Well, it’s just about that time of year again. The gift-giving season is nearly upon us! And if you’re shopping for the photographer in your life, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re reading this article, I can assume that you care about picking out a gift that is just as useful as it is thoughtful. The photographer in your life will undoubtedly thank you for finding just the right gift. If any of this sounds like you, you’re in the right place. I’m here to help you find the perfect gift for the photographer in your life.
As a photographer myself, I know just how difficult it can be to pick out the perfect gift. Photography is complicated with numerous brands and millions of products and accessories. To make matters worse, most photographers are very picky about the equipment they use. Some equipment can even be expensive. You’d hate to spend your hard-earned money on a gift that is going to sit on the shelf for eternity. While a gift card is always a great fallback, it might not be what you’d imagined.
Think in Categories
The hardest part of picking a gift for a photographer is simply knowing what type of item to look for. Define your budget and determine what type of gifts you can get within that budget. Consider the style of photography your giftee is into. The equipment used by a landscape photographer is totally different than the gear used by a portrait or sports photographer. If you’ve noticed any equipment they have that needs replacement, this could be a good place to start. Regardless, let’s cover some of the best types of gifts for photographers and who might find them useful.
Bags
You can never have enough bags as a photographer. If possible, try to assess what bags the photographer already uses. This will help you get an idea of the style of bag they like. Photography bags range from traditional-style backpacks all the way to sling bags and chest bags, and everything in between. Consider getting the photographer a different size bag than what they already own. Do they like to carry a lot of equipment, or maybe they like to travel fast and light? Could they benefit from a bag that is small enough to fit as an airline carry-on?
If a stand-alone bag doesn’t seem like a good option, an insert bag or a wrap may be a good choice. You can’t have enough of either of these items as a photographer. An insert bag is designed to protect your camera equipment and go inside another bag, but I even use these for storage at my house. Soft-sided inserts are the jack-of-all-trades, while hard-sided cases are rugged and great for the traveling photographer. A wrap is basically a thick piece of fabric that can be used to protect your equipment, perfect for those oddball items. Insert bags and wraps are generally cheaper than stand-alone bags, so those with a smaller budget may find these options to be perfect.
Accessories
Accessories are a broad category that encompasses almost anything. I’ll break down a couple of my favorite types of accessories. These accessories are sure to be home-run hitters for your photographer. Suppose you see that your photographer is still using the name-brand camera strap. It’s easy to tell as the strap usually says the name of the camera manufacturer. They could definitely use a new strap. Numerous third-party straps on the market are adjustable and highly customizable, making them an excellent choice if your photographer doesn’t already own one.
Memory cards are another great choice, as you truly can never have enough. They come in all shapes and sizes, and if you’ve looked at them online, I’m sure you were confused. Typically, I’d recommend spending $50 or more on a quality card and look for one with ample capacity and speed. Most photographers will find 64GB to be just right, but if your photographer loves to take longer trips and fire off thousands of images, 128GB or 256GB might be a better fit.
Non-Photography Gear
Don’t overlook non-photography gear as a great gift. No matter what they photograph, there is always gear that can help them get to the places they like to shoot. Outdoor gear is perfect for landscape photographers, packing cubes are perfect for the traveling photographer, and a power bank is perfect for just about any type of photographer. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get a gift that can aid your photographer in getting to their destination.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Camera cleaning and maintenance gifts are the equivalent of getting socks for Christmas. But I’ll be honest, the older I get, the more I appreciate a quality pair of socks! Everyone needs cleaning gear for their camera, and while it might not be the most glamorous gift, it will certainly get used. A high-quality microfiber cloth can be a photographer’s sidekick for cleaning their lens, or lens cleaning alcohol wipes can come in clutch when you need a little extra cleaning power. A sensor cleaning kit can be a great choice if you can figure out the type of camera that they use. The best part about cleaning equipment is that it typically gets used up, meaning there is always a need for more wipes and other cleaning solutions.
How to Determine What Camera They Have?
Sure, you could just ask, but that takes a lot of the fun out of gift-giving. Surprises are always better, but it is important to see what type of camera they use, as this can give you a lot of valuable information in your search. If you can look at their camera, it should say the brand name on the front, and the model name is typically on the trim on the back of the camera, usually just above the LCD screen. When buying a camera-specific accessory, most brands are not cross-compatible, meaning that a Canon product likely wouldn’t work on a Sony camera, and vice versa.
With this information, you can input the name of their camera on Adorama and find tons of accessories to fit that particular model. If you can’t see their camera, look back at photos of them or browse their social media accounts and see if they have photos with their camera to at least determine the brand. If all else fails, check their social media accounts and see if they follow any major camera brands. Many photographers follow the company that makes their camera, which at least tells you the make of the camera.
Conclusion
Gift-shopping can be brutal, especially if you’re the person who wants to make sure every gift is absolutely perfect. If you’ve made it this far, I’m confident that you’ll be picking out a gift that your photographer will love. And remember, if all else fails, you can always purchase a last-minute Adorama gift card that will surely be used within the week!
