Top 10 Gifts for Photographers Under $150 - 2018 Edition
Image Credit: Memorystockphoto via iStock
You'd be surprised at what you can get a photographer for $150.
Bigger-ticket items usually get all the glory, but there are tons of things that photographers want and need that aren't priced out of this world.
Here's some of my favorite photography gift ideas for photographers under $150 that are sure to impress this holiday season!
Lensfinder
Let’s face it - photography gear can be expensive. Really expensive.
That’s a problem year-round, but when you’re holiday shopping and have tons of gifts to buy, it’s even more difficult to justify getting your loved one the $1,000 lens that they really want.
Fortunately, Lensfinder can help in more ways than one.
On the one hand, you can find great deals on pre-owned camera lenses at Lensfinder.
That means that you can get a truly top-notch lens for the photographer in your life but do so without busting your budget. It’s a win-win!
On the other hand, if you have some old lenses that you don’t use anymore, you can list them for sale on Lensfinder. When the lens sells, you can use it for holiday spending money for the photographer in your life.
Image Credit: xxmmxx via iStock
The best part? You can list your lenses for sale for free.
There’s only a transaction fee (just 3.99%) when the lens sells (with a maximum fee of $500). If your lens doesn’t sell, there’s no charge at all!
And for peace of mind, the Lensfinder platform has advanced fraud filtering for both buyers and sellers as well as mediation services in the event that there’s a problem.
Payments are made and received via PayPal, so you can rest easy knowing that the transaction is safe and secure.
In other words, Lensfinder is the ideal solution for your holiday shopping needs. Either use it to find a loved one a killer lens or use it to sell old gear to pad your pockets for holiday spending!
MyCaseBuilder Custom Foam Inserts
Ask any photographer how valuable a solid camera bag with protective inserts is to their business, and they’ll likely put it at or near the top of their list.
After all, a photographer can’t make money unless their gear makes it from point A to point B in one piece, and MyCaseBuilder is a rockstar in making that happen.
For nearly a decade, MyCaseBuilder has been crafting custom foam inserts for photographers that protect their specific gear for their specific hard camera case.
Not only does that mean that a photographer can rest easy knowing that their camera gear is supremely protected, but MyCaseBuilder also allows customization for how the gear is laid out in the foam insert.
If a photographer wants their cameras on the right side of the insert - can do! Lenses on the right instead? No problem!
Given how delicate cameras and lenses are, having a total protective solution like a custom foam camera case insert is exactly what photographers need to keep on shooting.
That being the case, since you might not know what gear the photographer on your list is using, give them the gift of protection with a gift certificate to MyCaseBuilder so they can custom-create the ideal gear insert from scratch. If you want to spend $50, $150 or whatever your budget will allow, it’s simple to purchase a gift certificate on the MyCaseBuilder.com website.
It’s easy, too - they just pick their case or custom-sized foam, design the layout online by using the Shape Library from MyCaseBuilder (or by using their Photo Tracer technology), and MyCaseBuilder will handle the rest!
Learn more about MyCaseBuilder
Wolverine Data F2D Titan 8-in-1 High Definition Film to Digital Converter
A question that a lot of photographers have on their minds is, “What can I do with my old 35mm negatives and slides?” If you have one such photographer in the family, think about getting them the ultimate photography gift this holiday season - the Wolverine Data F2D Titan.
This bad boy allows you to convert your old 35mm/127/126 & 110 negatives, slides, 8mm and Super 8 movies into 20-megapixel digital images in mere seconds. Literally - you push a button, and the Titan does the rest without the need for any additional software or even a computer!
Each scanned image is saved to the Titan’s internal memory, or you can opt to save them straight to an SD/SDHC memory card. You can transfer the images to your Mac or PC for storage or editing, or if you want to quickly view the images, you can hook the Titan up to your TV to watch a slideshow (TV cable not included).
In other words, this is an ideal gift for photographers that have a ton of old negatives, or even a friend or family member that’s been hanging onto their old memories, but unable to do much with them. Give them the gift of organizing their photos and being able to enjoy their old memories quickly and easily too!
Learn more about the Wolverine Data F2D Titan 8-in-1 High Definition Film to Digital Converter.
Holdfast Sightseer Small Lens Pouch
The great thing (well, one of many…) about the Holdfast Sightseer line of bags is that they are modular, so as your kit grows, your bag system can grow along with it.
Part of that modular system is the Sightseer Small Lens Pouch shown above.
These waxed canvas and American Bison leather pouches are lined with Aztec flannel fleece that cradles your lens. The outside is weather resistant and the inside is scratch resistant, giving you the ultimate gift idea for the photographers on your holiday list.
Better still, these pouches can be worn on any belt, on the Holdfast MoneyMaker, or on the exterior of the Holdfast Sightseer Bag, so there’s many different ways for photographers to have their favorite lens right at their fingertips.
Learn more about the Holdfast Sightseer Small Lens Pouch
Capturing Couture Camera Bag - Where Fashion Functions for You
Who says that carrying a camera requires a boring bag with no style?
The photographer on your holiday shopping list will love a beautiful, trendy, and functional camera bag like the Capturing Couture bag shown above.
These bags are meticulously crafted with premium fabrics and choice hardware to be both stylish and durable.
With room for a DSLR camera with lens, an additional lens or flash, and other odds and ends, these bags are perfect size to go to the mountains, the beach or anywhere in between.
The full zipper closure and padded interior of the bags to keep all the expensive gear inside safe and sound. With the removable divider, photographers can customize the interior space to their liking as well.
There’s front stash pockets for a smartphone, card readers, car keys, and other accessories, while the exterior pocket on the back boasts a 12-inch-wide by 6.5-inch deep space that’s perfect for carrying a small tablet. There’s even a small interior lined pocket for hiding extra money or credit cards!
The velvet-lined shoulder strap will have your favorite photographer in ultimate comfort. The adjustable length from 22-inches to 42-inches allows it to be worn over the shoulder or cross-body.
These bags also feature beautiful polished nickel hardware.
And speaking of looks, Capturing Couture has designed these bags with a removable decorative flap that zips off. That means that with a few extras, photographers can customize the look of their bag to their outfit or the occasion.
With tons of options in terms of styles, there’s no better bag for the fashion-conscious photographer!
Learn more about Capturing Couture Camera Bags
CanvasHQ 36x24 Canvas Print
If you really want to make a statement with a gift that has true wow factor, a 36x24 canvas print should do the trick!
For the best canvases, you can’t go wrong with CanvasHQ, an experienced printer with a commitment to creating top-quality products. Trust me - I have a number of CanvasHQ prints in my home!
This 36x24 canvas is a great size for a showcase piece on the wall of your loved one’s home. The .75-inch thickness offers just enough depth on the sides of the canvas to give it a little separation from the wall, but without distracting the eye from the gorgeous print. You can even have the canvas placed in a frame later on if you wish, making it a flexible option to meet your gift-buying needs.
And don’t think that ordering a print of this size is a tough process, either. With CanvasHQ, you get free digital proofs so you’re sure that the image meets your wishes. And even if the proofs don’t turn out how you’d expected, no worries! CanvasHQ will make minor tweaks to help you achieve your artistic vision.
Even better, since CanvasHQ is a small, family-owned business, they’re at-the-ready to help make your experience one that you’ll rave about to your friends and family. Call, write, or hit up the live chat with questions or concerns, and a real, live CanvasHQ employee will help you out!
Learn more about CanvasHQ 36x24 Prints
PolarPro DJI Mavic Air Filter Cinema Series 6-Pack
If you’ve got a loved one on your holiday shopping list that’s a drone enthusiast, we’ve got an excellent gift recommendation that will complete their drone experience.
Paired with the awesome capabilities of the DJI Mavic Air, PolarPro’s Cinema Series filters will help your loved one take their drone photography and videography skills to another level with three neutral density filters (ND4, ND8, ND16) and three neutral density/polarizer hybrids (ND4/PL, ND8/PL, ND16/PL).
On the one hand, PolarPro’s DJI Mavic Air neutral density filters help reduce the shutter speed so video recording has an ultra-smooth, cinematic feel. On the other hand, PolarPro’s Vivid Collection of neutral density/polarizing filters help reduce glare and boost the contrast of the sky.
Amongst all the ways that this filter pack can enhance photos and videos, it’s important not to lose focus on the impeccable construction. After all, you want to give a gift that will keep on giving, not one that falls apart in short order.
Since PolarPro is dedicated to manufacturing the best filters, you get a product that is ultra-light (just 0.59 grams) thanks to its airframe construction, yet is packed with features like production-grade multi-coated glass with eight layers of coatings on each side. You can see these filters in action in the video above.
And since these filters thread on in place of the stock lens bezel that comes with the Mavic Air, installation is a breeze and you get better gimbal balance, too.
Throw in free shipping and a lifetime warranty, and you have a recipe for the ideal gift this holiday season!
Learn more about the PolarPro DJI Mavic Air Filter Cinema Series 6-Pack
Parrot Teleprompter V2 Kit by Padcaster
Photographers these days aren't just taking still photos. Instead, they're creating video content like vlogs to build a following on platforms like YouTube.
To make the videos that the photographer on your list creates even more professional, the Parrot Teleprompter V2 Kit is an ideal Christmas gift.
The teleprompter uses an iOS or Android device and the Parrot Teleprompter app to turn your phone into a teleprompter virtually anywhere. It's simply crazy how portable this thing is!
The 70/30 beamsplitter glass on the teleprompter then clearly displays the text that's to be read. Never again will your loved one have to fear messing up what they want to say on camera!
With quick and easy setup, a variety of step-down rings to adapt the teleprompter to most threaded lenses, and a Bluetooth remote that allows you to start, stop, and adjust the speed of the scroll, this rig has everything your favorite photographer will need to say what they want to say in their videos in a professional manner.
Learn more about the Parrot Teleprompter V2 Kit
Excire Search Pro AI Plugin for Lightroom
Ask any photographer what they love most about Lightroom, and my guess is that a large percentage will say the cataloging and organizational tools that the program offers.
But follow that up with a question about the worst thing in Lightroom, and you’ll likely get a lot of answers along the lines of “manually tagging my photos really sucks.”
If only there were something to address that problem quickly and easily…
Lucky for the photographer on your holiday shopping list, there is. It’s called Excire Search Pro.
Since we apparently already live in the future, Excire Search Pro uses artificial intelligence to scan each photo that’s uploaded to Lightroom and tag them according to what’s found in the image. Excire Search Pro has a set of more than 500 keywords that can be transferred into a photographer’s Lightroom catalog, making it the easiest way to tag photos.
For example, if there’s a photo of a mountain scene on a cloudy day with a cabin in the foreground, Excire Search Pro will tag that image with “mountain,” “clouds,” and “cabin.” It’ll even determine the predominant color in the shot and add that tag, too. Not bad, right?!
Excire Search Pro offers an expanded keyword transfer function, too, making it the perfect partner for professional photographers that have tens of thousands of images that need to be highly organized for easy image searching.
So, let’s say that you need a photo of a river at sunset with yellow as the predominant color. Excire Search Pro makes it incredibly easy to find that specific kind of photo.
As if the technology behind Excire search isn’t impressive enough, consider this - these guys are passionate about imaging and want to make a positive mark on the community. That’s why they set aside a small portion of the proceeds of each Excire Search pro purchase into a fund to support non-profit organizations throughout the U.S.
That makes the gift of Excire Search Pro not just a great idea for the photographer in your life, but for people around the country, too!
Learn more about Excire Search Pro
Sew Trendy Libby Bodysuit
A perfect gift for the maternity or boudoir photographer on your holiday shopping list is the Libby Bodysuit by Sew Trendy Fashion & Accessories.
This all-lace strapless bodysuit is simple, yet elegant, and will complement any maternity or boudoir portrait nicely.
The soft stretch bodice offers a comfortable fit, as does the adjustable sweetheart top. The bodysuit is double-layered for full belly coverage as well.
With soft elastic in the legs, this bodysuit will fit snugly, but won’t ride up.
Better still, Sew Trendy offers this gorgeous bodysuit in 40 colors and various sizes from XXS-XXL, so no matter what, your favorite photographer can find the exact look they want!
Learn more about the Sew Trendy Libby Bodysuit
Bonus Gift Idea: Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp
For the photographer on your list that head’s out early and stays out late to shoot, a bright yet small headlamp is a must-have.
That’s why the Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp is such a great gift idea for photographers this holiday season.
This little guy puts out an impressive 350 lumens, so your favorite photographer can see exactly what’s in front of them.
There’s two beam patterns - wide and mixed - so photographers can select whichever one meets their needs, and the option to use red lighting prevents blinding others in the party (and from interfering with images, too). Of course, the standard beams can be used to light paint to create awesome nighttime images with a beautifully illuminated foreground.
This headlamp uses Petzl’s CORE battery technology, which means a couple of important things…
First, it’s rechargeable, and second, you get long-lasting performance between charges.
Better still, the CORE battery can be charged via USB port for those occasions when actual plugs are at a premium. This awesome headlamp can also use standard batteries without the need for an adaptor, too.
If you’re looking for a practical and functional gift for a photographer, this headlamp is it!
Learn more about the Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp