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.
Looking for more inspiration? Be sure to check out our Unique Gift Guides.
$40 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.
$51 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.
$177 from Amazon
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Fuji takes instant film photography into the digital era with its SQ20 camera. Shoot and edit pictures like you would with a digital camera, choose your favorite shot, add filters, or create collages, then print out the result as if it were an old-school instant camera.
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$59 from Topo Designs
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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 three colors.
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$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.
Price: $300 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.
$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.
$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.
$119 from Amazon
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Snap a picture of this color chart before every photo session, then use the accompanying software to ensure accurate color reproduction and white balance for each and every image. In other words, the ColorChecker will make your pictures look like a pro shot 'em.
$497 from Amazon
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If you enjoy taking photos with your phone but want to try something with a little more precision and versatility, an entry-level DSLR camera like this one is a good choice. It comes with an 18-55mm kit lens — a general-purpose lens that's easy for a novice photographer to master — and can also shoot HD video.
$849 from Amazon
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This kit makes a great gift for a wannabe filmmaker who also wants to become a better photographer. The camera comes with a 18-55mm lens for closeups and wide shots, plus a Rode shotgun-style microphone and mount to record interviews and dialogue for webcasts and videos.
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$1,699 and up from Amazon
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Mirrorless cameras give you the versatility of interchangeable lenses without the bulk of a DSLR, and this Fujifilm model is one of the best ones you can buy for the price. Digital Trends calls it "a class-defining camera," while TechRadar proclaims it to be "the best APS-C mirrorless camera you can buy right now."
$100 from Amazon
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Have printer, will travel. This portable, wireless Canon dye-sublimation photo printer weighs less than 2 pounds and can print a 4-by-6-inch borderless image in less than a minute. Use the app to print from a wireless device or to create photo booth-style prints at your next party.
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$15 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.
$42 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.
$130 from Amazon
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Turn your phone into an instant camera of sorts with this printer and the Polaroid app. Print favorite digital shots from your phone onto color or black-and-white Polaroid 600 or i-Type film, or use the app to create cool collages.
$9 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.
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.
$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.
$58 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 pop culture.
$150 and up from Peak Design
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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. Whether you've got a compact mirrorless camera or a pro-grade DSLR with a spare lens, there's a Sling Bag that will fit your kit...
$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.
$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.
$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 an 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.
$67 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 availble.
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.
