We found a great article over at Improve Photography with gift ideas for photographers.
They’re all under $100, all very useful and definitely something your photographer friend (or you) will love. We picked the seven best ones for you. Here’s another tip: turn this into a wish list for your next birthday or Christmas!
A 5-IN-1 REFLECTOR
These are used by portrait photographers to throw shade on the subject being photographed to avoid harsh shadows, and they also come with materials you can put on the large disc to reflect sunlight onto the face. I use reflectors very often when I’m shooting outdoor portraits.
INEXPENSIVE DSLR RAIN COVER
Beginning outdoor photographers run for shelter when it rains, but more experienced photographers know that some of their best pictures come when a storm is approaching because of the dramatic skies.
Last week I was shooting in Iceland and I got lazy and failed to put on a rain cover when I was shooting behind a waterfall. Although my camera was weather sealed, my lens was not and it fouled up the lens.
FLASH GELS
A gel is not gel-like at all. It is a sheet of transparent plastic that colors the light cast by the flash. If you own a flash unit but you have never purchased gels, this will be the most fun $15 you spend this week. I frequently use gels when doing shoots to get the light to match the ambient light or to introduce a creative color into the scene.
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
If you have a ton of photos, or if you need a backup of your photos (and yes, you do need a backup), then an external hard drive is a great choice. You can get an external hard drive that plugs into your computer via USB for under $100 for a 3 terabyte, or you can get 4 terabytes if you bend the $100 rule of this article and spend $30 more. I have used Seagate externals for a long time and have always had very good luck with them.
MAGNIFIED VIEWFINDER LENS
A GORILLAPOD
I certainly wouldn’t use a gorillapod as a replacement for a tripod, but they are really convenient for hooking up a camera for time lapse and other specialized uses. Fun product. They cost around $40 for a large one.
A LIGHT TENT
If you shoot products, macro, or food photography, you need a light tent. A light tent is an easy and cheap way to achieve incredibly soft and even light for small items which are put inside the light tent.
Get more gift ideas over at Improve Photography.
Source: Improve Photography
