Photographers aren’t easy people to shop for… and it doesn’t help that most “gift guides” online are generic, copy-paste articles written by non-photographers. Today, I want to fix that problem with a list of genuinely useful photography gifts for the photographer in your life. You won’t find any lens mugs or t-shirts here! (Not that I’m complaining about mine :)
Simply put, as the editor in chief of Photography Life, a massive amount of camera gear has passed through my hands. Only a few of the best pieces of equipment have stood out. The 35 gift ideas below are what made the cut after extensive testing, and I personally recommend every single piece of equipment in this article as a professional photographer.
To make things easier, I’ve arranged the gifts below by budget: under $20, under $50, under $100, and over $100. As a disclaimer, I bought all of this photography equipment with my own money. I don’t have a relationship with any of these companies, and the links below are just generic affiliate links to Amazon and B&H. I hope you find this list useful, and please let me know at the end of the article if you have any questions!
1. Vello Mini Softbox
For any portrait photographer or macro photographer, a diffuser is a must-have piece of equipment. Big diffusers have their place (mostly in the studio), but for less than $10, a smaller flash diffuser makes a fantastic gift! The Vello Mini Softbox is just $7.50. It fits most flash heads, but note that it doesn’t work with a camera’s built-in pop-up flash. An even more portable option is the Angler flash diffuser for $8.99, which is compatible with pop-up flashes as well as flash heads. I use both of these all the time for my macro photography.
2. 8×10 Photography Portfolio for 48 prints
This one is more than just a great gift for a photographer… it’s actually one of my favorite purchases that I’ve ever made, period. It’s a humble 8×10″-sized portfolio that holds up to 48 prints and costs a mere $14. What makes it so great? Simply put, it lets photographers display their work the way God intended – as a print rather than on a tiny smartphone screen. Also, remember that you can get 8×10 prints made for less than a dollar apiece. For an amazing gift to the photographer in your life, get this portfolio and then pay to fill it up with their work.
3. Raya 5-in-1 Reflector Disc
A reflector is one of the easiest ways to add great light to portrait or studio photos. This 32″ version from Raya is $19.95, and it has five different panels that you can use for different levels of reflection or other effects. There are a number of similar products on the market, and they pretty much all work great, so be on the lookout for a good deal. Anyone who shoots portraits should have a pop-up reflector in their bag, and it never hurts to have more than one.
4. Heated Anti-Fog Belt for Lenses
Photographers who live in humid areas, especially if they do nighttime photography, are no stranger to their lenses fogging up. Wiping away the condensation with a lens cloth only works for a few seconds at a time. The best solution I’ve found is to use a heated belt that wraps around the front of a lens, warming it up enough to evaporate the fog. This one from Haida is $20 exactly and works extremely well – it’s a great gift for Milky Way photographers.
In humid places, especially for nighttime photography, lens condensation is a constant challenge
5. Ruggard Rain Cover
When it’s raining, it can be hard to keep your camera dry, particularly when you’re standing in front of a tripod for long periods of time. One gift I highly recommend for this purpose is the Ruggard Rain Cover. It comes in two varieties for different lens sizes – 8 inch and 18 inch. (For most lenses, the 8 inch is best; only get the 18 inch for supertelephoto lenses.) There are also specialized versions for covering an on-camera flash.
6. Injinji Liner Crew Toesocks
If the photographer in your life does a lot of hiking in search of the perfect landscape, point them to the off-beat Injinji toe sock liners. I’ll be the first to admit that they look creepy, but I’ll also be the first to say that I have never once gotten a blister while wearing these sock liners (in tandem with a pair of Darn Tough wool hiking socks). This held true even during a nine-day trek that I took in Iceland with two 17+ mile days (27 km).
7. Mountain Light by Galen Rowell
I just read Mountain Light for the first time recently, and I don’t know why I waited so long – I absolutely loved it. For landscape photographers, Galen Rowell’s photos will be a big inspiration, and his behind-the-scenes philosophy is some of the best explanation of landscape photography that I’ve ever seen. This book is out of print, but last I saw, some paperback copies were selling for about $10. This could change day-by-day. Here’s the book’s page on Amazon.
8. Photography Multi-Tool
When I needed a backup tripod, I decided on a Leofoto tripod that included a great multi-tool. Then I realized the tool was also available on its own! It combines three hex key sizes, a flat coin-style driver, a bottle opener, and a carabiner clip into a slim package and only costs $13. You don’t need a Leofoto tripod to find it useful – it works for practically any tripod.
9. Delta 1 Microfiber Cloth
I’ve used a ton of microfiber cloths over the years, and chances are that you have, too (or the photographer you’re shopping for has). The Delta 1 stands out because it’s way more absorbent than any other. It’s essentially a mix between a towel and a regular lens cloth – and for photography in rainy areas, it’s a lifesaver. I’ve used mine in Olympic National Park, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and many other places where rain and waterfalls make traditional lens cloths useless.
10. Watson 4-Hour Charger and Rechargeable AA Batteries
Studio photographers and videographers chew up AA batteries rapidly, so a fast charger and set of rechargeables is essential. The Watson 4-Hour Charger comes with four rechargeable AAs. Also consider getting a separate AA pack caddy to transport them more easily. This has been a huge help while I film Photography Life’s YouTube videos or just take product photos of the gear I’m reviewing.