With smartphones getting better cameras and imaging tech, everyone’s, pretty much, a photographer now. However, we all know those people who are more serious about photography than your typical Instagram user. Some of them are actual professionals who wield lenses for a living, while others are dedicated enthusiasts who spend a little too much time honing their mirrorless camera skills compared to most individuals. Whichever the case, those people in your shopping list will definitely be the ones to appreciate photography-related gifts the most.
Photography gifts can span a wide range of items. From lenses and tripods to all sorts of smaller accessories, there’s a whole range of photography gear you can pick out when shopping for a present. However, you don’t have to confine yourself to buying photography gear for gifting. You can, for instance, go for a photography-themed coffee table book, a poster print of their favorite photo, or even a tee displaying the logo of their favorite camera brand. Because of the varied options available, the best photography gifts don’t have to warrant an intimidating price tag, as there are plenty of inexpensive options available that they may find just as useful.
The best photography gifts can be different for each individual. As such, you want to consider your recipient’s skill level and specific field of interest when shopping for their gift. Someone who does travel photography, for instance, might have different needs compared to someone whose passion is fine art photography. Yes, that means you may need to do a bit more research when shopping for seasoned pros, but it’s definitely worth taking the time, especially if want them to enjoy your present.
These are the best photography gifts for all the shutterbugs in your shopping list.
ProMediaGear A13 Photographer’s Multi-Tool
A keyring with a small tool attached to it, this device features a flathead driver on one end and a 4mm hex key on the other, making it a useful photography gift they can put to work when adjusting tripods, mounting cameras, and performing all sorts of other tasks. It’s a simple but handy tool to have on hand, especially since you can use it to carry your keys in a pants pocket, while going about your day.
Altura Professional Cleaning Kit
Yes, most serious photographers will have a camera cleaning kit in their stash. Given how easy those things are to lose and misplace, though, it never hurts to have backup, which is why we think a multi-piece cleaning set always makes for a good, inexpensive photography gift. This one combines a lens brush, a lens cleaning pen, an air blower, a small bottle of glass cleaning fluid, three pieces of cleaning cloths, and 50 sheets of cleaning paper in a single package. All items in the kit are gentle on your gear, while being very effective at getting rid of dust and smudges.
The Photographer’s Playbook
A great photography gift for novices and intermediate enthusiasts, this book compiles over 300 photography assignments that recipients can follow to help beef up their skillset. Each assignment is combined with stories, techniques, and ideas of all sorts from some of the most respected names in contemporary photography, allowing you to glean new insights both from reading and doing each of the assigned tasks. It’s a great way to expose yourself to new ways of engaging with photography, giving you something you can work on any time you’re feeling the need for a fresh challenge or simply looking to get out of a creative slump.
Joby GorillaPod 1K Compact Tripod Kit
Light and compact enough to throw in a backpack, this small tripod comes with wraparound legs that you can use it to secure to all sorts of surfaces traditional tripods won’t be able to handle. You can secure it to a tree branch, a motorcycle’s handlebar, or even a random railing on the street, giving you a handy way to mount your camera all over the place. This is the smaller 1K version, rated for mirrorless cameras up to 2.2 pounds, so you may want to go for a slightly more expensive model if your recipient tends to use a heavier setup. It uses a ballhead to secure mirrorless cameras, as well as rubberized contact rings and foot grips to ensure it provides a stable mount at all times.
Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap
A camera strap always makes for a safe photography gift, since many enthusiasts will always appreciate having a few to choose from in their gear stash. This one levels up the usual basic camera strap, as it can be worn as a sling strap, a shoulder strap, or a neck strap, with aluminum adjuster handles allowing you to quickly dial in the way it fits on your body, so you can switch to wearing it differently in seconds. The wider seatbelt-style webbing is very comfortable, too, while having different textures on either side (one side is soft, the other side has more grip).
Kodak Step Instant Photo Printer
Anyone who takes a lot of photos will probably want to get some physical prints of some of their captures at some point. While you’ll need a proper photo printer for professional-looking prints, those who just want a small print they can stick on their laptop or wallet will definitely love this instant photo printer, which can print images from any connected Bluetooth device, such as your phone, tablet, or laptop. It uses Zink technology, so while it’s not as pretty as Fujifilm’s instant prints, it’s definitely close enough in quality, especially since Zink refills tend to be more affordable.
Peak Design Capture
A very useful photography gift for folks who like to take their cameras on the go, this clip lets you easily mount your camera onto straps and bands. That means, you can mount your mirrorless body onto your backpack strap or belt, sparing you from having to use a dangling camera strap to keep your equipment within easy reach. It’s easy enough to use for mounting, while offering a quick release button, so you can grab your camera in a pinch. Plus, it can handle up to 200 pounds, so you can travel with the heaviest camera setup without any trouble.
Jollylook Build Your Own Pinhole Instant Film Camera
If you have real camera nerds in your shopping list, we have a feeling this DIY building kit will make for an excellent photography gift. The set includes all the parts needed to assemble a vintage-style pinhole camera, allowing your recipient to experience putting together a camera resembling the classic pinhole rigs from yesteryear. Even better, it’s a functional camera designed to work with Instax Mini film, allowing you to mount it on a tripod, use it to take photos, and even print them instantly. It comes with multiple parts of classic cameras, too, including a viewfinder, an exposure adjustment dial, and a shutter release button.
PolarPro ShortStache Everyday Filter
An all-purpose filter, this combines a circular polarizer and a black mist filter into one to recreate the signature aesthetic of lifestyle photographer Garrett King (aka ShortStache). According to PolarPro, the circular polarizer gives the image a sharp, clean look with zero color shift, while the mist filter gives a slight blooming effect to the highlights, producing images that feel like they could have popped straight out of your favorite movie scenes. It’s quite the impressive look – one that many enthusiasts will definitely appreciate having in their arsenal. The filter comes with an aluminum frame and 15 layers of protective coating.
Manfrotto Element MII
Every photographer who’s halfway serious about the craft probably already has a tripod. It never hurts to get them another nice one as a photography gift, though, and this is one of our favorites. A travel tripod, it collapses to a compact 16.7 inches long for easy portability, all while extending to a tall 62.9 inches when fully unfolded. We love how stable it is during use, maintaining a steady stance comparable to much wider tripods we’ve tried, while weighing pretty light at just 3.4 pounds. It’s got all the usual features you expect, too, from the twist leg locks and leg angle locks to the bubble levels and adjustment knobs to supporting setups up to 17.6 pounds. Simply put, it’s a solid travel tripod that any enthusiast will appreciate.
Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L Camera Backpack
If you want to get your recipient a nice photography gift they can use regularly, but don’t know much about camera gear, just get them a good camera backpack to carry all that gear in. This one is our favorite for day trips. At 18L, it’s a small enough bag to take anywhere, while expanding to 22L when you need the extra room. It comes with customizable dividers for organizing your camera gear, which you can fully access using a rear opening, making it theft-proof when you’re on the move. There’s a side access to the camera section of the main compartment for quickly grabbing your camera on the fly, while additional compartments let you carry all sorts of stuff, from tripods and laptops to tablets and small accessories. The only catch is that it won’t accommodate larger DSLRs, which shouldn’t be an issue, considering most professional rigs take on the mirrorless form factor these days.
Zhiyun Molus X100 Pro 100W
This LED light gives your recipient portable lighting tool that they can bring along to their trips, all while providing them with a whopping 100W of continuous lighting power. It’s small enough for handheld use, which makes it very handy as on-the-go lighting, while the small size makes it possible to squeeze into tighter spaces. They’ll love how much lighting power it can deliver in a stable manner, all while managing temperature very well, so they can use it for extended periods without overheating. It can also be powered while plugged in from a USB-C power source, so you can simply hook up a power bank when the battery drains out in the middle of a shoot, while onboard Bluetooth allows you to control it remotely via an app.
