Gifts for the Photographer in your life.

I saw some Polaroid notecards in Books-A-Million (or BAM! as Garrett calls it) and thought about how that would be something fun to have, but not the kind of thing I'd buy myself. I'm crazy about lists, and you probably are too, so here are a few fun photo-related gift ideas. If you are looking for something practical, ask yourself why. 

1. Leica Look-A-like iphone skin

$13 at the Petapixel Store. Found via twitter (@abryanphoto) on Katie Armour's blog

2. Lens Look-a-like coffee mugs

We certainly love when things resemble our gear. Because we most certainly want more. Always. 

We want to drink from it. Sleep on it. Keep it in our nests. Just make sure you know if they are Nikon or Canon. 

(Just so you can be a better judge of my character,  I'm Nikon.)

$36-55 on Cupshop.com, and they come in the 24-105mm for Canon, 24-70 for Nikon, and the 70-200 for both. 

$24 for the 24-105 Canon at Photojojo

3. Polaroid notecards

Pretty sure these are the ones I saw at BAM! $14.95 for 20 cards at Chronicle Books

4. Camera arm extender for the person who always looks like they are in a myspace photo.

You'd definitely want to limit this to your point and shoot for weight, but especially when you are a tourist in another country anyway, you can't look that silly with a camera extender.

You can find The Collapsible Camera Extender for $24.95 at the Photojojo Store

5. The Zumi Digital Camera

I don't shoot any video currently, but I definitely would with a zumi, they create some pretty hip 8mm style videos
 The Zumi Digital (2.0) is available for $190 at the Photojojo Store


6. Miniature Camera Replica with interchangeable lenses, $28

They seem to only have Canon, but the dinosaur with the camera is still amazing. Of course Photojojo is taking over this list, they tend to have really clever and inexplicably desirable goods. I do disagree with their idea of gifting a friend a tiny replica of the really expensive zoom lens they've been lusting after. That's just cruel.

7. A Lensbaby, $270

These attach to a digital camera for an awesome and fun tilt shift effect. I recommend the composer (I've played with one but don't own one. yet.)

8. Playmobil Wedding Photographer (with flower girl and ring bearer)

From the ridiculous Wedding Pavillion set that Playmobil has out now I saw this little gem at the local toystore. And even though I'm not a man in vest and khakis, I simply must have this set. They even have a wedding piano player. So clearly if you are getting married this year you need to thank everyone involved with a playmobil version of themselves.

$10.99 at ToysRUs.

You can also apparently buy Barbie as a baby photographer or her friend Becky as a school photographer. I really can't think of anything to say about that, I'll let you form your own opinions.

9.  Coby 1.5 inch Digital Photo Keychain $9-15 or the Tao Digital Photo Keychain ($10)

I am including this because it amuses me and it's too cheap not to want to buy it, take it with me to "networking events", for example,  and when I'm asked what I do, I'll pull out my keychain portfolio and smile. Who needs an ipad?

10. Camera tie tack, $10 (with mention of matching cufflinks) on etsy.

They also have these lego video camera cufflinks that I approve of for $19.99.

Have you seen an awesome photo gift that I don't have listed? I'd love to add more to the list so feel free to share!

First Anniversary Gifts for the Menfolk

Hello there. I apologize profusely for my absence, fortunately I have had a very busy wedding season with my photography business and unfortunately am now playing the most intense game of catch up on blogging and marketing. So if you want to be my life intern, let me know [wink].


In other news, Garrett & I celebrated our first anniversary this Sunday (although this was the 3rd one, if you recall we were illegitimately joined by a friend of Garrett's on August 13th, legally joined in the San Francisco City Hall on the 14th [the same place Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married], and our blessing and reception were October 3rd).


Garrett and I have become less involved with presents as we've been growing up, although it's mostly a need to conserve space because a one bedroom apartment is infinitely smaller when you add two people, their possessions, and wedding presents. But, I have a strong desire to follow the traditional list of wedding presents, and the first year equals paper.


There are a lot of really cheesy and awful ideas out there, like puzzles with your wedding photos on them, or anniversary toilet paper (which could be a subtle way to remind a forgetful spouse I guess?)


So, here are some ideas for the rest of you newlyweds, which I offer in exchange of helping me think something up for Garrett. We're both delinquent on picking out gifts (but our birthdays were pretty recent and we've eaten out a lot to celebrate the anniversaries) so maybe we'll combine our powers into an awesome gift. I think a winning lottery ticket would be pretty sweet.


1. Moleskine cover for kindle : Real Paper + E-paper

image via Amazon.com

The cover has a moleskine reporter style notebook on the inside flap. Aren't you just dying right now?




Garrett received a kindle from his parents this year for his birthday and when he discovered this cover a few weeks ago I was cursing the fact I didn't find and buy it first, it is probably the best possible present for Garrett ever invented. But, he got it for himself, so we'll move on.


2. Letterpress Calling Cards

via words, a blog, card by Brooklyn Social Cards

Letterpress goods are sexy. The cards from Brooklyn Social Cards are $250 for 250 cards, +$75 if you want to submit your own design. They also have letterpressed gift certificates, so you could let your guy design his own if you wanted. 

3. Boudoir Prints

I had a surge of Boudoir sessions the past few months which got me thinking what a wonderful present a boudoir session would be. The paper part comes in when you present the gift as a print or album. I suppose men could also give a (paper) gift certificate for a boudoir session to their womenfolk, because they are ridiculously fun, but it might just come off as a present for yourself instead.


Just for perspective, my boudoir sessions currently run for $250 which includes an approximately 2 hour session with a disc of high resolution images, 25 4x6 prints, and an option to purchase an album (with no design fee).


4. Show him the directions for how to make a copy of his favorite gun out of paper. (I'd say make him one, but that's like giving someone a lego set you've already put together).

It's pretty easy to find tons of websites with videos and instructions, just type in "paper gun instructions". Here's a link (and above photo) from instructables.


5. A custom paper cut-out

via remodalista, cutout by Rob Ryan

paper cutout by Made by Julene

The San Francisco cutout would be cute since Garrett & I got married there, but the Made by Julene cutouts are often custom and somewhat pricey (justifiably though, they are amazing). They make me think of our Disney World silhouettes (just because paper cutting is magical). I would love to commission one for Spindle Photography one day.

The usual:


• a framed share of a stock that means something to the two of you 
• a book 
• a love letter
• a gift certificate


For the less literal gift givers, here are some paper related ideas:


• Paper Mario (video game)
• Paper Tiger (song by Spoon)
• Paper Toss for iphones and Droids (game)
• South Park on dvd

Christmas already?! Gift Ideas

belt from j.crew, $55; nikon d90 for newbie photo enthusiasts with wealthy santas, amazon, $794.95; snuggie, $14.95, image source; faux fur muffler (I have always wanted a muffler! I think one of our american girl dolls must've had one), from urban outfitters, $28; mustache necklace from etsy seller little angels jewelry, $11.99 (I want one); dj hero from gamestop, $119 (for PS3); julian scarf with hidden pockets, from wintercheck factory, $30; ambigram flask from red letter gifts, $20.99; scarf necklace from etsy seller Mlabel, $40.

I can't believe it's so close to Christmas. I feel like I've been in some time warp since our blessing and now it's almost December! I usually do every kind of shopping (except grocery, and that's rare because we eat out too much!) online and I've become exceedingly aware of how long it takes to ship things. So I have even less time. I feel at a complete loss of what to get the people in my life (and as you get older it's hard to know who you're buying for!).

So, newlyweds especially, what are you getting your husband?

Your new in-laws?

Your parents?

Your friends?

I'd thought about giving both our parents wedding albums for Christmas but I've run out of time, orders for those have to be in early November and I was swamped back then. I should probably be running to etsy, because it's the greatest thing ever, but even there I get pretty overwhelmed. I feel like I'm at an age where we don't really need anything, so why would we inflict additional goods on the people we love? I've come to appreciate food as an expression of love way more these days.

Oh, and a fun gift idea for newlyweds (that we actually received but haven't had a chance to test out yet, we'll have to ask our only other set of married friends to play):

source