Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Photography & Camera Lovers

This updated 2023 Holiday Gift Guide is my modern-day take on gifts for the fashion-friendly folks looking to embrace photography in their everyday lives.

10 Camera-Themed Gifts for Photo Fans

From photography apps to books and, naturally, cameras, I’ve included some of the coolest things I’ve discovered this year that relate to photography. Have a suggestion or tip? Be sure to leave it in the comments!

1. Mobile Photo Printing

I discovered this photo app a few months ago and tried it out by printing a few fake polaroids. The app is really easy to use and the quality of the photos (glossy, square format) are really nice. You can print messages on them and have them delivered as gifts, but I’ve kept my prints for myself to hang on my wall.

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2. Wearable Cameras

Guys, this camera seems like it is so, so cool! Essentially you clip it on or wear it, then you go out explorin’ & adventurin’ and it’ll automatically take photos throughout the day. There are sensors & such to keep it from sharing too much, but it looks to be an awesome way to capture a trip.

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3. Lens-Style Cameras

SONY QX10
Buy it: From $248 | More info | Review

This camera is great for street-style photographers looking to take covert photos and share them wirelessly. It’s addictive to use and a lot of fun to play with if you sync it up to your mobile phone. Picture quality is good and it’ll definitely make your friends jealous. I use this new camera myself because it’s small, lightweight and user-friendly.

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4. Photography How-To Books

I received one of these books as a birthday gift & I’ve enjoyed flipping through it, using it as a photography guide to enhance skills. They’re simple, but that works perfectly for people like myself who are often easily distracted. After reading, I just want to get out and shoot more photos!

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5. Stylish Camera Bags

The absolute worst part about carrying around a digital SLR camera is having to deal with packing. Thankfully I discovered these beautiful camera bags which don’t look so obvious and still maintain the sense of style I want to keep when traveling.

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6. A Better Phone Plan

iPHONE from AT&T

If there’s a camera I use more than any other, it’s without a doubt my iPhone. I travel with my iPhone4, but the newest models are definitely on my wish list. The camera quality on the iPhone is one of the best and it only keeps getting better. Also: it’s probably my favorite camera.

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7. Vintage Cameras

POLAROID
Buy it: From $119 / (or buy used) | More info

I’ve got a few old Polaroid cameras and they’re probably the most fun cameras I’ve got. The film can be expensive, though, so I rarely travel with them. Instead I keep it around my house and take it out for parties. You can find old Polaroids in most flea markets these days, but as time goes on, they’re getting more and more expensive. Buy sooner rather than later!

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8. Coffee Table Photography Books

HUMANS OF NEW YORK
Buy it: From $17.99 | More info

Since my interest in photography has grown, so has my interest in photo blogs. If you’re not familiar with this blog, get on it! Brandon’s photos come with strangers’ stories. It’s a beautiful glimpse into daily NY life and the book does a great job of capturing that same essence from the blog.

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9. Mirrorless Cameras

OLYMPUS PEN
Buy it: From $399 | More info

Last month in London I had the chance to hang out with fashion photographer Jay McLaughlin at an Olympus event. He kindly xplained why he shoots with Olympus cameras and then I had the chance to play with the entire collection. My favorite was the retro-looking Olympus PEN E-P5 which looks like an old film camera but actually takes beautiful digital shots. This is the camera on my list for Santa!

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10. Hipster Photography T-shirts

I’m a sucker for cool t-shirts and the California design agency Kneadle never disappoints (you might remember my Httpster t-shirt from last year). One of their new designs, Once is a Mistake, Twice is a Style, made me think of the way I’m treating photography this year. It’s important to experiment, to break the rules and to have fun while doing it. Now I can look good while photographing, too.