The 10 best photography gifts

Know someone who loves photography? Whether it’s their birthday, an important anniversary on the horizon, or Christmas is just around the corner, you may be searching for some unique present ideas.

From purely practical items to those that will give them some creative inspiration, here’s our round-up of the best photography gifts in the UK to buy this year.

1. A lens cleaning kit

Having dirt or smudges on your camera lenses is always a no-go. Why? Because it can easily turn a great photoshoot into a terrible one if the photos end up looking blurry. That’s where a good lens cleaning kit comes in—the ideal functional gift for any photographer.

You’ll find plenty of options online, but most feature a microfibre cloth, cleaning wipes, a dust brush and an air blower to help eliminate tiny, hard-to-reach dirt particles. We recommend the Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit, which comes in a handy compact carry case for easy storage.

2. Memory cards

Let’s face it—photographers can never own too many of these! Memory cards are always useful gifts to receive and you’ll have a range of options to pick between. Choose one with a higher speed (ideally 250 MB/s) and a capacity of over 64MB.

Why not pop the new memory card in a sleek memory card holder while you’re at it? These are made from hard or soft plastic and are great for storing memory cards safely before and after photoshoots.

3. An inspiring photography book

As well as looking fabulous on your loved one’s bookshelf or coffee table, a photography book could also be a brilliant source of inspiration for them. Find out what style of photography they tend to practice, whether portraits of people or landscapes and then choose a book to match.

Most bookshops will have a dedicated photography section for you to browse. Or why not do a quick search online for a specific kind of photography book? You could also choose a volume dedicated to composition photography, such as Richard Garvey-Williams’ Mastering Composition, which is full of amazing ideas on how to take beautiful photos that are pleasing to the naked eye.

4. A portable hard drive

One of the most annoying things that can happen on a photoshoot is running out of space on your memory cards. That’s where a portable hard drive can come in handy. They’re typically quite small and lightweight (similar to a portable phone charger), allowing photographers to instantly transfer images from their memory card.

A hard drive is also a must-have for backing up precious images, especially if you’re on a shoot somewhere remote or in bad weather where your camera is at greater risk of damage. You can even buy hard drives that are water-resistant and even shockproof. Plus, many weigh under 50 grams—making them amazing gifts for photographers who like to pack light.

5. A flashlight

Some of the best landscape photography locations are in the UK’s most remote locations—and they’re particularly popular with photographers who like to shoot at night, dawn or sunset. Know someone who fits into this category? A really useful bit of kit to gift them is a good-quality flashlight.

Photographers also often find them handy for creating cool effects and using the light to help navigate in the dark. They can be used to spotlight something (such as an owl in a tree) or to illuminate the sky when snapping photos of stars or the Milky Way.

6. A pair of binoculars

Nature photographers, in particular, will love this gift idea! A high-quality pair of binoculars can be very useful when spotting wildlife to photograph in the great outdoors—whether that’s birds flying across the sky at sunset or larger mammals prowling the desert on a safari.

It’s possible to purchase some pretty lightweight binoculars, too. This includes the Nikon PROSTAFF P7 binoculars, which allow the user to see plenty of detail in varying light conditions.

7. A fun lens mug

Consider a lens mug for a novelty photography gift that can be used every day (and not just on shoots!). They look like real camera lenses from the outside, complete with autofocus switches and even branded detailing to match the recipient’s real camera.

On the inside though, they’re purely for filling up with your loved ones’ favourite brew. Some lens mugs even come with lids, meaning they can double up as a travel mug when going on photoshoots.

8. A compact tripod

Tripods are a vital bit of kit for most photographers—and having a smaller, more portable option can be particularly useful for shoots outdoors. They’re useful for stabilising a camera and preventing blurring from shaky hands. Plus, you can use a tripod to elevate your camera if you have a particular composition in mind.

A compact Gorilla Pod tripod is a great all-rounder for beginners and experienced photographers. They’re typically inexpensive and have an amazing flexible design, allowing photographers to effortlessly adapt their camera’s height and even wrap them around things such as railings, rocks or small trees.

9. A few reflectors

Reflectors are another must-have for shoots. They’re essentially pieces of fabric stretched onto a frame to reflect or redirect light in a specific direction. You can get them in various colours to suit different light scenarios—from white reflectors that create a more natural glow to silver reflectors that add extra brightness.

Buying a selection of reflectors is a thoughtful photography gift idea that will go down well with portrait and landscape photographers.

10. Specialist photography insurance through Ripe

Alongside the above suggestions, you may want to gift the photographer in your life with specialist photography insurance.

At Ripe, you can cover up to £60k of equipment for theft and accidental damage so that your special someone can enjoy their shoots with peace of mind. Learn how we can help here and get an online quote today.