18 Snappy Gift Ideas For Amateur Photographers

Help a beginner or hobbyist photographer capture some truly amazing shots with these hot photography gift ideas.

In this new age of Instagram and social media It seems that many of us are becoming obsessed with capturing the perfect photo to share with our friends and family.

And with the quality of camera kit available nowadays along with easy to follow tutorials online almost anyone can learn to take some great shots.

Which is great.

As this allows us to capture all the important moments in our lives such as vacations, weddings, our children as they grow, and our loved ones.

And taking up photography as a hobby can be good for our health and well-being too.

As it's fulfilling and enjoyable, gets you out into the fresh air and helps you to appreciate the world around you, while also giving the creative side of your brain a workout.

And for many photography quickly becomes a passion and is something they love to do.

So, an avid amateur photographer will always be interested in increasing their knowledge, learning new techniques, improving their skills, and upgrading their kit.

Which means buying them a gift that will help them to do this is a great idea next time a birthday or the holiday season comes around.

So, I've put together the following list of gift ideas for amateur photographers to give you some guidance on which things to go for.

As each of these gifts will help to increase their enjoyment of their hobby and put a smile on their face. 

1. An Upgrade To Their Current Starter Camera

The most important piece of kit for any amateur photographer is the camera they shoot their photos with.

And while most amateurs begin their photography love affair by taking photos on their smartphones or a basic point and shoot camera, these can become limited after a while.

So, to take your game to the next level you need to invest in a better camera and one that is popular among serious amateur photographers is the Canon Powershot G7 X.

As this one is capable of taking stunning images with it's 4.2x optical zoom and it has an LCD monitor that you can tilt up and down to take photos at high and low angles.

And it's much easier for a relative beginner or hobbyist photographer to get to grips with than a DSLR camera which can take an age to learn how to use correctly.

So, if you want the ultimate gift for an amateur photographer then get them the Canon Powershot G7 X and watch their jaw drop!

2. Get Them Their First DSLR Camera

Once someone has been taking photographs for a while and has become really good at it, then they'll need something special to make a difference.

And this is usually when they will make the leap to using a DSLR camera instead of a point and shoot.

As the customisable settings will give them much more control over their shots and allow them to produce professional standard photographs once they master them.

And they can add different lenses to change certain aspects of the photos they take.

So, if you really want to push the boat out for a talented amateur photographer you could get them their first DSLR camera.

And one that is ideal to start with is the Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR camera.

As this one is user friendly and easier than others to get the hang of so it allows you to take stunning photographs quickly.

And as an added bonus it comes with a 18-55mm lens and a camera case included to get them going.

So, to get a feel for the many benefits of this camera for an amateur photographer then check out the video below.

3. A Zoom Lens For Better Focus And More Professional Photos

As I briefly mentioned in the previous section, adding different lenses to your DSLR camera can greatly change the aspects and quality of the photos you shoot.

Because some allow you to shoot wide angles, while others specialise in zooming in on a subject. 

So, while the standard zoom of an 18-55mm lens is great for taking many different types of photos, you may need to shoot others through a different type of lens to really make them sparkle.

And one example of this is when taking portrait photos.

As you need to use a lens that places the subject firmly in focus and without any distortion and for that you'll want a 50mm lens.

So, if you want to give an amateur photographer a gift that will help them to take stunning professional looking portraits then how about the Canon EF 50mm STM lens.

As this one fills the frame with the subject beautifully, creating a sharper image, and lets in more light to allow you to use it in lower light settings.

And you could add a lens hood too which will help them to keep it protected as they use it.

4. A Tripod For Steadier Shots

Another piece of kit that can greatly help an amateur photographer take better photos is a tripod.

As using one of these holds the camera steady, giving you the stability you need to take sharper images.

Which is invaluable when taking longer exposure shots in low light settings.

And it gives you the time to really set up the shot so you get the exact image and effect that you want.

So, while carrying a tripod around is a pain and it takes more time to set everything up, the results are usually more than worth it.

And one example that makes for a great gift is the Vanguard Alta Pro aluminum tripod.

As this one is strong and stable but also retains flexibility too, as it allows you to change the angles from which you're shooting.

So, you can get the sharp and professional looking images you want from a wide range of positions.

5. A Flexible Tripod To Carry Around With Them

While the Vanguard Alta Pro is a great static tripod, there is another option for photographers that like to shoot on the move and that is a flexible tripod.

As these tripods have bendy legs that allow you to use them on uneven surfaces or wrap them around posts or trees to get shots from many different angles.

And they are much lighter, easier to carry, and quicker to set up than a regular tripod.

So, they make great gifts for adventurous amateur photographers and one of the most popular examples is the Joby Gorillapod.

As this one has 3 flexible legs that can be bent and twisted to suit whichever surface you're shooting from and rubberised feet that give you a strong grip.

While the ballhead you attach your camera to lets you rotate it to whatever angle you want, so you can get a wide range of shots.

6. An External Flash To Make Their Photos Truly Shine

The built in flash that comes with most cameras usually leaves a lot to be desired.

As this can leave you with photos that flatten the subject out, leave dark shadows in places, and are prone to red eye when shooting portraits.

So, if you're serious about taking higher quality photos then you'll need to use an external flash to really make them shine.

As this gives you more lighting power and a greater range which allows you shoot from a greater distance and lighten up the whole image without any shadowing.

And you also have the option to add light from many angles rather than just the front, so you can get creative to get the effect you want.

So, if this sounds like a gift an amateur photographer you know would appreciate then check out the Godox TT600 external flash.

As this one is a versatile, powerful, and reliable flash that is very popular and a perfect starter model for a beginner.

7. Put Together A Lens Cleaning Kit For Them

Keeping your camera lenses clean and free from dust, finger prints and smudges will help you to take clearer photos.

However, cleaning them yourself can be perilous as lenses and sensors are fragile and it's easy to damage them and leave tiny scratches.

So, to do a good job and look after your camera in the process you'll need certain tools in your lens cleaning kit and these can make for handy gift ideas for photographers.

First up is a set of lens pens such as the LensPen DSLR-1 camera cleaning kit.

As these pens contain a soft cleaning brush that uses a dry cleaning compound to clear your lens and return it to a spotless condition again.

And a rocket blower such as this one by Giottos is great for using clean air to blow dust and particles quickly and safely off both your lens and sensor.

So, combining these two as a lens cleaning gift set is a top idea to give to any amateur photographers. 

8. A Camera Backpack To Safely Carry All Their Stuff Around In

As you get deeper into photography you'll start to assemble more and more kit.

Which means rather than just having a point and shoot camera to carry around like you did in the beginning, you now have to make room for lenses, tripods, batteries, external flashes, and more.

And this stuff is all expensive and quite delicate.

So, any amateur photographer will need a bag where they can keep their kit safe, secure, and protected as they walk around taking photos.

And one I can recommend that makes a great gift is the Lowepro Flipside 400 camera backpack.

As this bag has special adjustable padded compartments where you can keep your things separated and organised.

You can open it from the top too, so you'll have easy access to your gear at all times.

And it's weather protected and comfortable to carry, so you can focus fully on taking photos.

9. A Camera Strap To Free Up Their Hands

Using a camera strap can help an amateur photographer in many ways.

Firstly, it frees up their hands when they're not using their camera which is handy for a number of things.

While using the right strap can also distribute the weight of a heavy camera evenly and help you to avoid back, neck and shoulder pain.

And having your expensive camera attached to a strap means there's much less chance of dropping it or having someone snatch it out of your hands.

So, getting a photographer a new camera strap such as the Black Rapid Breathe Curve is a really good gift idea.

As this one is super high quality and has foam padding on the curved shoulder strap for comfort, an adjustable length, and an underarm stabiliser to keep it in place.

So, you can keep your camera safely, securely, and effortlessly by your hip until you're ready to use it. 

10. An External Hard Drive To Store Their Photos On

As you start to take more and more photos you will run into a problem ... where do you store them all?

Because you can quickly fill up the space on your laptops hard drive, especially if you're taking high megapixel images.

So, getting someone an external hard drive to store their photos on can make for a really useful gift for an amateur photographer.

As this way they can snap away to their hearts content and not have to be selective over which photos to keep.

And they can also use it to back up their files from their laptop, so there's no chance of losing important photos or images.

So, something like the LaCie rugged external hard drive will give them all the extra storage they could possibly need. 

11. An SD Card For More Memory On Their Camera

As well as storage space for saving photos you'll also need to have enough storage space on your camera to be able to last a whole days shooting.

Because there's nothing worse than running out of room on your camera to take new photos when you are inspired and in the flow.

So, a gift that can help an amateur photographer keep snapping away all day long is to get them an SD card to use when their camera's built-in memory fills up.

As by inserting one of these cards into the camera they will have more than enough space to store the photos they are taking.

And a good choice to go for is the Lexar Professional 64GB SD card.

As this can hold a massive 64GB of extra photos plus it allows you to transfer them super fast to your laptop or computer.  

12. Get Them A Spare Camera Battery

Every photographer will know the pain and frustration of a camera battery dying on them at the worst possible moment.

And whether that is while you are waiting for a sunset, in the middle of a wedding, or during a special occasion, this can be incredibly annoying.

As you are missing out on a great opportunity to take some great shots that might not come around again.

So, a thoughtful stocking stuffer gift idea for an amateur photographer is to give them a spare battery for their camera.

As this way they can always keep a fully charged battery in their pocket to use in times of emergency.

And never have to suffer the pain of the blinking red light of doom again!

13. Photo Editing Software

Taking great photos involves a mixture of photography knowledge and skills, understanding how to use your cameras settings correctly, and having the eye to spot a good photo opportunity.

However, no matter how good you get at photography you can always improve the overall quality of your photos by using photo editing software.

As among other things this allow you to enhance your images, adjust the lighting and focus, add effects, and crop and resize them to suit your vision.

And while free editing software is available online, the things you can do with it are limited and not very good.

So, most amateur photographers will end up investing in photo editing software that gives them more options and control over the final result.

With popular choices being Luminar 4 and Adobe Lightroom.

So, if you want to give someone a foot up in their photography journey then a subscription to one of these photo editing services is a nice gift idea.

14. A Color Photo Printer To Show Off Their Work

Once you've got your photos looking magnificent you'll want to share them with the world, and you can do this through social media, Instagram, or various photography groups online.

However, sometimes it's also great to be able to develop and print out your photos as well.

As you can then frame them and hang them around the home with pride or give them to friends and family as gifts.

Plus, the colours and tones of the images seem to pop more when you print them out rather than viewing them on a screen.

So, getting an amateur photographer their own photo printer will give them endless hours of enjoyment and usefulness.

And one that I'd recommend is the Canon Pixma Pro-100 color printer.

Because this allows you to print photos quickly and with vivid and accurate colours.

Plus, it's really good with black and white images too, giving you stunning prints that you'll be proud to show off to all and sundry.

15. A Book That Will Help Them Take Better Photos

16. A Subscription To A Photography Magazine

Another gift idea that can increase an amateur photographers knowledge and understanding is to buy them a subscription to a photography magazine.

Because this way they'll have something to read every week or month that can really help them improve.

As photography magazines are full or cool tips, tricks and techniques, as well as interviews with top photographers and reviews of the latest camera and accessories.

And you can find specific magazines that specialise in the many different aspects of photography.

But a couple of good general magazines that will prove useful for an amateur are Amateur Photographer and Digital Photographer.

So, why not treat a loved one to a years subscription of either of these and help fan the flames of their passion for photography even more.

17. A Fun Camera Lens Coffee Mug

If you want a fun little gift for an amateur photographer then how about this coffee mug designed to look like a camera lens?

As this looks really cool and makes for a great addition to any photographers kitchen or home studio.

And while it's designed for your morning coffee you can also use it for other things.

As it makes a perfect decorative vase that can hold pens on your desk or small flowers around your home too.

So, it's a wonderful little gift to give someone who loves photography and also loves coffee. 

18. An All-In-One Camera & Accessories Bundle

Our final gift idea for amateur photographers is one that covers all the bases.

And that is to get them a camera and accessories bundle such as the one above which includes a Canon Powershot G7 X camera.

And this is the perfect gift for anyone starting out with photography as it gives them all they need to get going.

So, along with the fantastic camera you'll also get:

So, they'll have no excuse not to get out there and start taking some fantastic photos when you give them this bundle as a gift for the holidays.

Rounding Up

Photography is a great hobby that is practiced by many people.

So, if you have a friend or loved one who is passionate about it then it can be a great idea to get them a photography related gift.

As this is something they'll love and get real use from.

And all the items I've given here will make great gifts for any amateur or hobbyist photographer that wants to get more out of the whole photographic experience.