Columnist Lauren Bacho discusses what gifts every photographer needs this holiday season.
As Christmas, or whatever December holiday you celebrate, draws closer, it’s time to start making that list of things you want people to buy you. Something easy to put on that list, for all those parents who don’t know much camera jargon, are memory cards! Ask for some 64GB SD and CF cards sprinkled in your stocking. Those things aren’t cheap, and you could always use more memory cards. Then if you don’t already have one, ask for a CF card reader. You’ll be able to import your photos a lot faster this way instead of having to connect your camera through a cord. Maybe a memory card holder as well? Just some more unnecessary things to carry around.
Now, of course, you’re going to need a camera bag to put all of your nonsense in. I suggest Lowepro, only because that’s what I use. I’m sure there are plenty of other reliable bags out there, but that’s your job to do some research on those.
Some other smaller things to put on your list are remotes and, for those Canon users like myself, wireless flash triggers. Those are great for taking portraits and for other photo shenanigans you might get involved in.
Maybe if you’re feeling really wild you could ask for a polaroid camera. It’s fun to play with a different medium. Plus, having a polaroid is always a fun party trick. Or you could ask for some iPhone lenses to wow your friends with that unnecessary piece of equipment. They’re super sweet and lightweight, perfect for your on-the-go activities.
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You could also ask for a GoPro. The new HERO4 shoots in 4K and has a fancy touch screen on it. If you want to start to get into video, this is really the piece of equipment to add to your collection. If your parents are cheap, all of the earlier versions of the GoPro work just as well, they just don’t shoot as high of quality video.
For the starting out photographer, why not ask for a basic DSLR for Christmas to really kick off your photo career. The Canon Rebels are great starter cameras, as well as the Nikon D3000 series. Personally, I shoot Canon, but there’s really not much difference between the two camera brands. It's really up to you and what you prefer. If you already have a crop body and are looking to upgrade to a full frame, I suggest the Canon 5D Mark iii or the Nikon D7200. Those are both great full frames and your images will improve dramatically.
You should also convince your parents to buy you an Adobe Creative Cloud membership so you can have Photoshop, Bridge, Lightroom, InDesign and all the other great Adobe products. This is super not cheap and is definitely something you want your parents to pay for monthly.
Lastly, it’s always nice to add some photo books to your library. I like the surprise at Christmas so I just say “photo books” and see what my parents come up with.
Lauren Bacho is a sophomore studying photojournalism and a photo editor for The Post. Do you have other photo gear you’re hoping to get for the holidays? Tweet her @Visual_Bacho or email her at lb986213@ohio.edu.
