The Best Gifts for Photographers from Newbies to Pros

In this smartphone-saturated era, anyone and everyone can be a photographer. But there's something special about picking up a camera — any camera — and taking pictures the old-fashioned way, with no text messages, emails, or phone calls to get in the way. (You knew that, of course.) Find the perfect present for the photographer on your list with our gift guide.

Prices and availability are subject to change. 

Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to check out more of Cheapism's 2022 Holiday Gift Guides

$10 from Etsy
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Give your favorite photographer some flair for their jacket, camera bag, or backpack with one of these cute enamel pins from National Dry Goods. They also sell pins in the shape of a film roll, a Polaroid camera, and other designs.

$45 from Amazon
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It's a tripod. It's a clamp. It's both those and more. The grippy legs of the GorillaPod can be twisted and turned in every which way, allowing you to mount your camera nearly anywhere. This particular GorillaPod has a 3-kilogram weight limit, making it hefty enough to support a DSLR or camcorder; smaller and larger versions are also available.

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$16 from Amazon

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This bestselling camera strap comes in six different styles and gets a stellar average review of 4.8 stars from buyers. 

$173 from Amazon

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Everything old is new again, including Polaroid pictures. Turn the digital photos on your phone into Polaroids, film chemistry and all, with this tabletop gadget that projects the screen image from your phone onto film. And don't forget: No shaking required.

$18 from Amazon

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Whether they're a veteran shooter or a budding amateur, all photographers can use some inspiration now and then. Each card in this pack of 72 provides a unique photography theme or challenge. 

$45 from The Adventure Challenge

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Forget the still lifes — inspire your photography-loving friend with real-life adventures that are picture-worthy. These books contain 50 scratch-off suggestions for fun bonding activities with family, friends, or that special spouse or partner. Each "surprise" adventure comes with an estimated time commitment and cost, usually $20 or less. And each entry includes a place to include a photo and notes, so books become cherished keepsakes even after the challenges are long-completed. There's also a version for solo adventures, a "naughty" edition, and bundles that include an instant camera.

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$45 from Amazon
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Cellphone cameras are pretty darn versatile, but macro and wide-angle shots can still be a challenge. Attach this clip-on lens to your phone and you'll be able to snap dramatic panoramas and tight close-ups. Bonus: It also comes with a clip-on LED for when you need to throw a little extra light on the subject.

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$20 from Amazon

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If they almost literally live and breathe photography, they'll likely love this T-shirt, which comes in styles for men, women, and youth and five colors. 

$19 from Amazon
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You don't need a fancy camera to create a photo-like print. All you need is some sunlight, some water, and your imagination. Prices fluctuate, so buy when you see a low price.

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$27 from Etsy

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If you don't feel comfortable buying your favorite photographer camera gear or accessories, then pick up one of these super-nifty planters. It's available in marble or sparkle black. 

$59 from Backcountry
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This cute padded tote is big enough to accommodate a camera and a couple of lenses, yet slim enough to be slipped inside a backpack or carry-on. (It's also a lot more attractive than most camera bags we've seen.) Nice touch: The top can be cinched securely shut. Available in two colors.

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$38 from Etsy

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Get your favorite snapper a sweet, delicate necklace that depicts her favorite hobby. This is available in gold, silver, or rose gold and comes with an 17 inch chain with a spring ring closure. 

$20 from TeePublic

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Being an avid camera lover is always a mood. This shirt will likely capture your favorite photographer's personality to a tee. The design is also available on a hoodie, mug, or mask.

$33 from Etsy

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This stylish and minimalist hat features a leather patch depicting a camera shutter. With a trucker hat style, it also has an adjustable strap for fit. 

$219 from Amazon
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Sophisticated as today's cameras and phones are, there are still occasions when a handheld light meter comes in use (especially flash-driven portrait and fashion photography). Accurate down to a 1/10 of a stop, it can meter for shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 of a second, perfect for today's demanding digital photo and videography.

$255 from Amazon
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For the skilled photographer who wants to start experimenting with creative lens effects, there's Lensbaby. Tilt the articulated lens body to create a halo-like focal "sweet spot" around your subject for striking photographs. Available for select Sony, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Fuji digital cameras.

$35 from Amazon
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Fans of street photography and fashion photography will spend hours poring over this collection of work by the longtime New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham.

$30 from Amazon
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Street photographers need to keep their camera close at hand to shoot those unexpected moments. This adjustable nylon and leather wrist cuff attaches to just about any camera with the included anchors. Available in two colors.

$40 from Amazon
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This kit makes a great gift for anyone who wants to understand the basic mechanics of a film camera and learn how to become a photographer. The plastic body has a focusing ring and viewfinder like a regular 35mm camera body, plus an attachment for a flash. Note: Film is not included.

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$15 from Amazon
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Light ranges in color and temperature from warm to cool, something your eyes may not be able to detect but a DSLR's sensors can. Get the white balance wrong, and your photos may have a blue or yellow cast to them. When used with a camera's custom settings, this will ensure perfect white balance, and it's slim enough to slip into a pocket.

Varies from Ebay
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Before digital, there was film, and plenty of photographers swear by it. If you or someone you know would like to try film photography, eBay is a great resource for finding cheap, used 35mm SLR and point-and-shoot cameras in working order.

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$9 from B&H
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It's harder to find places that sell film, but far from impossible. If you don't have a camera store in your town, B&H Photo in New York City is a great resource for 35mm film and darkroom supplies. It's easy to learn how to process black-and-white film at home, and Lomography makes some cool film stocks to experiment with. Their Berlin 400 ASA film is a versatile stock for shooting outdoors or inside.

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$50 from International Center for Photography
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Curator and critic Antwaun Sargent presents the work of 15 contemporary photographers in this examination of art, culture, and fashion, and how Black artists navigate these worlds.

$60 from Amazon
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Take a comprehensive look at the history of photography and some of the most iconic images of all time. Editors consider 100 photographs, many of them first printed in Life Magazine, and the impact they've had on culture.

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$12 and up from Amazon
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If you own a DSLR, you know how quickly you can fill up your camera's memory cards, especially if you're shooting high-def, uncompressed images. These highly rated SD cards can hold up to 1 TB of data, and they make great stocking stuffers.

$30 from Amazon
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Any street photographer worth their salt will tell you that a lightweight, easy-to-carry camera bag is a must when out and about. This version is designed to hold one DSLR camera, a zoom lens, and one or two extra lenses or accessories. 

$12 from Amazon
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Keep your digital or film camera clean inside and out with this lens pen. Use the retractable brush to flick away dirt and dust, then use the delicate cleaning tip to remove fingerprints and dust from lenses and eyepieces.

$140 from B&H
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Once upon a time, filmmakers needed clunky, massive film cameras and rigs to shoot a movie. No longer. Turn your smartphone into a Steadycam with this rig system, which has a threaded mount for a filter or telephoto lens, plus a cold shoe to secure an external microphone, and tripod port.

$10 from Shoot Film Co.
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Keep a record of your camera and lens settings for each shot, make notes about shooting conditions, or just jot down random thoughts. Each notebook contains 48 pages and is small enough to fit in a pocket or camera bag.

Varies from Amazon
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You'll find a range of photography magazines available for subscription, including titles like Digital Photographer, Digital Photo Pro, and Outdoor Photographer. Some are available only on Kindle; others are print subscriptions.

$75 from B&H
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Planning a trip to the beach for some snorkeling? This underwater housing is designed to keep a DSLR like a Nikon D3300 safe and dry to a depth of 5 meters. A version designed for smaller mirrorless cameras is also available.

Varies from Amazon
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Let’s be honest. Photographers are picky people. So give ‘em what they really want, no matter what they’re into: the freedom to choose for themselves.