Christmas Gifts for Photographers
- Sofia Andreocci
- Dec 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 10, 2023
If you needed help figuring out what to get for the photographer in your life, you came to the right place. We have some great suggestions for what you can get them for the holidays (our sources are, of course, ourselves as we are photographers who need these things).
Don't fret, you won't be dropping a ridiculous amount of money on a lens you aren't even sure they will use. You don't even need to be well versed in photography. A thoughtful, practical gift will show that you appreciate their passion and support their creative endeavors. And with that being said, let's get started.
1. Camera Accessories
Lens Cleaning Kit: A high quality lens cleaning kit is an essential for maintaining the clarity of camera lenses. Lenses can actually be more expensive than the body of a camera, so keeping them in pristine condition is crucial!
Lens Filters: Filters such as UV filters, polarizers, and neutral density filters can help a photographer creatively.
If you aren't familiar with what these filters do, I'll give you the rundown:
UV Filter: Are used to reduce the effects of atmospheric haze, moisture, and other airborne pollutants that can cause image degradation. Great in challenging weather conditions.
Polarizers: Are used to reduce reflections and glare by filtering out light.
Neutral Density: Reduces the intensity of all wavelengths, or colors, of light equally from entering the camera in measured amounts. This gives the photographer more control in picking the shutter speed and aperture combination in a variety of conditions. Great for blurring movement especially of water flow.
*You will have to know what lens they use, so this might be tricky if you aren't familiar with their gear.
Camera Bag: If the photographer in your life is anything like me, they might be swaddling their expensive camera in an old sweatshirt and calling it a day. For the love of God, get them a camera bag. And don't just get them a simple camera case. Get them a nice, proper bag that will allow them to carry other equipment, if need be. For example, there are plenty of backpacks that house camera cases at the bottom, with plenty of space at the top for personal items. Click the link below to see what we have that we love!
Camera Strap: In reality, no one ever really uses the camera strap that comes with their camera (at least we at E.motion Media don't). The best camera straps are the ones that are quick release, making it significantly easier to attach and remove it quickly from the camera. Click the link below for some fun, decorative options.
2. Memory, Memory, Memory!
External hard drives: External Hard Drives are so essential in photography. In most cases (and hopefully in the case of the photographer in your life) photographers shoot in RAW. RAW files tend to take up a lot of memory as they carry a lot of information. An external hard drive will save you from uploading all these photos to a computer, taking up your storage. If you wanted to go above and beyond, get your photographer an SSD (Solid State Drive). These drives tend to be faster, more reliable, and better with larger files than a traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive). A great SSD card we have is pictured and linked below.
SD Cards: An SD Card or a Secure Digital Card, is a type of flash memory storage commonly used in portable electronic devices. Many digital cameras and camcorders use these cards to store photos and videos. The card's capacity determines how many photos or videos can be stored before it needs to be transferred or replaced. Photographers should have several SD cards in case of emergencies. 64 GB cards are a good place to start and they are relatively inexpensive.
SD Card Reader: Photographers tend to have a lot of cables and chords as it is, so instead of having another cable, get your photographer an SD card reader. This allows them to simply pop in their SD card and immediately transfer the files to a local device. I personally like it more than having to connect my camera to a computer.
3. Software
If your photographer isn't already working with Adobe, an absolutely amazing gift would be to purchase them a subscription to the cloud or to specific programs such as Lightroom and Photoshop. These are excellent editing apps that all good photographers should have. If you're unsure how to go about this, Amazon has a couple of great options for purchasing a yearly subscription for these programs (click button below).
4. Extras
Wireless Remote Shutter Release: There are so many reasons why this contraption is useful for a photographer. Whether the photographer in your life enjoys to take self-portraits, is a frequent solo traveler, or just enjoys taking stable long exposure shots, This wireless remote will come in handy in one way or another. (You will have to know what kind of camera they have for this one as well).
Portable Lighting: This is such an underrated essential that every photographer should have in their arsenal. Portable lighting. Lighting tends to be inconsistent, especially when shooting outdoors, and having some kind of lighting available that isn't just an iPhone flash (which can sometimes works wonders), absolutely changes a photograph. These can be LED lights or even ring lights.
Portable Photography Studio: If your photographer enjoys product photography an absolute game changer is a lightbox. A lightbox is an enclosure with transluscent sides that provides a simple environment for the product you are capturing. The purpose of a lightbox is to diffuse light and allows the photographer to manipulate shadows. Building a set is a lot of hard work, but starting with a lightbox makes lighting one less thing to worry about. Click below to check out a lightbox for a good price.
These are great places to start when looking for something to get the photographer in your life. The holidays are upon us, but it's not too late to get your last minute Christmas gifts! That's what amazon is for! Stay tuned for more blog posts that will be going in depth on how to use some of the gear we have listed!
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