A Photographer’s Gift Guide

It’s getting to be that time of year again, the most wonderful time of the year! Not only does this mean joyful festivities, lit up trees, menorahs, lots of family and friends, and ugly Christmas sweaters, but it also mean a busy season for photographers.

In between the hustle and bustle of gift shopping and wrapping and cookie baking, we photographers — here at Sydney Rose Portraits and beyond — are working to capture the special moments that make this season, well, special!

With that in mind, take a look-see at this gift guide to treat yourself or your favorite photographer to some of our gifts, recommended by photographers for photographers. From extra hard drives and gear to books, we’ve got you covered.

I also wanted to give a huge, huge shoutout to B&H Photo and Video. Not because they’re sponsoring this or anything (though I wouldn’t turn that down, *cough cough*) but because I literally always shop with them. They have a used section that is super budget friendly, and I highly suggest going there for any of your photography needs, gift or not.

For the beginner

If you’ve just taken up photography, you’re likely starting to accumulate all the pieces that will help you take the best photos possible. Lenses, flashes, extra batteries, you get the picture. With all of that power and gear comes the responsibility to keep it safe and organized, so you’re gonna need a great camera bag.

My favorite everyday bag comes from WANDRD Gear, and is so spacious. It holds everything I need, including multiple backup cameras, and comes in so many fun colors if you’re looking to spice things up.

Another great option is this super cute classic! It’s vegan leather lets you feel so chic and  environmentally friendly while you’re on the job. I love the little pocket at the front, it’s great for storing snacks.

I can’t stress this enough for beginners; get a good camera strap or holster! It will save your back and joints in the long run. I never leave home for a shoot without one of these, and they also have hand straps if that’s your thing.

I also recommend this harness! I actually received it as a gift from my partner, and I’ve found it’s a great way to spice up your camera accessory game. I use it a lot on long wedding days.

For the gear junkie

Feel like you’re always running out of space and never have enough SD cards to hold everything you want to capture? A hard drive is a perfect gift for every photographer. All of my interns just invested in them, and can’t stop talking about how much faster their laptops are running now... I love them.

I stand by this guy and his smaller friend. I once had a Lacie hard drive get a loose connection, and the process for sending it off, getting my data back, and getting a fresh one was super easy! I also keep everything backed up on multiple hard drives so it never hurts to have multiple. I quite enjoy the capacity both of these provide, and they make my life a lot easier. Like I said before, a good camera bag is really one of your best friends in this business. I have been eyeing these for a while, and love how they look. I’ve heard so many good things about them!

For the film fanatic

If you have a photographer friend who is always talking about “grain” and “35 mm” or their “darkroom” this is the section for you.

I LOVE this little guy so much that when it died after I left the flash on I bought another! It’s so fun, easy, and travel sized its a must have for anyone, from film beginner to enthusiast. This is another gift I have received from my partner, and it’s my favorite black and white film. It was the first present he bought me when we started dating. Shooting film in black and white is so beautiful and truly feels like a vintage experience.

For the bookworm

No matter what stage of your photography journey you’re at, it never hurts to brush up on posing and get a refresher on some basics. Read about hands on hip tips here!

This is a super fun read with great info, especially for history buffs and film aficionados.

In “Photographers on Photography,” the author reveals what matters most to the masters through a carefully curated selection of quotations, images and interviews.

Long time listeners will recall I have started developing my own film. While I haven’t gotten very far in this book, I love it for the learning purposes!

Stocking stuffers

This memory card case is a great gift for anyone looking to project and organize their every growing SD card collection. Not only is this film pouch cute, but it also protects delicate film and is great for any photographer who travels a lot! These adorable stickers are the perfect gift and any photographer can now lovingly sticker bomb the laptop the spend hours staring at while editing!

Last but not least, an all purpose gift for all photographers would be a gift card from my business! Gift one to your significant other for a couples session, or for a photographer in your life who needs a branding session done.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Sydney Rose Portraits!