Gifts & Classes For the Beginner Photographer In Your Life

The holiday shopping season is upon us! Whether you’re planning ahead or reading this on Christmas Eve (you know who you are), we have the perfect gift for all creatives that can be ordered on Christmas and delivered on Christmas (see what we did there?).

If you’re shopping for a new photographer in your life, these classes and gear recommendations will not only level up their skills, but will make you look like a seriously thoughtful gift giver in the process. What a better way to celebrate the holidays than by helping them improve on their passions? Get gifting and shop our ideas below!

Gifts every beginner photographer needs (and wants!)

If They Have a Camera

Forget camera straps — if your giftee already has a camera in their hands, these classes are the perfect accessory.

John Greengo: The Fundamentals of Photography ($199)
Get started on the basics with Fundamentals pro, John Greengo. This class will help your newbie get out of automatic and into manual mode (and learn how to make an evocative image in the process), how to recognize and take advantage of beautiful natural light, and lots more.

Khara Plicanic: The Beginner Photographers Crash Course ($49)
This class isn’t just affordable, it’s actionable too. Khara teaches students how exposure works and how each setting creates a different effect, the basics of different shooting modes, how to decode your camera’s functions, and understand how different lenses affect your imagery. A great course for those needing the basics explained in plain english.

Mark Wallace: Understanding Light ($129)
Understanding light might be the most important aspect of photography, and Mark Wallace helps new photographers master it in this class that’s helped over 37,000 students to date.

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If They Don’t Have a Camera

If your loved one is shopping for a new camera and you want to help them get properly geared up, do them a solid and snatch up one of these cameras that we recommend.

We hand selected these cameras because they are capable of producing professional images while still not taking out a second mortgage on your home. Each has the option for interchangeable lenses and we see them as a great way to dip your toe into the world of photography as you build your skills.

Canon EOS Rebel T6i Digital SLR with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens ($749)

Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Auto Focus-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens ($997)

Sony Alpha a6000 24.3MP Wi-Fi Mirrorless Digital Camera Bundle Accessory Bundle ($698)

Fujifilm X-T10 Silver Mirrorless Digital Camera Kit with XC16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II Lens ($889)

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