Do you have a photographer on your gift list this year? We have been deep into the hobby for years and we have tested out so many different products. It can be difficult to decide what photography gifts to get for someone (or for yourself!) with so much on the market today. We have put together a list of the best photography gifts that anyone would be thrilled to receive!
We’ll start with the marquee gifts – the cameras. These are for budding photographers or people looking to upgrade from the usual point-and-shoot cameras. They are expensive but worth every penny! If they already have a camera, scroll down to our accessories list that can help turn any photo into a masterpiece.
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Cameras
For Photo
Canon 6D Mark ii
We are huge fans of Canon ever since our first PowerShot point-and-shoot from many moons ago. We now use the Canon 6D Mark ii as our main camera for everything from landscapes to portraits. This 26.2 megapixel DSLR is the world’s lightest full frame camera! It has a huge touch screen LCD on the back and super quick autofocus to help capture the perfect moment.
We bring our 6D with us on everything from a walk around the block to travelling around the world. It is so durable and versatile that anyone can use it and notice an immediate improvement to their photos.
Sony a7 ii
As much as we are huge Canon fans, we are still incredibly impressed with the Sony line. Their flagship Alpha DSLR line has a range of full frame and mirrorless cameras for any level of photographer. They also recently released the Alpha a7 iii which means there are great deals on the Sony Alpha a7 ii.
Some might consider this to be “last years’ model” but the current prices make it too good to resist. Don’t let the lower 24.3 megapixel resolution fool you because Sony cameras are renowned for low light. You will be amazed at the crystal clear quality of photos you can capture in a wide range of lighting situations.
For Video
Canon Powershot G7X Mark ii
Do you have someone on your list looking to break into the YouTube vlogging game? The platform has made it easy for anyone to film and upload to their own channel. The only things you need are a computer and a camera but it can be difficult to decide which is the best one to invest in.
Luckily, Canon has you covered with the G7x point-and-shoot. This camera is perfect for the budding filmmaker because it can shoot in full 4k 120fps video while being small enough to fit into your pocket. It also has a 3″ touchscreen that can flip vertically to make sure everything is in frame without having to look at the back of the camera.
GoPro Hero9
Travelling is all about creating memories. Help your favourite traveller relive those memories over and over with the most versatile and compact video camera available today! These on-the-go cameras are small enough to fit in your pocket until you need to take it out to film in stunning 4K at a moment’s notice.
The new GoPro Hero9 also has a front-facing screen to help with selfie videos. Even though we have fantastic DSLR cameras, the GoPro always seems to reliably capture the best footage.
The GoPro is also a feature in our Top Gifts for Travellers Post. Check it out if you have someone on your list planning a trip!
DJI Mavic Mini Drone
Drones are a tricky gift because of all of the different laws surrounding them. You should also research the right drone to buy to avoid giving someone a gift that makes them have to spends hours on a course to get their license.
DJI has helped eliminate most of that guesswork with the Mavic Mini. Most laws and licenses are for drones over 250g. DJI has smartly and purposefully designed this drone to weigh 249g to fly under the radar (pun intended).
These little drones have a powerful 2.7k video camera and a range of over 2kms! It’s the perfect entry-level drone for anyone looking to get a different perspective on video. You’ll want to buy the Fly More package because it includes the all-important extra batteries and a hard shell travel case.
Each battery lasts about 30 minutes and the extra batteries give you another hour on top of that. The DJI Mavic Mini is so easy to fly that you’ll be a pro in no time!
Accessories
Flying the Nest Photo Presets
We can let you in on a little photography secret – you’re rarely going to get a perfect shot right from the camera. All of the breathtaking shots you see on your favourite travel blogs or Instagram accounts have been edited in some way. This doesn’t mean they’ve been heavily altered but sometimes you need the sky to pop a little or there’s a certain style you’re looking to achieve. You can save yourselves hours upon hours of tweaking settings in Lightroom or Photoshop by getting presets.
These sets of instructions edit your photos in a single click to make them look gallery-worthy. Our favourite preset pack is on sale at Flying the Nest. They are an travelling Australian couple who have some of the most stunning photos and videos we’ve ever seen. They have put their years of practice into these elegant presets that can be bought for yourself or gifted to the budding photographer in your life. It’s also outside of the usual photography gifts without having to break the bank!
Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
If you know someone who has been into the hobby for a while then they probably have a lot to carry around. When we’re headed on a trip or a photo day we’re bringing 2 cameras, 4 lenses, 2 GoPros, a laptop, hard drives, a tripod, and a drone. It used to be a lot of effort to carry all of that around and keep it organized. That was all until last year when we picked up the Vanguard Alta Rise 48 before a trip to Portugal.
Not only does this bag carry all of our gear while keeping it protected, it also helps distribute the weight so it doesn’t feel too heavy when it’s fully packed. It also comes with it’s own rain cover which has already saved our stuff!
Fotostrap
Camera straps are important but the ones included in the box aren’t the best. Straps are also a great way to personalize your camera or add a pop of colour. Kailey loves her Rose Leather Strap from Fotostrap because it feels great on her shoulder and isn’t as bulky as other straps. The camera feels really secure on the strap so you don’t have to worry about it falling off.
It also sits at a good height on your hip and not bouncing against your leg. The straps arrive quickly even if you get them personalized. You can add initials and a short message to the strap to make it one of a kind.
Neewer Step Up/Down Rings
One of the great things about a DSLR is being able to change lenses depending on what you need. These lenses work best with ND Filters
because they help balance the light or add an effect. The only problem is that lenses can be different sizes so you’d need multiple filters to fit them all. Getting a set of Neewer step up/down rings solves this problem and helps save a lot of money.
We’re able to use our 67mm ND Filter on a 61mm lens thanks to these. Another one of the unique photography gifts that everyone should have in their bag!
MeFoto Globetrotter Tripod
We were a little unsure about getting a tripod at first but now we don’t know how we managed without it! It allows us to take photos with both of us in it or get beautiful nighttime landscape shots. There are two important things when shopping for a tripod: what it’s made of and how tall it gets. When you’re shopping, you don’t want a heavy tripod or one that only gets to waist height.
We chose to go with the aluminum MeFoto Globetrotter because it is light and compact. You could decide to go carbon fibre but they can get wildly expensive! This tripod is sturdy and durable so you don’t need to worry about it falling over.
GorillaPod
Tripods are great but they don’t always suit the situation. Sometimes there isn’t room in a suitcase or you don’t want to open up a big tripod just for one shot. The solution to all of that is the pliable GorillaPod 3k by Joby.
This model has their trademark bendable legs but it is also sturdy enough to hold a DSLR with a relatively heavy lens attached. You could go for the top-of-the-line GorillaPod 5k but we haven’t had any issues using the 3k for half the price.
Aputure Light
Lighting can be one of the hardest things to control when you’re taking a photo. Sometimes it’s almost perfect but there are sharp shadows that need to be filled out. We have been using these Aputure LED Fill Lights for over a year and they have been insanely useful!
They are slim enough to slide into your pocket but bright enough to light up a subject at night. They also offer a fill light that can change into any colour you need but the one above is perfect for most situations.
Koolertron Bag Insert
If you already have a favourite bag but still want to keep your camera safe, you’ll need to get something to hold it. These Koolertron DSLR Bag inserts are shockproof and fit easily into a mid-size bag or backpack. Kailey uses hers when bringing a tote bag or even in her Fawn Designs backpack. You can keep your gear safe while keeping it organized too!
SD Memory Cards
The one thing EVERY photographer needs is a good SD Card. You can also never have too many of them so they’re always a good go-to gift. We have probably a dozen different SD cards of different storage sizes but we would never turn down another one. Shopping for SD Cards can be tricky because there are different sizes and speeds.
You should focus more on speed because that helps take high-speed continuous shots or shoot 4k video. All of our main SD Cards are the SanDisk Extreme Pro because they transfer data up to 170 mb/s and rated for full HD video. We never have to worry about missing out on a great moment because we didn’t have the right card.
We follow the same rule of thumb for micro-SD cards. These are typically found in drones, GoPros, and even cell phones. We use the SanDisk Extreme Pro Micro SDs as well and it captures jaw-dropping 4K FHD videos!
Seagate External HD
Storage space is priceless when taking photos or making videos. You will be amazed at how fast you can fill up a few terabytes of storage if you’re just getting into the hobby. Your laptop or desktop can only hold so much and you want to make sure it’s running at peak capacity. Every photographer will need at least 1 external hard drive to store or back up all of their files.
We recommend getting at least 2-4tb of storage so it can hold a lot but also be portable enough to take on the go. Our top choice is the Seagate 4tb Backup Plus because it keeps our Macbooks empty and fits easily into our bags.
DSLR Remote Shutter
Tired of setting a timer on your camera then running into place before time runs out? Give yourself and any photographer in your life a break with the Neewer Shutter Release. You’ll be able to start the timer from 3ft away with the wired model. This is especially useful in low-light photography because you can open the shutter without shaking the camera by physically touching it.
It’s amazing how much even the slightest touch can add blur to a shot like this! For added freedom, check out the wireless shutter release options that can help activate the camera from over 30ft away.
What other photography gifts would you like to receive this year? Let us know in the comments! Sign up for our Newsletter to get updates on our upcoming holiday gift lists and city guides
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