Christmas is almost upon us now. So, what to get for that special photographer?

Here’s 5 ideas that will make any shutterbug happy:

1. The easy bet is a new camera, right? But the real question is, which one? If your special photographer didn’t spell it out for you, then you’re left to decide between a DSLR or point and shoot camera. For a primer on how to choose, read Photography Bay’s Holiday Shopping Guide.

2. Get you shutterbug a good book. If he or she owns a camera or you’re getting one for them, then they’ll needs to read Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Does your photographer like tinkering with photos on the computer? Get a book by Scott Kelby on Photoshop or Lightroom.

3. Photoshop. If they don’t have it and you know they like tinkering on the computer with their photos, get Photoshop Elements - available for Windows or Mac.

4. Lightroom. Do you know your shutterbug shoots in RAW? If so, pick up Lightroom and the Scott Kelby book suggested in number 2.

5. Give the gift of flickr. Sign your special someone up on a Pro account on flickr. While flickr is free, the Pro account is only $25 per year (if they like it, you’ve got an “in” on Christmas gifts for life) and it gives the gift unlimited bandwidth, photos and no size limits. It also allows your shutterbug to share all those photos that they doesn’t know what to do with. As cousin Eddie would say, “It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!”

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[tags]photography, camera, gifts, christmas[/tags]