( Christmas ) Christmas Gifts for Photographers

Everyone knows that photography can be an expensive hobby. Unless a photographer goes professional and spends a considerable amount of time building their brand, they can’t keep buying shiny new glass and the best bodies on the market.

So with that in mind, consider buying a present for a photographer friend of yours to make them feel special. Here are some of the best gifts that you can buy for a photographer.

1. Pixelstick Light Painting Tool

Let your photographer paint shapes, words, and more with the LED Pixelstick. Give the gift of color magic with this programmable LED light tool. It comes with an extension handle and splits in half for easy storage and travel.

2. Bokeh Masters Kit

With this Bokeh Masters Kit, a photographer can create images with hearts, stars, and butterflies straight from the camera. They’ll be a bokeh master in no time.

3. 100 Photographs That Changed the World

Share 100 photos that changed the world by giving this iconic book from Life. It’s the best way for a photographer to find inspiration and stories to fuel their creativity.

Photo by Evgeny Tchebotarev

4. Skylum Photo Editing Software

Photo editing software can be a very thoughtful gift for photographers. Give them the best in the form of Luminar by Skylum. Luminar is an affordable and full-featured RAW editing alternative to Lightroom and Capture One.

Luminar 4 Your photography. Elevated. Replace the sky in your photos, instantly! Boost details with AI Structure. Discover more amazing tools in the new Luminar 4. AI Sky Replacement

AI Structure

60+ cutting edge features

Instant Looks

And more Discover Luminar 4



5. National Geographic Magazine Subscription

Since 1888, National Geographic has been a world-leading magazine for articles and photographs. A National Geographic subscription will inspire photographers and researchers.

6. Lensball

The Lensball is a fan favorite when it comes to gift ideas for photographers. It’s a crystal ball that allows you to capture ultra wide-angle photographs. It’s available in two sizes: Pocket (which is perfect for maximum portability) and Pro (which is engineered to produce images of the highest quality).

7. Camera Cleaning Kit

What’s a practical gift that any camera owner can use? A camera cleaning kit! Clean sensors lead to clean images, and a DIY kit will save some dough.

8. Bottle Cap Tripod

With the Bottle Cap Tripod, your photographer can attach their camera to the nearest water bottle and snap their shots (great for when that perfect moment comes unexpectedly).

9. Ring light for phone cameras

For beautifully diffused light in a convenient, portable package, you can’t go wrong with a ring light for a phone camera. Phone-savvy photographers will appreciate the ability to fake studio lighting anywhere they go with one of these gadgets.

10. Handheld White Balance Filter

This easy-to-use white balance filter by JJC is one of the best gifts you can give to a photographer who changes their in-camera white balance frequently. Its small and lightweight nature makes it easy to store and quick to use.

11.Canon Selphy CP1300 Printer

Let your photographer make prints on the go with this rechargeable battery powered printer. They can create 4x6 prints anywhere from parties to barbecues.

12. Neewer LED Ring Light Kit

This ring light kit won’t break your budget and comes with an inner and outer ring light, a soft tube, a stand, a Bluetooth receiver, and more.

13. Remote Shutter Release

A remote shutter release is something that you only truly start respecting once you’ve used one, so it makes a great gift for a budding photographer. It’s inexpensive, small, and can be very useful.

14. Camera Lens Tumbler

This stainless steel insulated tumbler lets photographers start every day off right by drinking from a lens before they start shooting with one. Morning photo inspiration: solved.

15. The Lenspen

If you find your photographer friend cleaning their lenses with their shirts or tissues, maybe they need the Lenspen. It’s a compact pen-shaped tool with a brush on one end and a microfiber cleaning tip on the other. It’s a genius gift for photographers.

16. Polaroid "Stranger Things Edition"

The Polaroid camera is forever cool and classic. With an automatic exposure system that allows for manual focus and a beautiful chrome body, this gift will encourage its recipient to capture many extraordinary moments.



17. A Quadcopter

If your friend loves both gadgets and photography, then the DJI Mavic Air is bound to get them excited. It will allow them to take aerial photos, make awesome videos, and much more. It’s expensive, but if you can afford it, the photographer in your life will love you forever.

18. ExpoImaging ROGUEGELS-U Gels

In our humble opinion, this is one of the most fun gifts for photographers. The ROGUEGELS-U universal lighting filter kit from Rogue Photographic Design includes a whopping 20 gels, plus a gel-band attachment and padded storage pouch — everything a photographer needs for dynamic, dramatic color.

19. Smartphone Lens Kit

No matter how dedicated a photographer is, chances are high that they don’t always want to carry around their heavy cameras. That’s why this mini lens kit is so interesting. It has three add-ons that attach to a phone camera for different focal lengths.

20. A Nifty Fifty

Every camera maker has a nifty fifty in their lens collection. This is a fast, lightweight, and affordable 50mm prime lens. Granted, this may not be a great gift if the recipient is a professional and already has a ton of lenses, but it’s one of the best gift ideas we can give for beginner photographers.

21. Gorilla Tripod

Gorilla tripods are portable, flexible, and can hold everything from point & shoot cameras to larger professional DSLRs. They stand strong and are made to last, giving photographers the ability to look at things from a myriad of perspectives.

22. Portable Studio

This collapsible portable photo studio comes with built-in high output LED lights and works for handheld photography with a camera or smartphone — an excellent choice for the traveling photographer.

23. Magnetic photo rope

There’s no shortage of unique photo gifts out there, but this one is especially fun. This magnetic photo rope allows photographers to display their works of art using a metal cable and magnets. Photos hang seamlessly on the cable, without any pin holes or sticky tape residue to ruin the prints.

24. Light prism to create rainbow effects

Glimmery, ethereal rainbow effects are a hot trend in photography right now. Help your photographer friends get on board with a light prism. They’re inexpensive and super easy to use, and the final result is gorgeous.

25. Pictar Mark II smartphone camera grip for iPhone and Android

There are tons of great phone accessories for photographers. But if you want one that has a seal of approval from the pros, go for the Pictar. It includes a host of top-of-the-line features, including a cold shoe and tripod mount, a programmable physical zoom ring, and a multi-state shutter release.

26. Spider Holster Black Widow Box Set

When it comes to carrying a camera, neck straps are the standard — but they’re not the only option. The Spider Holster allows photographers to carry their camera on their hip instead of around their neck. The holster and pin keep the camera securely in place, and they double as a theft deterrent in crowded areas.

27. HP Sprocket 2nd Edition Photo Printer

The HP Sprocket Photo Printer is one of the most unique photo gifts we’ve seen so far. Just connect it to your phone orother mobile devicevia Bluetooth, customize your photos with text and borders, and voilà — vibrant, glossy prints of your favorite shots.

28.FujifilmInstax Mini

Okay, so a Fujifilm Instant Camera isn’t going to replace anybody’s professional camera. But if you’re looking for cool gift ideas that will provide tons of entertainment for seasoned photographers and aspiring beginners alike, a Fujifilm Mini is the way to go.



29. Underwater camera

Photography gifts don’t get much more fun than this. An underwater camera will open up a whole new world for photographers, whether that involves scuba diving in the ocean or taking a dip in the neighborhood pool. Talk about getting your feet wet.

30. Underwater camera housing

While underwater cameras are a fun and versatile tool for hobbyists and beginners, you might not have it in your budget to buy an underwater camera that will cut it for professional use. But an underwater camera housing is less likely to break the bank and allows photographers to use their own professional-grade cameras below the water line.

31. Waterproof Camera Case

With a waterproof camera case, a photographer can take their DSLR for a dip. One good option is the DiCAPac WP-S5 Waterproof Case for small DSLRcameras. Where will the water adventure lead?

These fun add-ons are cool gifts for the fearless photographer. Whether the search for the perfect shot takes them off the trail, under the water, or anywhere in between, these accessories will ensure they’re prepared for every adventure.

33. Light reflector kit

When it comes to great gifts for photographers, there are some options you just can’t go wrong with. Just about every photographer needs a light reflector kit. And if they already have one, they could probably use another.

34. Lomography Smartphone Scanner

Know any photographers that love shooting in 35mm? The Lomography Smartphone Scanner provides an easy way to digitize color negatives, color slides, and black and white film with nothing more than your average smartphone.

35. Tickets to a photography event

Nervous about picking out the right external flash or new camera lens? Tickets are great gifts for the gift giver who doesn’t know all that much about photography. Look for events such as workshops, lectures, and presentations. Your recipient will appreciate the thoughtful, personalized gesture, and you won’t have to figure out what the heck a hot shoe is.

36. Adobe Photoshop shortcuts keyboard cover

Admittedly, if you had asked us to name off some cool gifts, a guide to keyboard shortcuts probably wouldn’t be at the top of the list. But while it might not be as much fun as an underwater camera, these keyboard covers are incredibly helpful for photographers.

37. Custom Camera Strap

Photographers love custom gear, which is why a custom leather camera strap makes a great gift for a photographer. We suggest a strap from RSVP Handcrafted.

38. Flash drive for smartphones

Flash drives for phones make affordable, practical photography gifts for professionals and artists who know that phone cameras are for more than blurry selfies. Ranging from a few gigabytes to a terabyte, you can find an iPhone flash drive (or a flash drive for any other smartphone) to suit any gift-giving budget.

39. Luxi for All Light Meter

This is one of the most genuinely practical gifts for photographers. The Luxi Compact Light Meter attaches to a tablet or smartphone, connects to a free app, and provides incident light readings for spot-on exposures every time.

40. Game of Phones [A Modern Party Game]

This gift isn’t just for photographers. But with challenges like “show us your best selfie” and other phone camera shenanigans, photographers might have a leg up on the competition.

41. Transcend Portable SSD

Speaking of memory, photographers find it really hard to store all the photos they’ve taken on their computer’s hard drive. A portable SSD can make a world of difference, which is why this is such a good gift for a photographer.

42. Fast Memory Card

It can be a pain for a photographer to wait while their camera writes all the photos they’ve taken on a slow card. Gift them a faster one!

43. Photography backdrops

Gifts for photographers don’t have to be super high-tech. Just about every photographer can find a use for a high-quality photo backdrop. You can find a basic one to help fill out a new studio or you can pick one that you know is perfect for a photographer’s unique artistic style.

44. Polaroid/Fuji film

Sometimes the best gift ideas for photographers are the simple ones. Photographers (at least the old-school ones) need film. Fuji and Polaroid film are the photography world’s go-to options.

45. 360-degree electric rotating turntable

This 360-degree electric rotating turntable turns smoothly both clockwise and counterclockwise. It also happens to be stable, reliable, and dead simple to use. As far as photography gifts go, this is one that’s versatile enough to be used by a wide range of photo and video professionals.

46. Lens cap bundle

If there’s one thing we can say with certainty, it’s that almost all photographers have lost at least one lens cap. It’s practically a rite of passage. Buy your favorite photographer a lens cap bundle with helpful cap keepers included.

47. The Polaroid Cube

The adorably tiny Polaroid Cube shoots 8-megapixel still photos or up to 1440p video. It has built-in rechargeable batteries, video and photo stabilization, and convenient Wi-Fi connectivity. Photographer or not, we think these make pretty cool gifts for just about anybody.

48. Photography winter gloves/mittens

Photographers brave the elements in all kinds of weather. If you’re looking for a gift for a photographer who specializes in wildlife or landscape photography, gear for staying comfy and warm is likely to be much appreciated. Be sure to choose a pair of gloves that’s waterproof as well as breathable and warm.

49. I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY license plate

What kind of cool gift do you get for someone who has everything? Let your favorite photographer customize their ride with this license plate frame that boldly declares the owner’s love for all things photography.

50. Photography blind for animal and bird photography

A high-quality photography blind is one of the most useful gifts for photographers who want to get up close and personal with their wild subjects. With the ability to observe and photograph wildlife without disturbing its natural activity, your recipient will be able to create National Geographic-worthy images.

51. Rogue 3-in-1 Flash Grid

Featuring interchangeable, stackable honeycomb grid inserts, the Rogue 3-in-1 Flash Grid is perfect as a main light, a dramatic accent light, or even a hair light for portrait photography. It comes with three gels for stunning color effects: Dark Salmon, Steel Green, and Oklahoma Yellow.

52. Tamrac Goblin Memory Card Holder

Memory cards have a tendency of getting lost in the bottoms of backpacks, purses, and camera bags. Gift the Goblin memory card holder.

53. ONA Camera Bag

These handcrafted bags are stylish and one-of-a-kind. The extra bonus? With each purchase, $10 goes to support emerging storytellers.

54. PhotoMemo book

One of the challenges of film photography is staying organized. Make the process a little easier with the PhotoMemo book, which provides a simple, clean way to record details and technical information about each individual roll of film.

55. Annual SmugMug Subscription



Last, but certainly not least, are you looking for a gift that the photographer in your life will definitely use? With unlimited photo storage, an easy-to-use website builder, and secure photo sharing, annual SmugMug account is the ultimate photography gift. Even sell prints, including fine art wall hangings, coffee mugs, and more!

These gift ideas can help you make your photographer friends happy. There’s nothing more satisfying for a photographer than to receive a gift like one of these from a friend. So go ahead and make their lives a little better by gifting them something they’ll actually use to get better at what they do.

Happy Gifting!

Love, Skylum