Holiday gift guide 2025
If you’re shopping for a photographer this holiday season — or you’re a photographer dropping hints — this year’s gear lineup has some entertaining, helpful, and creativity-boosting tools. I pulled together my favorite fresh gadgets that photographers are actually excited about right now.
Whether your favorite photographer loves capturing flowers, landscapes, or family moments at home, you’ll find something here that instantly elevates their work (and makes them smile when they unwrap it).
Let’s dive in!
Books!
I love to get inspiration from others and to giVE books. They are gifts that last and can be re-read and reviewed
Still, the Art of Noticing, by Mary Jo Hoffman, is one of my all-time favorites for any artist, photographer, or nature lover. It is one-of-a-kind and stunning!
Hold Still, Sally Mann, This National Book Award finalist is a revealing and beautifully written memoir and family history from acclaimed photographer Sally Mann.
In this groundbreaking book, a unique interplay of narrative and image, Mann's preoccupation with family, race, mortality, and the storied landscape of the American South is revealed as almost genetically predetermined, written into her DNA by the family history that precedes her.David Hockney, published in association with the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, to coincide with their major 2025 David Hockney exhibition, this vivid book charts the life and work of one of Britain’s most popular and significant artists. This large-format book offers a visually engaging and detailed journey through Hockney’s remarkable life and career.
Hockney is one of my favorite artists, and I find so much inspiration in his work, the use of color and textures. I know you or a photo friend would love to read his story and find photo inspiration!
The Hidden Life of Trees, Illustrated - Yes, it is on Oprah’s list, but it is stunning! A visually stunning journey into the diversity and wonders of forests. In his international bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben opened readers’ eyes to the amazing processes at work in forests every day. Now this new, breathtakingly illustrated edition brings those wonders to life like never before.
MOMENTS that MATTER the MOST
Photo book for your personal images and memories - a perfect gift for someone traveling or having a big life event!
Nothing better than printing images and putting them together to share your personal story! A beautiful table top display.
Benro Theta Auto-Leveling Travel Tripod
Theta is a highly innovative product that combines portability, stability, efficiency and intelligence. Theta offers the same stability a regular tripod does, but with many extras to assist photographers in taking the perfect shot with ease. From rapid leg deployment and automatic leveling, to remote camera control, automatic exposure adjustment, and livestreaming - Theta is designed to elevate your photographic journey. Innovative Modules are excluded from the tripod standard pack.
🔗 https://www.benro.com/en/product/benro-theta.html
The latest tripod everyone is talking about. The Theta automatically levels itself — a total game-changer for shooting outdoors on uneven ground.
A lot of fun features
Hobolite: 2 Products
Mini LED (Bi-Color)
Harlowe Sol 5 Bi-Color Mobile Light for MagSafe
A beautifully designed, portable LED light that adds depth and glow to indoor macro scenes or styled garden flat-lays. The Mag Light perfect for mobile users.
🔗 https://www.harlowe.com/collections/product-photography-lighting
Mini LED Light
Love the full kit with gel color filters for added creativity. A great light for all kinds of scenes and uses! Weather-resistant too! Snowflakes here we come!
MagSafe attached light for cell phone users! Great for product, macro, or content creation!
Urth Magnetic Essentials Filter Kit Plus+
Magnetic ND, CPL, and UV filters that snap on in seconds — no more fumbling with thread rings. The Urth Magnetic Essentials Filter Kit Plus offers the same professional versatility — UV, CPL, ND8, and ND1000 filters — with the speed and ease of our magnetic mount system. Quickly swap filters to adapt to changing light while maintaining flawless optical performance and colour accuracy.
🔗 https://urth.co/products/the-magnetic-essentials-filter-kit-plus
Take your images to the next level! Avoid harsh light, smooth water, and clouds! Love using filters for creative techniques too.
Take a photo workshop or Course
Santa Fe Workshops: All types of photography and editing courses. Both in person and online. They are the premier photography education program. A bucket list gift item!
Into the Wild We Go: The best workshops of all types focused on ladies only, from wildlife adventures, historic gardens, and national parks. There is something for everyone!
Platypod eXtreme Ground Tripod
Ultra-low camera placement for shooting at ground level — mushrooms, blooms, textures, and more. The Platypod Delta is a revolutionary new tripod system that is lightweight, compact, and incredibly versatile. It is made of high-quality metals and features a unique three-legged design that allows it to be used on a variety of surfaces, from flat ground to uneven terrain. Think of Delta as your incredibly compact tripod legs. Just add a tripod head or phone mount to angle or position your equipment any way you like.
🔗 https://www.platypod.com/products/platypod-delta
Peak Design Slide Lite Strap
Soft, comfortable, and adjustable in seconds. Every photographer appreciates a great strap.
🔗 https://www.peakdesign.com/products/slide-lite
Peak products are my favorites! I have used them for over 6 years. This is by far the best, longest-lasting, and easiest to use camera strap! A great stocking stuffer!
Rogue Diffusers
A flexible diffuser in silver for macro and portrait work. Maybe not the “coolest” holiday gift, but this one is really nice and works great for softening the light.
🔗 https://www.rogueflash.com/collections/collapsible-reflectors
Wrapping Up
This year’s photography gadgets lean toward creativity, portability, and easier shooting — exactly what most photographers want. If you’re putting together your own wishlist or you’re shopping for a photographer in your life, any of these gifts will be a hit.
