24 Best Gifts for Photographers
Updated: Mar. 15, 2024
From beginner to advanced and every stage in between, these are the best gifts for the photography lover in your life.
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Finding the right gifts for photographers might sound tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. These artsy types aren’t as hard to please as you might think—it’s about finding the best gadget to keep them feeling productive and inspired.
Beginners through advanced creatives will love our lineup, which is based on positive reviews and a variety of price points for any budget. So whether your focal point is set on the perfect gift or you need a little help adding to your gifting portfolio, we’ve got something for the shutterbug on your list.
Most of the items on our list are under 50 bucks—after all, gift buying should be fun, even for the person who seems impossible to shop for. You might just find something for yourself too—and snap some holiday pics along the way.
For the fashionable photographer: Vintage-Inspired Camera Strap
Some gifts for photographers emphasize their personal style. For the photog who’s serious about aesthetics, this vintage-esque camera strap will add style to most types of cameras, camcorders and even binoculars. Whether they’re headed to a formal wedding shoot, taking some holiday pics or packing for an outdoor birding adventure, there’s a strap to match their style.
The strap comes with ten color choices, a cotton neck pad for comfort and meticulous hand-embroidered stitching with a lifetime warranty. We love that the neck strap is made from high-quality vegan fibers instead of real leather—plus, it’s got heavy-duty plastic fasteners to keep the camera firmly attached.
For the coffee drinker: Camera Lens Coffee Mug
This stainless steel thermos cup is great for on-the-go shoots or for editing from home. Perfect for coffee or tea—both cold and warm varieties—the insulated tumbler won’t sweat onto their workspace when they set it down.
We love the leak-proof lid, so there’s no worrying about spills on the job. For around $14, the mug even comes with a spoon and holds 13.5 ounces, which equals just under two cups. Check out these other cool gifts from Amazon Prime for when you’re pressed for time.
For the jewelry lover: Joycuff Mantra Cuff Bracelet
This stainless steel bracelet is adjustable to fit most women’s wrists, and its cute message will be a source of inspiration for the photographer in your life. We love that this hypoallergenic cuff will never fade, rust or tarnish—and it won’t turn the wearer’s skin green either.
It also has sleek edges that won’t scratch their wrist or get in the way of a full day out capturing images. Plus, it’s lightweight and costs just $15, so it makes an inexpensive gift for women this holiday season or beyond.
Best splurge gift: Saint Laurent Le Monogramme Camera Bag
This chic camera bag may be on the pricier side, but it’s a gift your photographer will treasure for years to come. The water-repellent, coated canvas bag will keep their equipment in top shape, as well as organize their gear and keep it comfortable to carry. We love that the bag is gender-neutral with a zip-top closure, adjustable shoulder strap and timeless patterned exterior. If this gift is a tad on the pricey side, check out these inexpensive Christmas gifts instead.
For the lifetime learner: Annie Leibovitz MasterClass
Who better to learn the art of photography from than Annie Leibovitz? Over the course of 15 video lessons, the photography legend’s MasterClass will take your recipient into her visual studio to learn portraiture and how to tell stories through images.
A MasterClass subscription starts at just $15 per month, so it’s a cost-effective—and highly unique—gift your photographer will appreciate long after they’ve finished their first course. This might also make a great gift for grandparents with more time on their hands for learning.
For the computer whiz: Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
For $120 dollars, you can gift a 12-month subscription and a one-year user license for the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. It includes both Lightroom and Photoshop, two essential editing tools for any photographer.
With Lightroom, they can edit and organize photos from home, work or while on the road. It’s great for storing and sharing photos as well. Using Photoshop, they can transform images into anything their imagination can think up. Once you order this plan, it’s delivered via email within eight hours, making it a great last-minute Christmas gift.
For the family photographer: Gallery Frames
For the one who’s always breaking out their camera to capture treasured family moments, gift a set of gorgeous picture frames to display their snaps. The wooden frames come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to easily create a cohesive gallery effect. No matter which you choose, they combine in a simple but distinguished look perfect for the living room, home office or bedroom.
For the plant parent: Concrete Camera Planter
If your photography lover enjoys plants and has a small space for decorating, this little camera planter is perfect. It’s just $32, and at 2.5 inches deep, it’s just the right size for a petite succulent. Handmade from smooth concrete, each planter is sealed to protect your plant.
Since each planter is unique, you’ll notice slight imperfections—but you’ve got a 30-day window to exchange or replace the item if you’re not fully satisfied. It might even make a great white elephant gift.
For young photographers: Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer
This mini photo printer makes a great gift for budding photographers eager to take their snaps from the digital world into the analog one. Its small size can easily fit into a teen’s purse or backpack, because inspiration can spark anywhere, anytime. The device easily connects using micro-USB or Bluetooth, so they can start printing without the delay of traditional photo development. It also makes a great stocking stuffer for teens they’re practically guaranteed to love.
For the home cook: Old World Italian Cookbook
If your photographer is equally talented in the kitchen, they’ll adore Mimi Thorisson’s stunning cookbook displaying her love of Italy’s regional cuisines. It’s full of both delicious recipes and award-worthy snaps that will make the recipient feel like they’re joining a traditional Italian family dinner from home.
The poignant images will inspire their own foodie pics, but they might try a few of the 100 recipes along the way—including drinks, starters, pasta, meat, seafood, veggies and desserts.
For group shots: Amazon Basics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod
When it comes to large groups, it’s hard to get everyone in the picture. The photographer might even want to jump in on the family picture as well—that’s where this lightweight tripod comes in handy. At around $30, it’s quite a steal, and it’s compatible with most video, digital and still cameras.
It even works with GoPro devices and scopes (though smartphone adapters are not included). With two built-in bubble view levels and a three-way head that lets you tilt or swivel your device, this tripod offers both portrait and landscape options. Its quick-release mounting plate protects your camera and keeps transitions simple.
For the outdoor adventurer: Sharper Image Mach X Drone
For the photographer who loves an aerial shot, gift a drone with a camera that can capture a variety of images and videos as well as livestream footage. From panoramic landscapes to crowds at a beach or park, this drone will get the bird’s eye view your photographer wants to capture.
The drone’s built-in LED lights make it great for night photography and videography as well. It flies up to 150 feet in the air and features gyro stabilization flight control to keep the drone steady through any shot.
For the nighttime explorer: L.L. Bean Pathfinder Lighted Beanie
This gender-neutral L.L. Bean beanie for adults comes with a clever, built-in headlamp for worry-free nighttime shoots. Its soft fleece and moisture-wicking lining will keep the wearer comfortable and warm through the night, and its hands-free light turns off and on easily to keep from ruining their shots.
For history buffs: Photography by Tom Ang
This lavish Tom Ang coffee table book traces the history of photography from the first black and white images up to 21st century digital images. Your recipient will study iconic photographs from the past 200 years along with more than 50 biographies of the most famous photographers who have pushed the bounds of their respective mediums.
This book also showcases the variety of cameras photographers have experimented with—from daguerreotypes to the most recent camera phones. We love that it covers so many topics, from portraiture and landscape photography to photojournalism, street photography and digital photography.
For amateur photographers: Photography Idea Cards
Photographers who are just starting out likely have a tougher time figuring out exactly what to shoot—which is where these photography idea cards come in. Not only do they provide inspiration, they make sharing photos easier than ever with hashtags included on each card to help connect with other photographers.
These basic cards could even help the most experienced photographer who just hits a creative lull from time to time. But they’d likely also make a great gift for students, too.
For studio shots: Portable Photography Lighting Kit
When it comes to a portable photography lighting kit, you can’t beat this one for just $55. It includes two lights with stands and eight color filters including red, blue, orange and white. The lights are adjustable for delivering the truest and most natural colors possible. This kit could even make a great gift for the recipient who’s putting together a budding portrait photography business.
For music lovers: Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker
Long days in the photo studio are instantly improved by bumping some tunes that lift the mood. This Bose Bluetooth speaker is waterproof and dustproof, making it a great option for shooting both indoors and out. Its tear-resistant utility loop means the recipient can hang it from their camera bag for on-the-go use. If you’re also shopping gifts for music lovers, you can’t go wrong with this powerhouse speaker.
For underwater photography: Underwater Digital Camera
Whether your photographer is heading to Hawaii for the holidays or getting some lake time in, this underwater digital camera is great for getting wet. The anti-shake feature makes pictures clearer, so gone are the days of wasting film on blurry water photos. And with 48 megapixels for image resolution and a 16x digital zoom, this camera should have no problem capturing the shot.
For travelers: Canon RF 15-30mm Lens
Talk about fun and adventure! Canon’s ultra wide angle zoom lens is perfect for capturing beautiful landscapes while traveling, as well as for vlogging on the go. Its powerful 5.5-stop Image Stabilizer is great for handhold shooting—which is especially helpful at night. With the 15-30 mm focal length range, this lens offers so much flexibility, both wide and close up.
For home decorators: Camera Wall Art
This decorative wooden sign is sure to make your photographer smile as they see it hanging on the wall at their home or office. We love that this is made in the USA, and that the black, white and tan color scheme fits into any room. It’s a great gift for mom or any other family member who loves home decor.
For artists: Floating Shelves
No matter their skill level, your photographer is practicing an art form—so give them a gift for artists that recognizes their talent. These floating shelves provide the perfect spot to display their best photos. They’re durable, and the backplate allows you to mount them without any visible screws.
You can get these shelves in espresso or white. They work best with black and white prints and frames to maintain a simple aesthetic.
For readers: National Geographic’s Photo Basics
Whether your recipient is brand new to the craft or already knows a few things about photography, they’ll find something valuable in this 256-page National Geographic photography guide. It covers framing, F-stops, editing and how to archive photos. Some other helpful topics include choosing a camera and photography gear as well as understanding exposure, composition and lighting. We love that it’s only $14!
For advanced photographers: Memory Card Case
If your recipient is a professional photographer, they know what it’s like to go through memory cards in no time—so this memory card case will keep their SD cards stylish and organized at the same time. It can hold up to eight SD cards, four CF cards and 12 Micro SD/TF cards for a grand total of 24 storage slots. And if vibrant turquoise isn’t their color, this case also comes in five other hues.
For minimalists: Aura Frames Mason Digital Picture Frame
Great for home or office, these digital picture frames have a clean, professional look. Aura’s smart technology adjusts photos and videos to fit perfectly within the frame. Setting it up is simple—the Aura Frames app syncs with the user’s photo library and the frame communicates with their secure cloud server to retrieve photos. No computer science degree necessary.
Originally Published: October 10, 2022
