So Christmas is right around the corner, and if you are like me, you (and I) are both running all over the place trying to get hoilday shopping done! Sometimes it can be easy depending on who you are shopping for, but then you have others that can be quite complicated! For me, I rarely know what to tell friends or family because of what I am into, and most of it revolves around photography gear, art supplise, or digital purchases (think apps.)
After my Mother-In-Law, followed by my own Dad asking me what it was I’d like this year, it got me thinking….”What DO I really want this year? What do other photographers want? What is needed? Or what is wanted?” Well, I made a list after asking a handful of friends that are in the same industry along with my own interests and decided to make a top 20 list for Christmas 2019! 10 stocking stuffers and 10 bigger items for the non-budget restricted folks. Come check it out below!
Let’s start with the stocking stuffers shall we? These are easy gifts that anyone can gift without hurting your wallet.
1.) SD cards. ($20-200. This depends on the GB size you choose)
These can come in different ‘memory sizes so prices can range! Photographers can never have enough of these!
These fancy up your camera and give it a fun, unique look!
3.) Giga Tent. ($35-40)
These are pretty cool. If you have a shoot out somewhere and no bathroom can be found, this is a neat little thing to have as it provides privacy for your client to change clothes! Amazon sells them!!
4.) A wireless remote control. ($20-50 depending on brand.)
These are great for the photographer who needs to do self portraits! They make them for all camera brands. This is the one I use.
5.) A Prisim or Lens Ball. ($10-30)
Cool little trinkets for some creative change! I have the orb and it makes some really awesome pieces to add in your portfolio.
6.) Fun shirts with photography realted graphics. ($15-30)
I want all the shirts! I had a one awhile ago before my move, but I misplaced it. I’d wear these all over the place! Fun to wear to shoots or just out. Represent your passion!
7.) Gift card to coffee. (Starbucks, DutchBros, ect..) ($5-50. Your pick!)
Because coffee helps with those late night edits.
8.) Qiaya clip on ring light for phone ($10 on Amazon)
These are GREAT to have on the go if you need some creatving lighting, or maybe you are doing a selfie? Or a live stream to your clients? This is such a great gift and it is so useful! I have one and LOVE IT.
9.) Photopills App (On both iPhone and Android) ($10)
Photographers constantly are checking the weather and light all year round. This is a helpful tool to really know where things are at on a day to day basis.
10.) Gaffer Tape ($10-35)
You may think this is silly, but this really comes in handy for backdrops and cords. Prices vary from where you purchase, but I usually spend 20 bucks on a roll online on Amazon.
Larger Gifts! These are some that a husband/wife/partner may give, or perhaps a parent to a child/adult child/ or even a grandparent? Or if you are just a really generous friend or co-worker!
1.) Wacom Tablet Intous. ($70-100)
These are great for beginners. I have this and a Cintiq 27 QHD touch screen. I still love my little tablet though as I can lounge in bed and use it for travel. This changes an editing game so much!!! A MUST HAVE.
2.) A camera bag or purse. ($40-300 depending on what brand you get.)
Bags are what allow us to haul our cameras and lenses around. A GOOD BAG is worth every penny to hold all of that delicate glass. You also need them to travel. I have a backpack, but looking at a purse down the road for more local stuff. I know many ladies who LOVE their camera purses.
3.) Samsung Portable SSD T5 1TB drive. ($140)
Portable. Powerful. And it allows you to store your work on the go.
4.) Gorilla Tripod5k Stand. ($80. Kits can cost more but give more accessories.)
These tripods are great to hold and angle for vlogging with your camera, or using it to set up and hook and hold on a surface while shooting. My hubby has one of these for his camera and it is so sturdy and solid! We’ve done many videos using his Gorilla pod and it has been through hell. Great piece to have in your bag!
5.) Gift card to amazon. ($10-100+. This is your choice.)
Not sure what to buy? Nothing on this list hit your fancy? Gift cards are always great at helping hack down the cost of equipment for any photographer. Props and accessories do well with these, too.
6.) Tether tools onsite power bundle. ($90-350.)
I want one of these! Serious life saver! You can plug in camera batteries, laptops, and phones to charge up while on the go!!
7.) 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. ($2700.)
The “lens of lenses”. I recieved this as a gift last Christmas and it is now my STAPLE lens. It give you that incredible buttery smooth, blurry background and that amazingly sharp focus on your subject. I LOOOOOOOOVEE this lens and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone.
8.) PixelStick ($200)
These are SO cool! You can personalize your setting and set a slow shutter speed to paint with light and fancy up your photos with this cool accessory! I have wanted one for awhile! In the mean time, I just use my flash light but ughhh, these are so cool and can turn any regular photo into something so beautiful and artistic! Used in low light situations.
9.) Wide Angel Lens 10-18mm ($250)
These are great for landscape photos and taking photos inside a building (think real estate photos) I have this and use it for outdoor photos all the time. It catches EVERYTHING and is just a nice little piece of glass to hold in a bag.
10.) DJI Mavic Pro2 Drone ($1800-2000)
I saved the best for last. I want this SO BAD. Not a cheap gift by any means, but if the photographer in your life is also into doing video, ohmyWOW this is such a cool gift to up their game. Currently on my wish list! These can also do photos. Have you seen drone photo IG sites? Some of them are so crazy amazing and I just and dying to get my hands on one of these for 2020!
So there you have it! Do you want any of these on this list? Or maybe something I didn’t add? Comment below and let me know what you think makes a great gift for a photographer!!
My name is Megan and I am a mama to 4 awesome kiddos. I've been a photographer and digital artist for 15 years and I'm jumping into video and blogging as a new outlet for me to grow on. The mission of my blog 'The Hormonal Mother' is to connect with other women who struggle with PCOS, Thyroid disease (Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism) as well as discuss my fitness and fertility issues that come along with what makes me the Hormonal Mother. ;) I want to take something that feels negative and turn it into a safe place of learning, growing, and evolving no matter what the struggles are associated with this. Each of us has a unique story in this similar journey, I'm just here to share mine with the hope it will help at least one person get through theirs.
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