that favor nature scenes and real-world action, a smartphone-compatible pocket camera makes it simple and fun to get out into the world and begin snapping some new photos. With this gift in hand, photographers will have the tools they need to capture all the images and videos that they could ever desire without danger of damaging their expensive equipment (or their backs, for that matter).
The Custom Editing Console
In 2020, photography isn’t just a matter of taking a few interesting pictures. Developments in technology have transformed photo and video editing into an elaborate art form of their own, an art form that photographers will need to master before they begin publishing their images. The Loupedeck creative tool is a professional-grade editing tool capable of taking any image to the next level. If your photographer is interested in making a career out of their passion, a gift like the editing console is just the thing to set them apart from the competition and help them refine their craft.
Vuze 3D VR & 360 Camera
Filming engaging video content has never been easier than it is in the age of VR. The Vuze XR is a creative gift for photographers looking to grow and adapt to the latest tech has to offer. By capturing 180-degree VR footage or standard 360-degree footage, photographers can create an experience that has a lasting impact on their audiences. VR is here to stay; photographers can do themselves a favor by embracing this new medium and learning the ins and outs of VR today.
GNARBOX Rugged Backup Device
Any digital professional can lecture you about the importance of backing up your files, but most of us probably didn’t heed this warning until it was too late anyway. Photographers don’t have the luxury of being so lax with their files, though; when every image is a paycheck, there’s no room for lost files. That’s why professional photographers need a gift like the GNARBOX, a single-step backup device that can put an end to lost footage once and for all.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Link Smartphone Printer
While it can be tempting to edit and retouch the photos we snap on our phone, there was a wholesome charm to a raw physical Polaroid that you could share with loved ones. Today, Facebook and Instagram have become our go-to photo platforms, so are physical photos a thing of the past? For the photographer who loves to share the memories they’ve captured, the Fujifilm Instant Camera is just the device they need. With the camera, photos are printed by the device as soon as they snapped, allowing immediate sharing and swapping amongst friends and family.
SanDisk Ibi Smart Photo Manager
As a photographer’s portfolio grows, the organization becomes increasingly complex. Know a cameraman whose desktop could stand for a Spring cleaning? The Ibi Photo Manager is the ultimate organization gift! Photographers can gather images from their camera, computer and cloud in a single secure device where they can then be sorted, filed and privately shared. Now if only it could tidy up the rest of their house…
HD Camera Sunglasses for Snapchat
Not every photographer is a professional, and not every professional photograph needs to be a work of art. Humans love to communicate through imagery, so photographers will be thrilled with this casual camera that makes it easy to keep in contact with friends. The Snapchat Spectacles, a fashionable and functioning pair of sunglasses, are perfect for quickly snapping a fun photo to share on the App itself. No more wasting time pulling out a camera; playful photos are only a button click away!
DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter
Perhaps your photographer is looking to take some more remote shots. With the DJI Mavic Air, they – or rather, their camera – will be riding on cloud nine. The Mavic Air is a drone capable of taking beautifully smooth footage and photos from miles away, far above the world as we know it. Truly the only limit to your photographers’ images will be their own imagination once they get their hands on this high-flying gift.
Ricoh Theta S Digital Camera
While a good camera can capture some genuinely amazing footage, getting that footage uploaded to a phone or computer can be a bit of a pain. Between sorting through wires and folders for all of your devices and uploading times, saving personal footage to your phone can feel like an uphill battle. The Ricoh Theta S redefines this entire process. With this gift, photographers can quickly and easily share their footage between camera and phone for memories they can re-experience wherever they go.
Hover Camera Passport Self-Flying Drone
Drones are incredible gifts for photographers looking to explore new heights, but recording a person playing with a remote control is not ideal. When the photographer is the subject of their work, they need a drone capable of supporting itself. In other words, they need the Hover self-flying drone. Using the state-of-the-art body and face detection, the drone can fly and record without a photographer manning the controls, allowing your beloved cameraman to become the star of their own work once again.
Crystal Lensball
Does your photographer think they’ve seen it all? Then it’s time to show them a new perspective on the world. The crystal lensball is an inspiring photography prop that is sure to reinvigorate your loved one’s work. Flip, twist, and morph the universe with this simple little sphere to create memorable, eye-catching images like none other. It might seem like an unassuming gift but rest assured, the Lensball is ‘sphere’ to stay!
3m Extension Selfie Stick
They often get mocked for seemingly promoting narcissistic tendencies, but like any other photography tool, the selfie stick is a fantastic means of self-expression. Photographers can capture broad scenes and birds-eye shots with remarkable ease with an extended selfie stick in hand, resulting in countless original, breathtaking images. So go ahead and gift your favorite photographer a cool gadget like this and then capture some irreplaceable memories together.
QooCam 360 and Stereo Camera
Fully compatible with 360-degree video and with a range of VR technology, the Qoo360 Cam is incredibly an easy-to-use camera with countless possibilities. Set upright, the freestanding camera records the world in incredibly high-quality detail; bent, the camera can snap manual photos that are beautiful and precise. Anyone can be a photographer with such a stable, well-designed camera in their toolbelt, making it the perfect gift for amateurs and professionals alike.
Wiral Easy Cable Cam
Capturing stable motion shots is near impossible to do without investing in expensive, highly-specialized equipment – until now. This affordable, accessible gift, the Wiral cable camera, allows up-and-coming photographers to shoot films like the professionals for a fraction of the cost. Quick to set up and easy to use, no longer does the budget have to stand in the way of your favorite photographer producing the work that they’ve always envisioned.