If you know a photographer, chances are they are always in need of new gear. But with the high price tags that come along with most camera equipment, it can be hard to find the perfect and useful gifts for photographers. Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive gift for your significant other, your friend or even yourself, we have compiled a list of cheap gifts sure to make the journey of photography more enjoyable and creative! Here are 19 affordable photography gift ideas that will help take any shutterbugs skills to the next level without breaking the bank.
Holiday Gift Ideas for Photographers
A Camera Wrist Stap
A quality camera bag
A Leatherman Multitool
Reusable silica gel packets
Apple AirTag
Memory Card Wallet
A Highspeed Memory card
External SSD Drive
Backblaze computer backup software
A quality tripod
On / Off camera flash
Flash lighting modifyer
Compact Flashlight
Photography workbook
Reusable film camera
Travel Tripod
Cleaning kit
Instant Photo Printer
Photo book on Creativity
1: A camera wrist strap to keep your camera secure while shooting. The wrist strap is a welcome change from the burdensome neck strap. This wrist strap from Peak Design is built around their popular quick release anchors that allow you a secure hold when shooting and quick release when you need both hands.
2: A camera bag that fits all of your gear. The Tenba DNA 9 Slim may be small but it can pack everything you need for a day of shooting without calling unnecessary attention to it. It perfectly holds a camera with 2-3 lenses, a tablet, and still has room for filters, memory cards and more.
3: A multitool is an extremely versatile tool for photographers. From screwing in a tripod plate to removing a tight filter on your lens and even cutting off loose threads from a models dress the Leatherman Sidekick will prove so useful, you'll wonder how you ever survived without one.
4: Reusable silica gel packets to keep bags free of moisture. Before I found these, I didn't know they made reusable silica packets. Throw 2 of them in your bag to tackle unwanted humidity and moisture and keep your gear protected.
5: Don't risk losing or having your camera bag stolen. The Apple AirTag will give you peace of mind that you'll be able to track your gear anywhere in the world if your bag gets lost or stolen.
6: A memory card wallet to keep your cards organized and protected. No more throwing memory cards in your pocket and rising losing them or having them damaged.
7: A new SD card. This is a great reminder that you should replace your memory cards yearly to avoid potential corruption. I've been using these Lexar UHSII cards for their speed and build quality and couldn't be happier.
8: A portable hard drive to store your images. Keeping your images on a portable SSD will keep your computer from getting bogged down.
9: Backblaze is a piece of software that backs up your whole computer and keep your images safe in the cloud in the event of a fire, flood, or theft. It runs in the background of your computer backing up your images automatically, giving you one less thing to think about.
10: A Quality tripod is essential to keep images level and steady in windy or unpredictable locations. You will be blown away how much better a quality tripod is over whats available in big box stores. The added stability will really come through in the sharpness of your photos.
11: A dedicated flash unit will expand your creativity and help keep your images clean in dark environments. The Godox v850III is one of the highest rated manual flashes for its speed, power, and expandability to connect and trigger additional flash units off camera. And it will work with every camera manufacturer.
12: When bouncing your flash off a wall or ceiling isn't an option, the Rogue Flash Bender will give your light a high quality soft and beautiful look. It’s an essential tool for anyone using a flash unit on or off camera.
13: A compact flashlight is surprisingly handy solution for when inside of your camera bag feels like a black hole when you're looking for that one piece of gear or a spare battery. Rovyvon e7 compact flashlight is small, very bright, and has both rechargeable and a replaceable battery so you never run out of power!
14: After you learn the basics, a Photography workbook will help to give you small projects to work on to keep your skills sharp and expand your knowledge.
15: If the photographer you'r buying for seems to have it all, the Illford Sprite 35II reusable film camera is the perfect option, sure to surprise and delight. This is an easy and foolproof way to get that film look that everyone loves without the steep learning curve of shooting with a full manual film camera
16: Love travel photography? The Joby Gorillapod the a compact flexible travel tripod every photographer has been looking for. Small enough to fit into a backpack, strong enough to hold a full size dslr, and versatile enough to mount it anywhere and get super unique camera angles.
17: After a day of shooting, a Camera Cleaning Kit will ensure your photography gear looks as good as new for a long time! Cleaning your camera gear is easier than you think and can help to keep the resale value when you are ready to upgrade!
18: Sharing isn't just for social media, with the Fuji Instax Mini Link 2 you can make instant prints from your smartphone and share your photos the old fashioned way and easily create a beautiful keepsake of a special memory with family and friends.
19: For any photographer, creativity is the engine that drives us. Imaginarium: The Process Behind the Pictures is a great behind the scenes look at how the creative process works and how photographers can use it to create stand out compelling images that are sure to impress.
In conclusion, giving a photography-themed gift to a photographer this holiday season is a great way to show how much you care. I think that you’ll find the gifts on this list to be perfect for almost any photographer and at a price point that won’t break the bank. With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect present for your favorite shutterbug. Whatever you choose, make sure it is something that will bring them joy and help them capture memories for years to come.
