Gifts for Photographers Under $25 - 2020 Edition
- Chemex (preferred way)
- French Press
- Mr. Coffee machine (when my wife makes the coffee)
- Keurig - when I'm in a rush and need a quick cup
- Universal knob clamp
- Integrated bubble level
- Panning knob
- Laser engraved degree markings
photo by fcafotodigital via iStock
With so many people experiencing tough financial times due to the pandemic, it’s necessary to both think ahead about how to handle the holidays and to consider the gifts you can afford to give the photographers in your life.
Though a $25.00 budget might not seem like much, it can still get you some pretty awesome gifts that any photographer will love.
Let’s dive into our list of the top 10 gifts for photographers under $25.
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: CanvasHQ Print
One of my favorite gifts to give (and to get, while we're at it) is a big, beautiful print.
Personally, I like canvas because of the texture the canvas gives to the print. Besides, a canvas print is something that will continue to give joy to the person that receives it for years and years to come!
Now, I know what you're thinking...canvas is so old-school.
But if you order your canvases from the right printers, you can get something that is beautiful, well-made and looks modern, even if the substrate is perhaps a bit old-school.
I have tons of canvases in my home, the vast majority of which are from CanvasHQ.
These are some of the best canvas prints I've ever purchased. The sharpness of detail, the color accuracy, and the overall build quality of these prints is next-level good.
Part of the reason for this is the materials CanvasHQ uses. We’re talking archival-grade canvas, commercial-grade inks that are water and UV resistant, and kiln-dried pine frames to keep everything straight and true.
But CanvasHQ isn't just tops in the quality department...
They have excellent customer service that makes you feel heard and as though you're the only customer they have to worry about at that moment.
These guys are committed to getting it right, so if something doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be hung out to dry.
If you have questions, they’ll answer them. If you have a problem, they’ll fix it. If you need assistance with uploading your photo or even picking the best finishes for your canvas, they’ve got your back.
In the video above, you can see how one of my CanvasHQ prints stacks up against similar prints from other printing companies. I think you'll see why I'm so loyal to CanvasHQ!
Start shopping for your favorite photographer today on CanvasHQ.
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: f-stop Coffee
I know you might be looking at this list of the top photography gifts for photographers and wonder why I’m including coffee, but just hear me out…
Who doesn't like a good cup of coffee? Each morning whether I'm out on an adventure or at home, I make my coffee one of four ways:
f-Stop Coffee has you covered regardless how you prepare it...
As the name indicates, f-stop coffee brings the art of photography and a good cup of joe together into one harmonious experience.
f-stop Coffee uses aperture sizes to name each type of brew. There’s f/1.4 Light Roast, f/11 Medium Roast, and f/22 Dark Roast, to name but a few.
"I've had the opportunity to sample the f-stop Light Roast, and it knocked my socks off. I'm a coffee snob, so I don't throw out superlatives for coffee that often, but this coffee is tremendous! What a way to start the morning!" - Alex Schult, Founder & CEO, PhotographyTalk
And just like creating the perfect photo requires time, patience, and know-how, so too does creating f-stop Coffee.
These guys work hard to give their customers the highest-quality coffee that’s roasted to perfection and delivered right to your door - anywhere on earth.
If you’re in the market for a photography gift that keeps on giving, just pick your roast, select the coffee beans, decide how much to buy, choose the grind size, and place the order. It’s quick, simple, and will bring a smile to the face of any photographer!
Learn more about f-Stop coffee and take a peek at their #coffeeandphoto page to see how other photographers have combined their love of photography and coffee!
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Colorado Tripod Company Highline Mini
One of the ball heads that has surprised me the most in recent years in this little guy, the Colorado Tripod Company Highline Mini.
The funny thing is that this company has been sending me their ball heads to review, and when this one arrived, I didn't look at the details - I just started using it.
And after using it, I thought it would be something that retailed for $60-80 based on its build quality and features.
However, when I was on the phone with these guys to give them my feedback, the subject of price came up, and I was shocked to learn it's about a $20 ball head.
Not only is this ball head incredibly affordable, but it's a perfect size that fits on top of my SwitchPod tripod. It's also super strong and does the job great with my Canon EOS M6 Mark II and my Canon EOS R.
Basic Specs:
It’s not often you can find such a functional photography gift for this price, but the Highline Mini ball head definitely fits the bill!
Learn more about the Colorado Tripod Company Highline Mini ball head
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Comica Omni-Directional Lavalier Mic
If the photographer on your 2020 holiday shopping list is also into videography, they might appreciate having an upgraded microphone for their video productions.
You can have the most gorgeous 4K video footage in the world, but if the audio stinks, the final video will stink too! Fortunately, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to give the gift of better audio…
The Comica Omni-Directional Lavalier mic is just what the doctor ordered for videographers that need high-quality audio to record their voice.
It can be used with DSLRs and mirrorless cameras and offers a built-in metal shield and windscreen for improved audio performance.
Speaking of audio performance, it has an omni-directional polar pattern and a 50Hz to 20kHz frequency response.
All this in a package that costs less than $25!
Learn more about the Comica Omni-Directional Lavalier Mic
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Fotodiox Pro 42" 5-in-1 Reflector
A reflector is one of the most useful gifts for photographers that take portraits.
This 5-in-1 reflector pack offers even more versatility with a translucent diffuser to filter light and a black anti-reflector to block light or change the contrast of light on the subject.
Additionally, there's a soft white reflector to reduce shadows, soft silver for brightening the image and increasing contrast, and a soft gold reflector that warms up light in the portrait.
In other words, the photographer on your list can reflect light, diffuse it or even block it!
The reflector pack collapses into itself for easy transport in the accompanying carrying case too.
Learn more about the Fotodiox 5-in-1 Reflector
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Giottos Rocket Air Blaster
Every photographer needs the proper tools to clean their gear.
This holiday season, give the gift of a Giottos Rocket Air Blaster so your favorite photographer can keep their camera's sensor free of dust and debris.
The 7.5-inch-long blaster has a 2.5-inch nozzle that produces a large blast of clean air to get rid of particles on the camera's sensor.
The one-way valve brings in clean air instead of sucking up dust that it's just dislodged, too.
It's easy to carry, durable, and invaluable for keeping photography gear operating at its best!
Learn more about the Giottos Rocket Air Blaster
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Anwenk 18% Gray Card
Getting the white balance just right in a photo is imperative to it having its maximum impact. The photographer on your list can do that with an 18% gray card.
This gray card pack has a matte finish that makes it scratch resistant and non-reflective. It's also waterproof, so even in the rain, sleet, and snow, if your favorite photographer is out shooting, they can get the correct white balance in their shots.
Sized at 5x4 inches, these cards are ideally suited for daily use. They're compact, lightweight, sturdy, and can be slipped easily into a camera bag, a pocket, or worn around the neck with the included lanyard.
Learn more about the Anwenk 18% Gray Card
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: SanDisk 128GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card
All photographers need memory cards, so why not oblige with the SanDisk 128GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I memory card?
This card offers loads of space, Class 10 speed for full HD video recording, and fast read/write speeds of up to 100 MB/s.
SanDisk is one of the most trusted memory card brands, and for good reason. After all, this card comes with a full 10-year warranty! Besides, a memory card is a gift the photographer on your list will actually use, and they’ll use it over and over and over again!
Learn more about the SanDisk 128GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory card
Gifts for Photographers Under $25: Amazon Gift Card
Totally stumped regarding gift ideas for photographers on your list?
Why not go the easy route and get them an Amazon gift card?
Though a gift card isn't exactly the sexiest gift, when the photographer in your family sees that you have given them carte blanche to get what they want, they'll be stoked!
With an Amazon gift card, they can put the card amount towards whatever they want - a new lens, a second camera body, lighting gear, a laptop - you name it!
As far as flexibility goes, there's nothing better to give a photographer than a gift card.
Learn more about Amazon gift cards