Welcome, bold gift hunter, to the ultimate quest: finding a gift for that creative genius in your life—a filmmaker or photographer! If you’re here, chances are you’ve discovered the special challenge of shopping for someone who seemingly has it all (and somehow every item they still want costs a small fortune). I get it—my wife is right there with you. At this point, she skips the guessing games and just asks, ‘What do you want? And… here’s the budget.’ It might take some of the mystery out of it, but I get it!
So, in honor of all the spouses, friends, and family members who know this struggle, I put together a gift guide to make things a little easier (and, hopefully, a lot more fun).
Yes, we photographers and videographers always have a tool or gadget on our wishlist, but here’s the catch—not every gift has to be camera-related. Sometimes, we love a present that makes our creative lives easier or just more enjoyable. So, may your hunt be filled with good laughs, smart choices, and a wallet that makes it out intact.
Without further ado, let’s jump into some gift ideas, from budget-friendly picks to big-ticket splurges, and even a few non-camera gifts to keep things interesting!
Do you struggle with shopping for a creative?
Yes! They have everything!
Maybe! Why is everything so expensive?!
I'm something of an expert!
Help!
The Stocking Stuffers
Whether you’ve already covered the big stuff for your favorite creative and just need a few extra finishing touches, or you’re navigating a brand-new relationship and want to start with a thoughtful (yet budget-friendly) gift, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 3 wallet-friendly gift ideas perfect for the filmmaker or photographer in your life:
Smallrig Folding Tool Set ($30)
This pocket-sized lifesaver is a must-have for any job. It’s packed with essential tools that every photographer or filmmaker can use, like hex tools, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, and storage for extra screw bits.
I personally keep one in my kit and in my home because they’re also incredibly handy around the house!
Datacolor SpyderCHECKR 24 ($50)
If your creative is all about perfect color accuracy, this tool is a game-changer. A color card is essential for anyone who wants spot-on colors, especially in tough lighting.
Perfect for those who do brand or product work, this handy tool will keep their colors true and workflow smoother.
K&F Concept 2 in 1 Sling Bag ($40) While I’m usually on the road with a hard case, this sling bag is ideal for anyone who likes to travel light. It has just enough space for a camera, one or two lenses, and maybe even a drone! This compact bag makes it easy for your creative to take their essentials without the bulk!
These thoughtful, functional gifts won’t break the bank and are sure to be appreciated by your favorite creative!
Mid-Tier Madness
Things are getting serious, and you’re ready to blow your creative partner or friend away with a truly amazing gift! This is where the list starts to get really exciting—high-quality, impressive gear that won’t totally break the bank but is sure to make any creative’s heart skip a beat.
Here are my top 3 mid-tier gifts to wow the photographer or filmmaker in your life!
Amaran PT2C Tube Light ($150)
This one is more for my video friends (Don't worry photo buds, I got you too!) but this guy is a great addition to any filmmaker's kit. I'm a big fan of ecosystems. i.e. I want everything to be able to communicate with eachother via bluetooth or wi-fi. These lights accomplish that.
These lights are fully RGB and can be controlled directly via their Amaran app. They aren't extremely bright, so not ideal for photos, but they are plenty of light for video and make great accent lights for creating ambience. In this video I used them to accent the background, as well as fill some dark shadows.
GODOX AD200 Pro ($300)
Now this one is for my photo buds! Sticking to the same ecosystem, Godox is probably my favorite flash/strobe brand. They aren't the best in the industry, that title is reserved for brands like Profoto & Elinchrom (and the prices reflect that too), but for the price of their products, Godox is best in their class. The Godox AD200 Pro is a great light to keep in your kit, it can pretty much handle every lighting situation, outside of trying to overpower the sun.
It is worth mentioning, that at the time of writing this article, there is a newer version of this strobe for an additional $50, but I only wanted to include items on this list that I personally own or have used and can standby 100%. Just don't want anyone coming at me for not letting them know! If you would like to research the newest version, you can find it here.
Lastly, if this is their first Godox flash, then they will need to pair it with a trigger. Just know that the trigger has to be compatible to their camera brand (May be best to leave this part up to them, or throw in a $70-$90 gift card!
Logitech Creative Console ($200)
This one is super new (release in October 2024), and I don't own for myself yet, but from the bit of time I've played with it, I loved it! This little guy is great for anyone obsessed with having the most efficent workflow, but also enjoys new gadgets that are both cool and custimizable. It works for all of the Adobe Suite programs, and can be completely customized for a workflow most efficient for that special creative in your life.
One thing that I love about this device is that it should be an ever-growing piece of technology. With additional programs coming to support as they are added to the marketplace.
Hopefully my wife sees this article, just incase she is wondering what to get me for the holidays (hehe)!
They Call You "Big Spendin"!
Things are SERIOUS serious, and your're not afraid to spoil that special creative in your life. These next 3 are for you! These items may be considered expensive to some, but quite honestly, if any gifted me any of these. I would be over the moon! Seriously, any item from this next 3 is for sure a declaration of love!
Godox AD600Pro ($800)
I own a lot of lights, and if i'm ever leaving a house with a flash/strobe, 90% of the time, this is the one i have in tow! It is a true workhorse. It's powerful, reliable, and lasts all day through 2-3 different productions. It has a pretty great modeling lamp as well for when you need a light to help focus in darker conditions. It can work as a video light in a pinch too since it is daylight balance, but this is NOT a dedicated video light. This for the photo friends!
I must also give my disclaimer that there is a newer version of this item that was recently released. It's $100 more, and has some pretty nice upgrades, but like the AD200 Pro, I only want to speak on things that I own or have personally tried. But if you would like to look into the newest iteration, you can find it here.
Amaran 300c Video Light ($569) You might have noticed by now that there are a lot of lights on this list, and there's a reason for that! It's because us photographer/filmmakers could always use another light in our kit. Unless they have 10 of these in their kit already, I'm sure that they would be ecstatic for another one!
The Amaran 300c, is a fairly powerful light that is fully RGB, great for small to medium sized spaces. And just like the previous Amaran light on this list, it is fully controllable via their Amaran app. Just a little more insight on the Amaran app, you can actually create scenes, and groups in the app. So if your creative has multiple lights, they can control and automate multiple lights at a time. I love the efficiency of this!
I really wish Amaran made a more powerful version of this light to really complete my kit, but as it stands right now, if you want more power and still be able to use the same ecosystem of light, you would have to step up to Amaran's more premium brand, Aputure. The next step up, power wise, would be the Aputure's 600C. That one light would set your wallet back about $2,500. Which is quite the jump from $569. I'm just going to keep holding out hope for a Amaran 600C!
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo ($669)
This might be hands down my favorite thing on this list! Having this little camera, allows me to do my own BTS, capture all those precious moments of our newborn daughter, and create on the go without the need for all the extra pieces!
Some things that I love about this camera and why you should pick it up. It's super portable, records up to 4k120fps. It even has Log, for those creatives that like to create their own color grades. The microphone is wireless and connects effortlessly just by turning it on.
Biggest thing of all, it's super discrete. If you're like me and hate recording videos of yourself in front of people, no one ever asks what I'm doing when I have this little guy out recording!
Not Camera Related, But...Still Camera Related!
These last few items are some of my favorite non-camera related items that still make my life easier as a photographer and filmmaker! Some of these items I use for every shoot! So if that creative friend or partner doesn't have one of these items already, go ahead and help them out!
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM ($79)
There's a pretty good chance that most people already have a bluetooth speaker, but if they don't, here's a great option. Also, some people have pretty sad taste in speakers, and if that's the case, help them out!
There's nothing too groundbreaking about a bluetooth speaker, but one thing I will say that is pretty cool about this specific speaker is that you could pair two of them together to create a stereo pair. This comes in pretty handy if you need a speaker near camera and another near talent!
Collapsible Wagon Cart ($150) Having one of these wagons in your arsenal might be the biggest game changers there can be when it comes to transporting gear. To this day, I still thank my wife for this gift! I never knew how much I needed it until that very moment.
It's worth mentioning, out of all the items on this list, this is the only item on this list that isn't the exact version that I own. Simply because the version that I own is not available to purchase at the time. So definitely do your own independent research on wagons if you would like to consider picking one up.
Look for something that is sturdy, and has decent payload!
That's all folks
With the holidays right around the corner, having a list like this can prove to be very beneficial. Whatever lucky creative is awesome enough to receive one or multiple of these gifts, I promise that they're going to be some happy campers!
May your wallet brave the storm!
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