Whether you're a procrastinator, who's left their Christmas shopping until December 24th, or the person who buys everyone's Christmas gifts months before Santa comes, you probably have someone in your life who loves photos. They might be a hobbyist photographer, a teen who is constantly taking selfies, or a grandparent who is constantly pushing their camera in your face at every family vacation. Regardless, there are thousands of gifts for photo lovers out there and it can be overwhelming to sift through and find the best ones. So I've done the hard work for you and compiled a list of the Best Gifts for the photographer in your life! Now I want to point out that I am not endorsing these products, nor am I paid to put them in my article. As a professional photographer myself, I simply think these gifts are really cool! The Selfie addictYou know that friend who is always pulling her phone out to take a selfie, then complaining about never having good light when you need it? Well maybe it's time to bring the light to her with an illuminating iPhone case! This Wellerly LED illuminated selfie case can be found on Amazon for about $17 (at the time I'm writing this) and comes with free two day delivery for Prime members. Not digging the light-up selfie case? Check out these other selfie gifts: - Selfie stick + tripod + wireless remote all in one | $22 - Selfie Ring Light | $13 - Mobile Photo Printer from Polaroid | $110 The Phone PhotographerWhether they love taking landscape shots or photos of their kids, we've all got that friend or family member who is always taking photos with their phone. For Christmas, why not get them something that will really make their photos stand out? These attachable lenses turn your phone's boring old camera into something spectacular with easily interchangeable lenses from fisheye, to macro, to telephoto. The best part is, they work with most smart phones! Olloclips' essential lenses range from $45 - $60. Check out Olloclips lenses here. You can also find them on Amazon! Want something more? Check out these other great gifts! - DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Foldable Gimble for smartphones | $120 - Flexible tripod for smart phones | $25 The Hobbyist photographerThere are a ton of hobbyist photographers out there, and chances are you have one in your family. They're the ones with a DSLR camera attached to their hip (or neck) and bring it to every family vacation without fail. You want to get them something thoughtful to show that you notice their love for photography, but don't know where to start. Don't worry, I've got you covered! Try this advanced Cleaning Kit from Walmart for $30, or this personalized leather neck strap for $75! Want some other options? Try these out! Camera Lens coffee thermos | $13 Don't Be Negative t-shirt | $17 The traveling PhotographerAs a photographer, it's hard to travel safely with all of your expensive gear. Multiple lenses, camera bodies, speedlights, batteries, etc. Keeping track of it all is one thing, not to mention making sure your $2,000 lens doesn't get cracked. I'm getting anxious just thinking about it! So why not get your travel photog something they'll appreciate and use, like this padded Backpack from B&H Photo for $117. With padded dividers to keep their camera body from hitting their lenses, this Christmas gift is practical and cool looking. Looking for something else? How about these: Ona Brixton Leather Messenger Bag | $460 Instax Mini Case for Instax camera | $20 World Adapter for Charging | $20 the vintage camera loverVintage film cameras are making a come back and have gained popularity in recent years. With the resurgence of film, finding a techy gift for your film-lover has never been easier. Like this smartphone film scanner from Amazon for around $65. Looking for another Christmas gift? What about these? Wooden Camera Pencil Holder | $13 Kurt Adler Camera Christmas Tree Ornaments | $22 The Creative PhotographerSome call them artsy-fartsy, some call them boundary breakers, but I call them creatives. They are the people who look at the world in a different way and have an eye for outside of the box images. If you've got someone in your life like that, I have the perfect Christmas gift for your creative photo genius! This Glass lensball will turn their photos upside down, literally. This one can be found on Amazon for about $14. the aspiring photographerKnow someone who loves photography and wants to learn to use their DSLR to its fullest potential? They need a no-fluff, straight-to-the-point course with educational videos and guides that provide easy, step-by-step information so they can take high-quality photos confidently and turn their visions into reality. Soon I'll be releasing a self-paced course that covers over 120 photography related topics! Everything from the basics to advanced editing and techniques. Here's a sneak peek of the classes inside the course: - What lens should I use for landscape photography? - How do I photograph the milky way? - What is aperture? - How do I capture the best photos of my family on vacation? - Compositing images in Photoshop - How to take the best photos with your smart phone- How to take the best photos of the canyon with your DSLR - What is the best lens to use in the Antelope slot canyons? - What is the best DSLR? - Lenses 101 - Crop sensor vs. full frame - Shooting in full manual mode - How to travel with your camera safely - Neck strap vs. clips vs. holsters - How to take steady photos in the canyon without a tripod - 105+ more topics inside the course! Be the first to know when this course opens for enrollment! Put your name on the list below:
17 Comments
Bri's Senior VIP Experience photoshoot took place at Eastlake in Thornton, CO on a day with lots of different weather (typical Colorado). There was a slow moving storm coming from the Northwest, so her shoot started off sunny, then got cloudy, and by the time we were leaving, it started to rain. All of which we used to our advantage! Bri is a Senior at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada and just so happens to be a member of our Senior Model Rep Team! She is passionate about tennis, often serving back and forth with her sister, and loves Freebird boots (I can't blame her, they're so cool!). Bri's shoot started out with the sun shining, providing us with gorgeous light. P.S. Doesn't Bri have the best smile?! It then got a little cloudy on us. Luckily, cloudy weather also provides great light! Check out those Freebird boots! They go with her dress perfectly! Can we just take a minute to talk about those eyes! They're stunning! The storm rolling in happened to match her blue dress perfectly! This is the photograph she printed as an Acrylic Print and hung on her living room wall. Bri's outfits were on point! This one was her favorite, and I can see why! It's so unique with its different colors and patterns. As the storm was passing overhead, Colorado decided to give us a beautiful sunset to end a beautiful photoshoot. Thank you Bri, for being just a wonderful, genuine person! Interested in working with Sarah? Start the conversation here.
When I walked into Riley's home for her Design & Wardrobe appointment, I could immediately tell she was an exceptional girl. Riley and her mom gave me a big hug, welcomed me, and we sat down to start her appointment - but not before she opened a little gift from me. You see, Riley is a swimmer, but not just a swimmer, she is an amazing swimmer and swimming is her life. She is in the pool multiple times per day and is a self-proclaimed "chlorine head". So when I saw a cute swimming necklace with her school colors, I just had to get it for her! Once we went through her Design & Wardrobe appointment: designed her shoot, decided where to hang her senior photo once printed, chose her outfits, and said our goodbyes, I was so excited for Riley's shoot. I could hardly wait the couple of weeks until then! We had decided to shoot at Davidson Mesa, which boasts views of the Boulder Flatirons, sweeping fields, and more. All we needed to do was hope for good weather! The day of her shoot, Riley got the Senior VIP Experience, complete with hair and makeup professionally done by our talented makeup artist, Jessica. We then headed off to Davidson Mesa for her Senior photo shoot. The weather was perfect, only a few clouds in the sky, and the temperature was just right. We started off Riley's Denver Senior pictures in an adorable casual outfit, complete with ripped jeans and a cute top. And let me tell you, the second Riley got in front of my camera, she lit up and was so natural, all I basically had to do was click the shutter and she did her thing! She was a pro! Watch the Behind the Scenes Video of Riley's DEnver Senior Photo ShootAfter her Denver Senior portrait shoot was over, I got to work culling her photographs. It was so hard to choose the best ones because they were all so good! But eventually I selected the best-of-the-best to show her family and prepared for Riley's Viewing & Ordering appointment. As a gift to my clients this year, they get video books that play a video of their Denver Senior VIP Experience so they can remember how much fun they had during their Senior photo shoot. Well, when Riley's mom opened the book and watched her daughter's video, the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Being such an emotional time - your baby girl's last year of high school and last year at home - I totally understand when the waterworks start. I get emotional watching the videos and it's not even my daughter! After the video was over, we watched a slideshow of Riley's photographs and chose which photo they wanted to display on the wall so her mom could see her everyday once Riley's gone to college. They also decided they couldn't live without her other images and purchased all of Riley's digital files. Once I got back to my office, I ordered her Acrylic Print, and waited anxiously for it to be delivered (I get sooo excited to see my clients' photographs printed!). Riley's Acrylic Print finally came and I opened it with enthusiasm - it was going to fit perfectly in their home! We scheduled a time for me to deliver her print, and when her family unwrapped their new artwork, their eyes lit up and out came the Ooo's and Aahh's. They were so excited to hang it in their home! That is my favorite part of being a professional Denver Senior photographer. Seeing how much my clients' adore their printed photographs - whether hanging in their home on in an album on their coffee table - it's so rewarding to give my clients an experience they won't get anywhere else. Check out Riley's slideshow to see all of her Senior portraits: Interested in a shoot with Sarah? Start the conversation!
As part of our Model Rep Team, the girls get to participate in fun monthly workshops, get-togethers, and photoshoots. These range from manicure nights to self-defense classes to learning from a professional makeup artist. One of the photoshoots this year was a modeling workshop where the girls learn about the modeling industry and posing technique from a professional model. After the workshop, they get to put on designer clothes from local Colorado designers and practice what they learned. This year, our workshop was taught by the gorgeous model, Alicia Myers of nxt|MODEL modeling agency, and the clothes were from Electric Bubblegum of Denver, CO. Unfortunately the other Model Rep Team Member got sick and couldn't make it, but Yazzmine didn't let that stop her from rocking her shoot and holding her own next to Alicia! We chose Electric Bubblegum as our designer this year because of her playful clothing made of clear vinyl and liquid glitter. It definitely brings you back to the 90s when glitter gel and Lisa Frank were all the rage! Yazzmine did an amazing job showcasing Electric Bubblegum's clothing and accessories, including backpacks, clutches, and earrings. As a Senior Model Rep Team Member, she even got to keep her earrings! As if we didn't have enough, we decided to add some extra glitter to Yazzmine's makeup. I don't know about you, but I really want this rain jacket! I mean, how can you go wrong with pink and glitter!?
If you think this looks like fun and want to be a part of our team next year, send an email to [email protected] and let us know! We'll put you on the interest list! *Please include your full name, high school, graduation year, and why you'd like to be on the SLP Senior Model Rep Team. |