Everyone has at least one photographer friend in their life. Whether they are professional photographers or it is just a hobby for them, finding the right gifts for photographers can be a challenge.
Let’s face it, photographers can be a picky bunch. We know the brands we like and tend to use the same gear over and over. That can make it really difficult for someone who is not into photography to come up with the perfect photography gift that they will like.
Best Gifts for photographers under $25
After years of being a professional photographer, I know I am always looking for photography gear that will help me take better photos, be lightweight, and make my job of capturing beautiful images easier.
These are some of my best photography gift ideas that will help you get the right gift for those photographer friends in your life. It doesn’t matter if you have $20 or $2000 to spend these gift ideas cover all budget levels.
One thing that every photographer knows is how important it is to keep your camera lens clean. So getting this inexpensive lens cleaning kit is the perfect gift that every photographer will love.
I use this one from LensPen forever as it includes a blower, a microfiber cleaning cloth as well as the LensPen itself. If you are looking for a great gift that will be appreciated and not break the bank this is a great choice.
One of those no-brainer gifts for photographers is memory cards. It doesn’t matter if they are into landscape photography, macro photography, travel photography or you are a wildlife photographer, you always need memory cards.
This is what makes them one of those perfect gift ideas. Most cameras nowadays use SD cards, unless it is a drone then they actually use micro SD cards. I use the Sandisk Extreme cards as they are fast and come in high capacities. If this is your first time buying an SD card then I would suggest you look at something like this 64GB Class 10. It will work in almost any camera is fast as well.
You can never have enough Microfiber Cloths in your bag. I use them to keep my camera lens clean as well as my viewfinder. You don’t want smudges and fingerprints ruining your images. These make the perfect gift because they work for any type of digital camera, phone camera, DSLR camera, and any type of camera lenses as well.
Nowadays we have to carry multiple Memory Cards with us and a good way to keep them safe from the elements and organized is with a dedicated memory card holder. This is one of those great gift ideas that you will thank me for. They are economical, useful and every photographer needs them.
I like to go with the hard case myself as I am usually photographing in all different types of weather situations and it is important to me to keep what I have shot safe after I take it out of the camera. This is one we recommend.
Gift Ideas for Photographers under $100
Camera straps have come a long way in recent years and there actually 2 brands that I recommend. There is the Cross Body Camera Strap by Black Rapid, which I have used for years and love, or there is the quick-release camera neck strap from Peak Design, which is innovative and convenient.
The benefit of the Peak Design strap is if you use that system of mounts, packs, and camera accessories then it works seamlessly with it. I do find that if you are walking all day and are not using that system then the Black Rapid Camera Strap is much more comfortable.
Most cameras nowadays are at least water-resistant, but not many are truly water-proof. If you have a photographer friend that likes to spend a lot of time photographing outdoors (wildlife photographers), then this is the perfect gift for them.
Sizing them can be a little of a challenge, but my suggestion is if they are using a DSLR camera then go for the larger size and if they are using a Mirrorless digital camera then you can usually get away with a smaller size.
Does that photographer in your life enjoy taking photos of themselves in a destinations? If they do then a wireless remote would be a great gift for them. It works through Bluetooth technology to release the shutter button remotely. No more handing off your camera to someone else to take a photo.
Just throw your camera on a tripod, frame it up, and shoot away. It also helps eliminate camera shake when shooting in low-light situations. These are camera-specific, so you will have to know what brand of camera you are buying it for. Here is one for Canon Cameras, Nikon Cameras, and Sony Cameras.
Spare batteries are an essential piece of photography equipment. The last thing you want to do is miss shots because your battery ran out. We never head out in the field without them.
Batteries are something that is also camera-specific, so knowing the brand and camera your photographer friend has will be needed. You can check out this list of batteries to get started.
Most photographers I know like to keep organized. Knowing where everything is in your camera bag and how to get to it can make the difference between getting the shot or not. I use these pouches to keep all my charging cords, battery chargers, spare batteries, and other camera accessories nice and organized. I love the clear windows in these ones as I can quickly see what is inside.
I have a lot of photographer friends that love their Peak Design Bags and accessories. They have done such a great job at thinking about little details that make capturing great images a little easier.
The Peak Design Capture clip is one of those accessories. It attaches to any backpack strap, belt, or bag, and has an Arca tripod-compatible plate that screws into the bottom of your camera. It keeps your camera secure while hiking, walking, or any other activity. You won’t have to worry about missing shots while trying to get your camera out of your bag in time. I think I might get myself one this year.
Any photographer would be happy to get a tripod as a gift. They come in all different sizes and materials, it just depends on how serious your photographer friend is.
For someone who travels light and uses mainly a point and shoot or phone then something like this mini tripod would be perfect. If they are more on the professional photographer end of things then you will want to lean more towards a higher-end model like this one.
Photography Gifts Over $100
Having enough storage to put all of your digital photos is always a challenge. You can always use more. That is why this portable SSD hard drive makes a great gift for any photographer that travels. It is rugged and small and it is reliable.
I never leave home without at least one of these to back up my photos on the road. They come in different capacities from 500GB up to 4 TB, it just depends on how much you want to spend.
A great camera bag is invaluable to any photography lover. Camera bags can be a personal choice and come in many different sizes depending on how much camera gear you want to carry.
Camera bags like this one carry one camera body with a lens attached, spare batteries, and some memory cards. If you are looking for a camera bag that can carry all of your camera equipment then this bag from Shimoda would be more suited. It can carry 2 DSL Cameras, extra camera lenses, photography accessories and it is weatherproof as well. I have used it for years and love it.
If you are looking for a great gift that won’t break the bank but will be appreciated by all photography lovers out there then a photography magazine subscription to Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography or even National Geographic will inspire everyone.
It is where I got a lot of my motivation and inspiration from as well. Learning from the masters will always help you elevate your photography.
Everyone loves to display their digital photography and the best way to do this is with a digital picture frame. You can load as many photos as you like on this one and it is a great way to show off your images regardless of where you are an amateur photographer or a professional.
You can control what photos are displayed using their smartphone app. I bought one last year, loaded some of my images on it, and gave it as a gift. This is also a great gift for travelers as well.
After you take your photos you have to store them somewhere right? Nowadays a cloud system like Smugmug or Backblaze is a great way to back-up your photos and not worry if something happens to your memory cards or hard drives.
You can simply pay a monthly or yearly fee and have the upload automatically to the cloud. It is a worry-free backup option that all photographers should take advantage of.
Photography Gift Ideas
Well, that is our list of the Best Gifts for Photographers in 2021. We have tried to come up with some unique gift ideas for the photographer in your life and I hope you have found something that they will appreciate and enjoy.
If you would like some more ideas you can check out my Photography Gear list, which includes a lot of these items as well as a more detailed breakdown of the camera gear that I use as a professional photographer.
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