GET YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER SOMETHING SURPRISING AND THOUGHTFUL
Pumpkin spice is in the air, which means one thing: it’s almost that time of year again.
I know many loved ones out there are stumped when it comes to shopping for your favorite mom or lady photographer.
I get it – photography can seem like a foreign subject, especially when it comes to buying gear. There are so many options and many of them very specific, not to mention pricey. Narrowing down ideas that are useful, broadly accessible, and also affordable can be quite a lofty task.
Being a mom photographer myself, I figured I would make a quick post of my top 10 ideas that would make great gifts for that professional or hobbyist mom photographer in your life.
1 | UNIQUE, PERSONALIZED GIFTS FROM ETSY
One of my favorite online places to shop because you know you’re getting one-of-a-kind, handcrafted goods from small businesses. Here’s a roundup of a few of my favorite camera themed gifts from Etsy.
2 | QUALITY PANCAKE LENS
A pancake lens is simply a very small and light lens that is perfect for travel or on-the-go photography. You can find them in all different sizes and brands to fit your loved one’s camera, and also they are generally some of the least expensive options for lenses.
My husband bought me a 40mm pancake lens for my Canon 1DX a few years ago and it has become of my most used and loved lens of all time. It’s great because I can easily take it everywhere and not worry too much about it getting banged around. It also takes super sharp, crisp images for its size.
Here are a few great options, organized by the type of camera they will pair with. Another new feature I’ve noticed on amazon is that once you click on a lens you are interested in, you can easily input the type of camera you own to make sure it will correctly match with that lens.
CANON EOS CAMERAS:
40mm EF lens – last I checked this was on super sale for $129, so be sure to check the latest price on amazon.
24mm EF lens – another great option for a wider lens range. Generally less than $100 on amazon.
PANASONIC MIRRORLESS CAMERAS:
14mm lens – a bit more pricey, but an excellent choice for Panasonic users.
3 | CUSTOMIZED CAMERA STRAP
Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap – Perfect for smaller sized cameras where you just want easy access and ability to hold while you work. Also provides a nice bit of extra support for handheld video shots. Check current price on amazon.
Peak Design Leash Camera Strap (small version)
Same brand as the above strap, which is nice because you can quickly and easily change the strap according to your needs. You can do this in seconds by clicking these notches on and off. Also so quick and easy to adjust the length of the camera strap on the fly.
Here are a few more ideas for straps that I just like because they’re pretty as well as functional. Even if your mom photographer already has a strap, here are a few to add to her collection that she may just want to switch out every now and then for a fresh look and feel.
4 | EXPAND CREATIVITY – WITH A LENSBABY
A lensbaby is a fun type of lens that allows you to get very creative shots with your camera using a modified ‘tilt-shift’ method. The outer part of the lens swivels to bring just a small portion of the frame into focus while the rest remains blurry. This creates a really unique and creative way to take shots. Here are a few examples, although the ideas are limitless.
This is a great gift for the photographer who has it all. Expand their toolset by adding something new and fresh to spark even more creativity. Here is the type that I recommend, organized by type of camera.
CANON CAMERAS – Lensbaby Sol 45 for Canon EF
NIKON CAMERAS – Lensbaby Sol 45 for Nikon F – OR – Lensbaby Sol 45 for Nikon X
SONY CAMERAS – Lensbaby Sol 45 for Sony E
FUJIFILM CAMERAS – Lensbaby Sol 45 for Fuji X
5 | ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO CLICKINMOMS
If I had to pick just one item on this list that you MUST get for your favorite mom photographer, this would be it.
Clickin Moms is one of the best resources out there for learning more about photography – especially lifestyle, family, and everyday photography. There are monthly courses, a community forum, as well as a magazine that are rich with inspiration and knowledge.
She will also gain access to weekly tutorials and freebies to improve her skillset.
Last I checked it’s $10/month or $60 for a full year’s subscription. Check that offer out here.
6 | NIFTY PHOTO PRINTER
Something phenomenal (and I don’t mean that in a good way) has happened with our generation of photographers. In the world of social media and all things digital, we have gotten into a bad habit of posting and sharing our photos online without ever printing them and displaying them around the house.
Here are a few ideas that your photographer may not ever think to buy herself, but that I assure you she will absolutely love to have. I’m suggesting a few ideas that are different from your average photo printer, to offer convenience and fun into the equation.
Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer – Prints wirelessly via any bluetooth enabled device. Nifty, compact, and easy to use. Love this one.
Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer – This fun little thing prints mini photos and photo stickers. Your photographer may like this for herself just for fun OR I’m thinking this is an amazing little sidekick to have if your photographer does any kind of professional photoshoots – family, weddings, newborns, etc. She can easily gift these to her clients for an extra unique marketing touch.
Fujifilm INSTAX Share SP-2 Mobile Printer – Another super fun one. Prints old school looking polaroid prints, but with excellent quality. Also, I’ve seen some steep sales on this one via amazon from time to time, so be sure to watch this one.
7 | YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BAGS
Finding the perfect bag for photography is an ongoing pursuit that I will probably never give up on. It’s just so hard to find one that can do it all and fit all that you need for each scenario. However, I have come across some pretty great ones along the way. Here are a few of my favorites.
CADEN Camera Backpack Bag with Laptop Compartment – I cannot believe how affordable this bag is. I also love that the camera compartment slides out for easy access on the move. It’s also waterproof and fits a 14” laptop.
Travelon Heritage Tote Bag – This one isn’t specifically a camera bag. It’s actually a security theft bag (built so that the straps and inside of bag can’t be slashed, as well as a locking mechanism on the zipper. These are great options for travel, however, I picked this one simply because I like the way it looks and its size. It’s a great option for the woman who likes to use her purse and camera bag all in one. Be sure to pick up an inexpensive little cube, like this one, to insert into the bag for camera protection.
Zecti Waterproof Canvas Professional Camera Bag – I love the vintage look and durability behind this bag. It comes with it’s own rain cover and is perfect for hikes and outdoor photography.
ONA The Capri II Camera & Laptop Tote Bag – I saved this last one for those ready to splurge. It isn’t a cheap option, but the bag is absolutely gorgeous and timeless. Plus it’s leather, so she can use it for a lifetime.
8 | ACCESSORIES, ACCESSORIES, ACCESSORIES
PolarPro Defender Lens Cover – Check price on amazon. This nifty lens cover is so cool! Perfect addition to any camera bag. It’s annoying when you lose a lens cap as they are not inexpensive to replace. These are great because they stretch to fit most lenses perfectly, plus I love that they add a bit of extra cushion.
Lina & Lily Vintage Camera Print Loop Infinity Scarf – Just because, isn’t it cute!
Here are a few more small gift ideas that would go great as a thoughtful bundle or as stand alone gifts, depending on your budget.
9|SUBSCRIPTION TO ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE
For less than $10 a month, you can purchase the best photo editing software out there for your loved one. If they are also into video or other design, there are plenty of discounted bundles to choose from. I recommend starting with Lightroom for photographers and Premiere for video editing. These are the two main software programs that I use for all of my work.
Check out all the plan options here.
10 | NEW SET OF PHOTO EDITING PRESETS
Here’s another one that will make your favorite photographer beam with excitement. Buy her a set of lightroom presets. These are quick and easy ways to apply color and style to photos that will streamline her editing process and make her photos look absolutely stunning.
Here are a few examples of before and after photos that I’ve shot and then edited using presets.
My absolute favorite place for presets is Mastin Labs. They not only have an amazing variety to choose from, they also have the best online community to help you achieve the look you’re going for, as well as online tutorials to show you step by step how to best apply the presets.
Here are a few more examples of before and after photos I’ve edited with Mastin Labs Fujicolor Original presents.
11 | DO SOMETHING EXTRA THOUGHTFUL
This last one is for those of you who are willing to go the extra mile. For those who know just how hard that photographer works and how little time she has to actually sit and admire her own work. Here are a few idea starters for thoughtful ways to let your photographer know she’s special and her work is worth celebrating.
Put together a Mixbook. If you’ve taken a recent trip together or you have children or other subject that you may want to come back to time and time again, document it in a well designed photo book. Mixbook is my favorite way to go! Every year I sit down and make a book documenting our girls over the past year and gift it to all the grandparents at Christmas time. It’s a tradition we’ve all come to anticipate and love. The platform is so easy to use and the designs are cheesy or overdone.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Whew. That was an exhaustive list of many of my favorite things! I hope you found something that your lovely photographer will enjoy. Also leave any questions at all. Thanks as always!
-Beth
Thanks for checking out a few of my favorite things. As an affiliate, I receive compensation for mentioning my favorite resources, however any commission that I earn comes at no cost to you. In fact, it goes right back into maintaining this website so I can continue to offer fresh content. Thanks as always for your support!
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