6 Photography Gifts for 2021
photo by andresr via iStock
Photography gifts are one of the hardest types of gifts to buy, because most photographers I know already have all of the gear they need. Photography gifts are also really tough to buy for people because, oftentimes, they are incredibly expensive. You can’t buy a new camera for under $500 anymore and other types of camera gear are also going way up in price.
So, for those of you looking for photography gift ideas, I compiled this list of top photography gifts.
For this list, it was a prerequisite that these ideas are cheap. In fact, all of the ideas on this list are photography gifts under $100. Some of them are even photography gifts under $50. We didn’t want anyone to feel left out.
I can also assure you that the photographer in your life likely doesn’t have any of the photography gifts on this list because I went out of my way to find the most unique photography gifts.
PhotoRepairPro
No matter how much gear the photographer in your life has, I can assure you they likely have old photographs, that they either took in their youth or that their parents or grandparents took decades ago, that need to be restored.
Restoring old photos is really hard work, especially if the photos are damaged from the sun or water. You not only have to organize all of them, but you also have to restore them and finally upload them to a digital version.
To take all of the guesswork out of this process, you can give your photographer a PhotoRepairPro order. PhotoRepairPro specializes in restoring old photos. They can colorize old black and white or sepia photos. They can also fix discolored or faded photos.
I love PhotoRepairPro because you pay just one flat rate and you get the photo repair, an online proof, a JPEG download, and two 5” x 7” prints shipped to your home for free.
I found PhotoRepairPro because they worked with Costco for years. So, when Costco closed down all of their photo centers, I started working directly with PhotoRepairPro.
Orders with PhotoRepairPro make the perfect photography gifts because they help you to preserve a family’s history. These orders also make the perfect photography gifts because they are cheap. Each order is just $35.
“A History of Photography” Book
Something no photographer will ever turn down is education. The best photographers continue to study their craft until the day they die and by purchasing “A History of Photography” book for the photographer in your life, you can help them continue this education.
“A History of Photography” is a book written by William Johnson. It outlines the entire history of photography, from 1839 to the 2000s. While its primary purpose is to provide information about the evolution of photographic processes, I really love this book because of the gorgeous photos in it. If you’ve been looking for photography gifts that can be put on display, then this book is perfect because it works so well as a coffee table book.
This book is also perfect if you’ve been looking for photography gifts under $20 because it is currently available on Amazon for $15.99.
Peter McKinnon x Nomatic Everyday Camera Lineup
Another awesome gift idea for the photographer in your life (or for yourself, for that matter) is the Everyday Camera Backpack and Sling from Peter McKinnon and Nomatic.
I've been a huge fan of Nomatic for years. They craft some truly beautiful stuff that isn't just pretty - it's functional, too.
I have the first bag that Peter McKinnon and Nomatic partnered on - the Camera Pack - and it quickly became my daily driver bag for my gear.
So imagine my excitement when I learned of the second collaboration between these guys for the Everyday Camera Lineup.
True to form, these bags are the height of form and function. They look incredible, are made of durable materials, and have been smartly designed such that they enhance your workflow as you're out shooting.
For example, the backpack has multiple access points so you can easily grab your gear for the shot. And inside is 25 liters of space for all your camera gear. But you don't just throw it all in the bag, of course. Nomatic has incorporated a genius "ladder system" that allows you to compartmentalize the bag as you see fit. This helps keep your gear neat and organized.
In the sling, you'll find more ways to keep your gear tidy. For example, there's dedicated memory card and battery pockets to keep those small items easy to grab and out of the bottom of the bag.
The sling also sports tripod carrying straps, and the bag fits perfectly into the aforementioned Camera Pack if you or your favorite photographer already has one of those.
This lineup of bags is simply at the top of its class. If you're serious about photography, or you have a hard-core photographer on your shopping list, I'd highly recommend one or both of these bags as great gift ideas.
You can learn much more about the Everyday Lineup over on Kickstarter.
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Raya 5-in-1 Reflector Disk
If you’re shopping for a professional photographer, then feel free to skip to the other photography gifts below, because they likely already own a reflector disc.
However, if you’re shopping for a hobbyist, then a reflector disc is one of the best gifts you can buy for them, especially if they’re ever planning on taking portraits or family photos for money.
The Raya 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector Disc allows photographers to capture light under any conditions. It adds a glow to photos. This particular disc comes in three different sizes, although I recommend the 32” size, which is only $20.
This reflector folds down to one-third of its size so that you can always carry it around with you in your backpack. It also features white, silver, gold and black surfaces, which are the most popular colors for reflectors.
“The Art of Photography” Book
Another wonderful book about photography is “The Art of Photography” by Bruce Barnbaum. It’s definitely a more traditional book and I should point out here that about a third of the book is strictly about film techniques, but I still think it is one of the best photography books I’ve ever read.
Barnbaum is somehow able to take really abstract ideas and boil them down to actionables. So, if you are shopping for photography gifts for a photographer that has been doing photography for a while and are feeling stuck in their craft, then this book is great. It will enable them to expand their creativity.
1TB External Hard Drive
Something that people who aren’t photographers frequently don’t think about is the amount of storage required to keep all of your photos safe. The rule of thumb is that every photo should be in three places so that you’ll still have a copy of it even if a tragedy should occur (like a fire or theft).
For this reason, even professional photographers who already have multiple external hard drives are thrilled to receive another one.
I recommend the LaCie 1TB Rugged Drive, which is $70 on B&H, because it can really take a beating. A lot of photography schools recommend it for the same reason.
