Best Gifts for Photographers – Our Top Picks

As the holiday season approaches, it’s never too early for me to start thinking about presents. I must admit that gift-giving, gives me a lot of problems. Don’t get me wrong I love giving gifts, but I get in trouble when I have to choose gifts. Some people can just go out there and buy a number of gifts and then they just give them to friends and family. I like to make it more personal, and I try to pick gifts that fit the characters and needs of my friends perfectly. When it comes to gifts for photographers, things become a little bit easier. Photography themed gifts are always a great idea.

“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear” – Alfred Eisenstaedt

Finding perfect gifts for photographers for any of your friends can be a daunting mission. You want to buy something that mirrors their character or has some funny message. However, you also want to choose something that will be put to good use and not just sit in the basement corner. It is easy to find a great gift for my fellow photographers. But, do they have it already? Will someone else come up with the same idea when picking gifts for photographers?

Strategy for Gifts for Photographers

It’s not like you’re going into the battle and need to create an elaborate strategy. However, a little bit of thinking and planning can help you choose better and more quickly. A great present is not about buying the most expensive stuff. It’s more about expressing love, friendship, or care.

You know about the white elephant gift exchange party game, right? If you don’t, it’s a game where participants exchange dubious, extravagant and basically useless gifts. Legend has it that the title of the game has origins in the historic Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand). The king of Siam used to give an albino elephant to any nobleman that displeased him. While these animals were considered sacred and prestigious, it was more of a burden than a gift. You couldn’t let the elephant go, or put it to work because it was sacred. On the other hand, upkeep costs were tremendous. So, it was a sort of graceful way to ruin disobedient subject’s finances.

“Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if it doesn’t work out, just take another shot!” – Anonymous author

So, getting back to our gifts for photographers, we don’t want to give a white elephant to our friends. First, you have to ask yourself how well you know your friend. Do you know what equipment and accessories she or he already has? If you know the answer, then you should look for something to boost or supplement her or his kit. If it’s not one of your closest friends you can opt for not so technical but useful things. You can choose coffee mugs, pillows, t-shirts with photography themed prints, or something like that. Another option is to go for expendable parts. So, even if your friend already owns it, it will come in handy eventually. Once you narrow down your choice to a certain category, it will be easier to take your pick.

Random Ideas and Apparel

If you don’t know what gear your friend owns, it’s best to choose some useful, cute or funny gifts for photographers that your friends would like. These include anything from house decor to garments to kitchen tools. Of course, all of these items should have prints or symbols that point out to photography. Here are some great ideas.

T-Shirt

A T-shirt with a funny print is always a great gifts for photographers idea. For some reason, almost everyone I know likes to wear funny t-shirts. Of course, in this case, it should be some kind of photography-related joke. “I can freeze time. What’s your superpower?”, and “Never lose focus!” are my favorites. Or maybe something like this: