As far as equipment goes, people have their own preferences but there are a few things that all photographers most likely will appreciate.
Books or Magazine Subscriptions:
If your friend is a fan of Photoshop, you can’t go wrong with a subscription to the magazine of NAPP (National Association of Photoshop professionals). Otherwise, Nature Photographer, Outdoor Photographer or digital photo books about a particular artist might be a good idea.
Cases and Bags:
As a photographer you need at least one bag, preferably two. Try Crumpler, Lowepro, Kata, Think Tank or Boda, where you can find special lens bags. Perfect for photographers who change lenses often and need easy access. A good DSLR camera bag costs from $75, a point-and-shoot bag between $15-100.
Shoulder/neck strap:
A comfortable shoulder/neck strap is particularly important if you are out for a longer time period and have a larger camera.
Tripod:
One great tripod for tavel is Joby’s Gorilla Pod. Larger cameras need a better and more expensive travel tripod.
Printer:
The price range for printers vary a lot, depending on what quality you’d like. If your friend already has a printer, why not buy more ink? That’s always in demand.
Software:
The most popular editing softwares are Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
Lenses:
If the photographer already owns a DSLR (a digital SLR), lenses are a great buy. A mid-range lens, around 28-135mm, is a good start. Most people use 50mm. Otherwise, consider purchasing a telescope lens, or a wide-angle lens which is great for travel photography.
The maximum length depends on what type of photographing your friend does. For example, sports- and wildlife photographers will want a longer lens than someone who only does portraits.
For a fun option, try Lensbaby. They bring one area of your photo into sharp focus, and surround the spot by gradually increasing blur. By bending your lens you can move the Sweet Spot to any part of your photo. Very convenient.
Flash:
What external flashes to use depends on the camera. Make sure to ask someone at the store, so you choose the right one. If your friend already has an external flash you might want to buy a flash bracket, which gives a nice angle of light by moving the flash up and away from the camera body. Another good flash accessory is the diffuser, which softens harsh flash light. Try Garo Fong’s Light Sphere for $50. A Pop-Up Flash diffuser can be found at PUFFER – Pop-Up Flash Diffuser.
Batteries:
Extra batteries are always useful. Just remember to buy the right kind.
Memory cards:
Memory cards will always be appreciated, even if you don’t buy the latest item. If you do want the best on the market, check out Eye-Fi, a 2 Gig WiFi card that acts as a memory chip and uploads images directly to your computer without the need of any cords or cables. You can get it for $99.99 at http://eye.fi/ This card can also upload images (JPEG only) to various photo sites.
Blank CDs and DVDs:
Apparently all normal CDs and DVDs have a life expectancy of about 10 years. To stay on the safe side, opt for Verbatim or Delkin that specialize in CDs and DVDs that last much longer.
Image storage:
Some travel photographers like to use small, portable hard drives. Hyper Drive is one of the better since it runs solely on battery power. Expect to pay $279-$459 at Hyperdrive.com
Apart from these suggestions, you can always DIY and frame a photo or do a nice collage with different pictures. All photographers appreciate beautiful images.
Possibly related posts:
I’m e-mailing this post to my friends and family :^)
Lens filters of different varieties (color, etc.) are great for SLRers.
Great tips! I am about to play around with a digital SLR today! Thanks for sharing!
@Wendy, Great idea! I’m gonna do the same
@foxnomad, I’m glad you brought that up because it reminded me that I need to invest in some lens filters.
@Eunice, You’re welcome! Glad you liked my tips.
And who want to give me this gifts for my brithday