Have you spent too much time scouring the internet looking for the perfect present for the photographer in your life? Lenses and cameras are expensive gifts to give, so if you’re looking for affordable gifts for photographers to treat the photography lover in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Forget about photography themed coffee mugs; this photography gift guide is full of affordable Amazon finds every shutterbug will actually use!
Photo Editing Accessories
Post-production is equally as crucial as taking photos, and these simple photo editing tools make the process much easier.
Lightroom or Photoshop Guides
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are two of the most popular photo editing tools on the market. These robust programs offer many features that can be overwhelming at first glance. However, these inexpensive keyboard covers and user manuals will drastically improve workflow and increase skill with industry-leading tutorials literally at your fingertips.
Presets
One of the best things about Lightroom is the ability to save presets, which are settings for your favorite aesthetics. Some professional photographers sell their presets, making it even easier for photographers who don’t know how or don’t want to create their own. You can improve the visual style of every photo in your Lightroom catalog for just a few bucks.
External Hard Drive
Everyone knows digital photos take up a lot of space. For many people, it can be incredibly emotional to delete images from their favorite memories, which is why many photographers look for extra memory. An external drive is an asset for those photographers who need extra space. It also helps you stay organized and improve your computer speed, which can be very helpful when editing photographs on a PC or laptop.
Cool Photography Accessories
These must-have photography trinkets protect your equipment and help capture images exactly how you envisioned them.
Rain Cover
Essential for outdoor photographers, camera rain covers protect your equipment from wet weather and harsh conditions like hail, thunderstorms, and even dust storms!
Lighting
No matter your experience level, it’s crucial to consider lighting, which can make or break an image. These high-quality photography lights are versatile and practical and will help you take photos like a pro! Use them in your home or travel with them on the go–no matter what, they’ll ensure your lighting is perfect.
Photography Backdrops
Backdrops and props are essential for any photographer, and a diverse collection of backgrounds allow you to add variety to your photos. They make it easy to decorate with light colors or dark patterns; a good backdrop makes a difference in an image, and you can get one that goes well with any subject. Backdrops can be dramatic or simulate settings such as flooring for still-life shots or fruits and vegetables lying on a rough wooden tabletop.
Camera Shoulder Bags and Backpacks
Camera bags are an essential accessory for every photographer. Everyone needs a place to store their camera and other equipment. Most camera bags have compartments for lenses, filters, or accessories. In addition, camera bags protect your gear from rain or snow and can be worn as a backpack, sling bag, or even a purse.
Kurved Camera Lens Cap
That cheap little plastic stored at the end of a lens protects a piece of equipment far more valuable than the lens cap itself. So a lens cap must be easy to take off with one hand but not so easy that it falls off with a light bump. It’s a fine line that Kurved Lens Caps straddles nicely. The best part is that they are a one-size-fits-all, so you don’t have to determine what size to buy.
Monopod
This game-changer turns a trekking pole into a multipurpose tool for the hiker and landscape photographer in your life. This part trekking pole, part monopod, makes snapping sharp landscape photos without all the hassle and weight of tripods a cinch. I used this monopod in the Great Smoky Mountains to capture long exposure waterfalls,; you’d never know I didn’t use a traditional tripod.
Cheap Photo Gift Ideas
These cheap gifts for photographers are practical, work for any budget, and offer a great selection of options that will satisfy any amateur or pro photographer. There’s something here for everyone, whether it’s stocking stuffers, Secret Santa gifts, or White Elephants.
Lens Cleaning Kit
The lens cleaning kit can be pulled out of a bag at any time. It includes the perfect tools to remove dust from lenses – a lens cloth, brush, and blower. These handy toolkits are an invaluable item for any serious photographer’s gear bag.
Remote Shutter Release
Remote shutter releases are the perfect gift for wildlife photographers, bloggers without a photographer behind the camera, and getting everyone in group photos.
Lens Wrap
A lens wrap is a creative gift idea for photographers that protects their lens without the use of bulky camera bags. While a camera backpack is amazing, sometimes you need room for more than just photography equipment and the lens wrap frees up space for other things. I use my lens wraps on 3 day weekends when I am trying to get by with a single backpack for clothes and gear, so this would be a great gift for travel photographers.
Camera Straps
A unique camera strap makes for a cute and functional photography accessory.
Photography Gifts For Beginners
The best gifts for amateur photographers are ones that help build their collection of basic photography essentials. This section lists the gadgets every photographer needs so you can support your loved one in their new passion.
Smartphone Photography Add Ons
If the photographer friend in your life is just getting started and wants to enhance their phone photography before upgrading to a full DSLR or Mirrorless camera, then phone photography attachments are the way to go. The best gifts for phone photographers increase telephoto, macro, or wide-angle photography flexibility and allow them to develop their style before investing in more expensive gear.
Tripod
With the money I’ve spent on cheap tripods that quickly break, I could have bought a quality one that costs more but lasts longer and saved myself money in the long run. Unfortunately, not all tripods are made equal, so I’ve compiled a list of tripods I trust and save you or a loved one from a long string of troublesome tripods.
Cheat Sheets
Cheat sheets, and quick reference cards make great gifts for budding photographers that make learning critical skills such as exposure, composition, and white balance easier and less stressful.
SD Memory Cards and SD Card Holders
Nothing is more frustrating than running out of space on an SD card and missing the shot when the camera reads “Card Full.” It never comes at a good time, so a high storage capacity SD Card and carrying case for backups is a handy gift to any photographer. When choosing an SD card, the more space, the better because shooting high-quality photos takes up a lot of space.
