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Being a photographer is an interesting and creating profession. Photographers show other people their perspective very literally through the lens of their camera.
But what should you be getting for a photographer? What gifts do aspiring photographers like, and which will not be very useful for them?
In this article, we’ll discuss a handful of the best gifts for aspiring photographers so that you will know exactly what to get your visual artist of the lense when it comes time for Christmas or their birthday.
By the time we’re through, you’ll understand why photographers are a special breed and why taking care of them with a gift to inspire their growth is one of the best things that you can do.
Top 10 Best Gifts for Photographers
Contents
#1 – The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas
The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of concepts for photo shoots.
Your photographer is probably not at a loss for what to take pictures of. They have their camera and they have their eyes, and typically that is enough for them to get into all sorts of photo shoots and provide hours of editing to match.
If your photographer is in the earliest stages of their photographic career, however, they may need a little bit of a boost when it comes to unique ideas for photo shoots. This book will provide more ideas than they will ever use, and it might inspire them to think up a few new ideas.
#2 – Mango Spot Best Camera Lens Thermos Stainless Steel Cup
The Mango Spot Best Camera Lens Thermos Stainless Steel Cup is a gift which your photographer will enjoy while they are spending long hours editing photos.
Taking pictures isn’t even half of your aspiring photographer’s job. In fact, they’ll probably spend more hours en route to shoots and editing photos than they will snap away.
This mug is the perfect gift to complement the photographer’s genuine mode of existence. They won’t always be able to be out doing what they like the most, so you may as well give them something that makes the hardest part of their job a bit more enjoyable.
This high-quality steel mug will last your photographer a long time, which they’ll also appreciate.
#3 – Funny Photographer Coffee Mug
The Funny Photographer Coffee Mug is great for the photographers who are at the middle of their photographer’s journey because it introduces an element of humor to the downtime that they are sure to have.
Photographers are often in the vicinity of humor thanks to their penchant for observing many different kinds of events. Thus, this mug will help them to take a more active role in the humor by placing them as the butt of a very gentle joke.
Photographers aren’t always the most reliable people, and this mug will poke fun at them in a way that they will appreciate. It might even help them improve! For added points, you should photograph your photographer editing photos while using this mug.
#4 – Peacechaos Men’s Canvas Leather DSLR SLR Vintage Camera Messenger Bag
The Peacechaos Men’s Canvas Leather DSLR SLR Vintage Camera Messenger Bag helps your photographer move from shoot to shoot in a stunningly stylish way that they’re sure to appreciate.
Many photographers may dress simply, but they appreciate aesthetics to say the least. This bag is beautiful and it will allow your aspiring photographer to bring the classiness of a former era with them to their shoots.
Having great gear bags makes your photographer look more professional and it also makes them feel more confident. When your photographer is trucking around this classy bag, they’ll understand that they are destined to be a professional who can create the images they desire.
#5 – Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are
Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are is an excellent book regarding the fundamental principles of photography.
What does a photographer have to learn from a book, you might ask? The answer is that aspiring photographers can learn a tremendous amount from reading about what other photographers have done to advance the craft.
This book will help your photographer come up with new ideas, teach them new technical tricks, and expand their minds about shot composition and the art that goes into each photo.
You should reserve this gift for the more serious of the aspiring photographers because amateurs might not have the patience for it.
#6 – Photography Prism with Cleaning Pouch – Best Crystal Glass Triangular Prism for Photos and Teaching Light Spectrum
The Photography Prism with Cleaning Pouch – Best Crystal Glass Triangular Prism for Photos and Teaching Light Spectrum is a great tool for the youngest photographers who can stand to benefit from some education on the fundamentals of the visual spectrum.
Though most photographers may not think about it very much, their entire profession relies on manipulation of the visual spectrum of light to produce the results they want.
That’s why this little gift has so much to offer. Understanding the way that light warps under certain situations will help the photographer to figure out new shots, new angles, and new ways of bringing the details they want to see to the forefront.
For older photographers, this little kit might be a bit rudimentary, even if they have only recently started to aspire to become a photographer.
#7 – Magnetic Poetry – The Photographer Kit – Words for Refrigerator – Write Poems and Letters on the Fridge
The Magnetic Poetry – The Photographer Kit – Words for Refrigerator – Write Poems and Letters on the Fridge will help your photographer stay in the mindset of being a photographer by introducing the artfulness of words to their home.
Photographers aren’t known for their ability with words, but, they are known for their ability to capture words in an image and make them shine with more power than they would otherwise.
These magnetic fridge magnets will help your photographer to get into the mindset of manipulating their environment to create the image that they desire.
Furthermore, it’ll help them to think in a new artistic medium. This will help them to get outside of the box of solely visual considerations. They may even become better at photographing words as a result of the creative juices that are left to stew after a session arranging fridge magnets.
#8 – Coffee Mug – Camera Lens Thermos – 13oz Cup – Stainless Steel Insulated
The Coffee Mug – Camera Lens Thermos – 13oz Cup – Stainless Steel Insulated will give your aspiring photographer a great tool which they can take with them anywhere they go to stay awake and alert.
Photographers may need to stay awake for long periods of time. They may also need to stake out for long periods of time to get the perfect shot. This thermos will help them stay awake and warm with a cup of coffee while they wait for the perfect shot.
Thanks to its vacuum insulation layer, the liquids in the thermos will remain hot or cold for many hours, giving your aspiring photographer a measure of comfort even when they’re shooting on the most challenging sets.
#9 – Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs
Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs is a fairly self-explanatory book which most photographers — aspiring or not — will be able to take something useful away from.
Reading technical books on photography doesn’t seem to appeal to most photographers, but the results that this book can get them should certainly appeal to most aspirants.
This book is packed full of tips on how to compose shots, how to calibrate the lens, and how to get your subjects to do what your photographer wants them to do. These lessons are simple to read but very difficult to master as your aspiring photographer will quickly learn.
There aren’t many tips in the book your photographer will have never heard of, but the book will provide them with a very clear walkthrough which they will use to the maximum.
#10 – Kikkerland Camera LED Ballpoint Pen
The Kikkerland Camera LED Ballpoint Pen lights up and makes snapping noises so that your photographer never fully exits the mindset of snapping away.
There isn’t a camera embedded in this pen, but there are several lights and a tiny speaker which produce camera-like sounds when prompted.
This is a great gift for the youngest aspiring photographers who are still playing with the fundamentals of the field. The pen will help them to stay on task while also providing them with a frequent reminder that the camera is waiting for them to get behind.
More professional aspiring photographers may find this little toy a bit annoying, however, so pick carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes A Great Gift For Photographers?
The best things to get for aspiring photographers are tools which help them to improve their craft or that help them to perform their craft more comfortably. Photography can be as simple as a person with a camera, but adding a bit of complexity stands to make things better for everyone.
For instance, your aspiring photographer will probably benefit from educational tools at least in the early part of their photography career. These tools could range from books to visual instruments.
The point of these is not to turn your aspiring photographer into an expert over night, but rather to give them ideas about what skills they should be working on and why.
Should I Buy Camera Parts For My Photographer?
Photographers love hardware and they are often very careful about picking it, so avoid buying camera parts unless you have their explicit suggestion. For the photographers who prefer to be hands-on, giving them a gift which supports their comfortable photography is a good idea.
Instead, buying things like camera cases, coffee mugs, transit passes, and associated items can make their life a lot easier. It’s best if you buy them something that they might not buy themselves even if there is a problem that is making them uncomfortable.
For example, buying your photographer a new shoulder strap for their bag might seem very unsentimental, but it is something they will surely appreciate if they are being bothered by the strap of their camera bag digging into their shoulder during a long shoot.
What Kinds Of Gifts Should I Avoid Getting My Aspiring Photographer?
It’s hard to offend photographers, but that doesn’t mean you can buy them any gift under the sun and expect them to enjoy it.
In general, your photographer probably does not need you to buy elements of photography sets. This means that if you see a cool thing at an antique store that you think would go well in a photo shoot, don’t be tempted to purchase it for your young photographer.
Photographers want to compose their shots and they want to put the things of their design into their shots. When someone else interjects with a new object and suggests that they photograph it, it’s trampling on their artistic freedom.
You can show them something to see if they would like it in their set, but on the whole you should let them compose their own sets and keep your gifts limited to things other than what is in the shot itself.
How Do I Know If My Aspiring Photographer Will Use A Gift?
The only way to be sure that your aspiring photographer will use a gift is that you ask them first. Aside from that, you can look at the things they have and see which they need or what should be replaced.
Photographers tend to be somewhat sparse about the things they keep around. You can use this to your advantage by giving them the one thing that they need rather than something that they don’t want.
You could also avoid the issue entirely by purchasing your photographer something that they will definitely use like an SD memory card or a gift certificate to a hardware store. While these may seem unsentimental, your aspiring photographer will definitely enjoy the gear that they can get.