Holiday Gift Guide for the Landscape Photographer!

The holiday season has arrived, and everyone is searching for that perfect gift! Photographers are always fun to buy for because, yes, we love expensive bodies and glass, and these types of gifts will make us scream with glee, but we're also just as content to receive little gadgets, techy things and other items that help us capture that perfect image. 

This week I'm sharing a few gift ideas, in no particular order, all of which happen to be some of my favourite landscape photographer things that are both budget-friendly and practical!   

1. PhotoPills 

The Photopills app is AMAZING! There is not a single landscape photography outing I make without using this app in some manner. This app is extremely beneficial to the landscape photographer, and I highly recommend using it to plan and execute landscape images! 

2. Pixel Pro Wireless Shutter Remote Control

I've tried several different brands of shutter remotes, and my Pixel Pro wireless shutter remote control has outlasted the rest. I like this remote shutter control because I can use it wirelessly or as wired. If the wire attachment breaks, which they often do, I only need to replace that instead of purchasing a whole new remote and transceiver. This remote is my first choice for shutter releases and has helped me create some of my favourite long exposures, landscape images at night and time-lapses.  

3. Think Tank Memory Card Holder and Think Tank Camera Battery Holder

Think Tank makes some incredible products for the landscape photographer, and their memory card and battery holder are no exception. I don't know about you, but my camera bag is stuffed, and nothing annoys me more than digging around trying to locate something. I want to find what I need fast, especially when light is changing quickly in the field.

Finding those smaller items like memory cards and batteries can be a challenge if they are left to run around loose inside my camera bag. These products from Think Tank help me stay organized and protect my memory cards and camera batteries from dirt and damage. 

4. Backblaze

It's not a question of if your hard drive will fail but when. I think online backup is mandatory for all photographers. I love and highly recommend Backblaze as your choice in an online backup provider. This service is easy to install, and after the initial setup is a set-it-and-forget-it backup system. Backblaze runs automatically in the background of my computer, constantly backing up my newest files. If something happens to one of my hard drives, I can quickly recover my data and memories. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, the peace of mind this online backup service gives me is truly priceless. A subscription to these services is something any photographer will treasure! 

5. F-Stop Camera Bags

Every photographer will agree that the ideal camera bag is almost as necessary as the perfect camera. I've tried numerous camera bags. I agree that different camera bags are needed depending on the activity, but my favourite brand for a camera bag for my style of photography is f-stop.

What I love about these bags is the user-friendly design, durability and ICUs. These bags are well designed, and equipment is easily stored and accessed. There are small zippers and pockets for essential photography gear and larger pockets for tripods and hiking poles. I've climbed many mountains with my f-stop Guru. This bag has been through it all, from heat to downpours and through snowstorms. It washes up well and, even with years of abuse, has no rips or tears. As an added purchase, but worth it, are the ICUs (internal camera units). These units fit perfectly into my f-stop camera bag and add additional protection for my camera gear. They also offer a storage option for my equipment when my gear is not stowed in my camera bag. I also like that these ICUs can transition to my bike saddlebags and other bags when needed, all the while protecting my camera gear. 

6. Lululemon Multi-Pocket Belt Bag

A friend of mine gifted me a lululemon belt bag a couple of Christmas' ago, and it's across my body on every landscape outing. I store my wireless shutter remote, my neutral density filters and holder, microfiber cleaning cloths, and an extra camera battery inside my belt bag. There's also a small zipper for money, a credit card and chapstick. Having these items strapped crossbody is essential and valuable when I'm immersed in a landscape scene. 

7. Audible Membership

One of my favourite pastimes is reading, but I don't have time to sit and enjoy a book because I'm engaged in busy mom responsibilities when I'm not working. With Audible audiobooks, I can get the latest psychological thriller fix when I'm running around the house completing chores like making dinner and folding laundry and during drives out into the mountains during landscape photography outings. 

With endless book titles to choose from, this membership is a perfect gift for the photographer on the go!

8. Cream of Earl Grey Organic from David's Tea 

Black tea, vanilla and a hint of bergamot are some seriously good stuff inside this Cream of Earl Grey! This tea is a staple for me, and you'll often find me with a cup in my hand. When I'm out in-field capturing images or sitting at my computer during post-processing, it's my favourite comfort drink. 

9. The Heat Company

If you live in a cold-weather climate, you'll agree that good gloves are mandatory. The heat layer system from The Heat Company is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast landscape photographer. These gloves feature tops and thumbs that fold back for easy access to camera buttons and dials, pockets for chemical hand warmers, and quality materials that keep your hands warm and dry even in the coldest of temperatures. What I also love about these gloves is the multi-layer. I don't always need a thicker glove, and when I don't, I can remove the outer glove yet still keep my fingers covered and protected from winter elements. These are, in my opinion, the best cold weather gloves out there and worth the investment. 

10. Tubbs

I love my Tubbs wilderness snowshoes. Snow in the Canadian Rockies can be plentiful, and these snowshoes help me get to locations that would otherwise be near impossible to reach during the winter months. These snowshoes are easy to strap on, stay put and keep me afloat, even with my heavy camera bag, so I can venture out and find that perfect winter composition! 

11. Captivated by the Rockies

Captivated by the Rockies, ladies-only landscape photography retreats are an incredible place to learn landscape photography and fine-tune the skills you already have in person! Held from Banff, Alberta, Canada, you'll give yourself an opportunity to photograph world-class mountains while laughing and sharing friendships with other women photographers. These experiences are life-changing and so much fun!  

^{ISO 1250, 14mm, f2.8, 20SS}

Happy holiday gifting landscape photographer! 

P.S. feel free to forward this post to your loved one for holiday gift ideas!