Gift ideas for Photographers

Take advantage of Black Friday specials for the photographers on your list!

It is that time of year where you may be looking for a gift for a photographer on your list or wanting to take advantage of holiday sales to pick up new gear for yourself. Here are some of my favorite items and vendors.

Camera Gear:

The first item that should be on everyone’s list would have to be a Lensbaby Lens! If you have not taken the plunge and tried out one of their creative lenses, you need to give them a try. The lenses are durable, fun to use, and will add to the standard lens gear in your camera bag. I enjoy shooting with the Sol 45 and the Velvet, but there are many other lenses to try. The lenses are all manual, and each one provides different creative elements, from blur to velvet glow. They are running a 20% off special right now, so a great time to grab one as they do not go on sale very often.

Looking to update or add filters to your bag? I love the brand Breakthrough Photography. Filters are the sharpest quality on the market. The company is out of San Francisco and grew from the ground up with a Kickstarter campaign. It is great to support a small business that has created amazing products. This is one not to overlook.

Next up on my list is any product by Lume Cube. I have just ordered the new Lume Mini. Lume cubes are small but powerful lights that you can pack in your bag and use as needed. They are a great option when you don’t want or like to use Flash. They are perfect for nature photographers when you need just a little bit of light in a dark spot. The Panel Mini is a great price point at only $60.00; this little light packs a lot of brightness.

On my wish list, this year is a Peak Design Travel Tripod. I have a love/hate relationship with tripods, but it looks like this one could change my mind. It is designed for ease of use, compact and lightweight. These tripods are never on sale, so if you can catch them in the next 10 days, you will get a great deal!

Printing:

Artifact Uprising is one of my favorite places to order prints, holiday cards, calendars, and much more. They make it easy to order, and the quality is great. I have had prints made from them over 5 years ago, and they still look brand new. The quality is beautiful and unique, which makes for a great gift. Be sure to check out their photo calendar sets, a perfect gift!

Textures:

If you enjoy adding textures to your images, now is a great time to stock up on some new ones. One of my favorite vendors is the Daily Texture. The owner is a nature photographer and creates beautiful textures that can be used with any photography style. The site offers videos to help you master the skills of adding textures.

If you are looking to add creative elements, texture, overlays to your images, look no further than the master Jessica Drossian. Her photoshop actions are transformational and allow you to take your images to the next level!

Outdoor Gear:

The Heat Company makes some incredible gear for shooting outside in the winter. Check out these incredible gloves that keep your hands warm and give your fingers access to use your camera. They are amazing!

Workshops/Classes:

Out of Chicago is a photography company offering in-person and online photography conferences. I participated in their online conference this fall, and the line up was amazing! Great to hear from experts in their field and get recharged as an artist. They have big plans for 2021 for in-person and a virtual conference.

Online at Capital Photography center is a local company specializing in both in-person and online photography learning. They offer a variety of classes and programs. Take your photography to the next level with one of their classes in the new year; they offer great Black Friday specials as well as Cyber Monday.

Be sure to support small businesses this holiday season and share your favorite photography gear or vendors in the comments below!

Originally published at https://www.lorilankford.com.