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Photography can be an expensive career at first, especially for a recent graduate starting up his own business. But that doesn’t mean that holiday gift shopping for a budding shooter means busting the piggy bank open.

Here are a few things that may benefit those budding professional photographers.

John Harrington’s Best Business Practices For Photographers

Best Business Practices is an industry-standard for any photographer. The author, John Harrington, is regarded as a photography business guru and a strong advocate for photographer rights. The book includes business strategies, critical advice on equipment, legal advice, and other practical insights into the photography industry.

Other business books are a nice alternative for beginning photographers, but Harrington’s is one of the most thorough on the market.

Memory Cards

A necessity for any photographer if she is using (and probably is) shooting digitally. And if the photographer on your shopping list is serious about her craft, chances are she’s going to need as much memory as she can.

The good news is that memory cards aren’t as expensive as they once were. Just make sure that you select the right format (CompactFlash, SD, etc.) and take a peek at what brand she might be using. Some larger memory cards are expensive it all depends on the brand and the quality.

Digital Storage

Memory cards are one thing, digital space, another for photographers. If your photographer is just starting her professional career out of college, her computer must be stuffed to seams with her work and her software. An external hard drive would do the trick, especially if the photographer’s computer is sluggish or she’s worried about losing all her work. Again, digital memory is cheaper than what it once was, and a 250 or 320-gig external would be a nice starting point.

Holga camera

While the film has seen its days come and go, it’s nice to still shoot a roll every once in a while. And every photographer should own a Holga camera at some point in her life. They are inexpensive and very simple film cameras, allowing for purity and thoughtful skill that digital can’t beat. They are a novel and fun experience to shoot with, as no one camera produces the same exposure on a roll of film. Don’t forget the roll of film!

Lens filter

Whether it’s a simple UV filter or a circular polarizer filter, these things are an asset for the photographer on your shopping list. Not only do they protect a photographer’s lens from being scratched (which usually results in a hefty repair bill), but they also have a positive impact on the photographer’s exposure. A simple UV filter reduces the haze and harshness from sunlight, while a polarizer filter is handy for eye-popping saturation and cutting down glare. Just make sure it fits the lens; most lenses have the diameter.

These are just a few items to consider for budding photographers for a great gift. They won’t break the bank, and a few of them might ease the photographer’s mind or benefit her when she launches her career. If you love to take photos of your children then getting outside can help perfect your photography skills and being outside is a great way to spend time with kids.