The Gift Guide for The Beginner, Hobbyist, Maverick, and Pro.

When I was 12, I got a forest green Polaroid camera for Christmas. Even at that age, I knew it was retro. It had a thick yellow trigger and I blew all 12 takes of my film before Christmas dinner. It wasn’t even selfies, that wasn’t a thing. I took a picture of the tree…a sister standing in her bedroom, with a popped hip and her arms folded, and I probably went outside and took several angles of slushy snow just to feel that instant high of a Polaroid dispensing fresh film. I would stand still and watch it start to develop, constantly readjusting my eyes. The oranges turned to brown and deep colors would start to seep in. I was trigger happy then, and I’m trigger happy now!

I opened my first film camera Christmas morning when I was 15. I had taken a darkroom class my first semester of freshman year, and while I wish I could say it was what really got me interested in photography and that film is the only way to go, and digital is dead—but I’m just not that cool. That class was stressful AF and I have never fully recovered from having to load film into a camera with plastic gloves on COMPLETELY BLIND in a pitch dark room with an upperclassman trying to play footsies and stuff. I just kept spinning the roll of film for about 10 minutes having no idea what I was doing.

But my camera history continued to evolve, and a curiosity for photography stuck with me through the years and eventually carved an entire career path. Cameras make such a good gift because you’re giving someone a tool to create. It’s not a finished product of what some artist made, it’s the tool. You’re giving them possibility. That being said, cameras all have different personalities and quirks and specialties. I’ve rounded up some all-stars that maybe you’re familiar with, and perhaps some others you have forgotten or never even thought about! But there’s something here for any “arty farty” enthusiast on your list.

1. Father’s Factory Wooden Toy Camera For your little art major tot. The beechwood, the magnetic flashes that pop on top, the wooden trigger, it’s instant nostalgia when you see it. Little David has one in his room and it proudly sits on top of a mini wooden tripod. I die.

2. Fuljifilm Instax Mini 11 Every teen taking an embarrassingly excessive amount of phone photos within a 2 hour time frame on a Friday night with her friends, needs an Instax Mini. Every pre teen just wishing her phone even allowed her to take pictures—needs an Instax Mini. It prints credit card size photos on the fly, and yes, it has selfie mode…because what else would they want?

3. Akaso EK7000 Action Camera It’s almost comical trying to figure out what this GoPro competitor doesn’t do. It’s waterproof, films in 4K, comes with a wrist remote so you can document all your fishing, biking, skating, diving, climbing, and…falling. Under $100, and over 20,000 5 star reviews on Amazon. Trust me, he wants it.

4. Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame My newest camera! This is what I’ll be settling in and shooting with for the foreseeable future. It was one of Canon’s first mirrorless cameras (released in 2018) which makes it light weight, but it means serious business. This model (and price tag) is not suited for a beginner, but would be a dream for any passionate photographer needing the gear to take their career to the next level.

5. Canon EOS Rebel T7 The most common question I get by far is “what is a good first camera?” Any camera in the Rebel family is designed with beginners and hobbyists in mind. But the T7 year after year is the crowd favorite, and this set comes with the whole kit, caboodle, and kitchen sink!

6. Kodak Fun Saver Disposable Camera Every ad campaign on a glossy magazine page right now is trying to mimic the look of a disposable camera. Direct flash is so in! This would make the perfect stocking stuffer surprise they won’t see coming. Oh, and I checked, your corner Walgreens and CVS are still taking your disposable cameras and developing film.

7. Polaroid Now I-Type Instant Camera So many retro color ways that are putting my overly mature forest green model to shame. It’s the OG with a face lift! The camera they’ll want to show off on their shelfie. Prints large 3x3 prints, just like the old days.

8. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 I won this at a work party last year and it has so quickly become a prized possession! It takes the fun concept of point and shoot instant film cameras but makes it feel less like a toy, and a lot more sophisticated. It has aperture and shutter settings and can zoom! Also, the brown leather. Swoon.

9. Aasonida Digital Vlogging Camera My parents told me Senior year that when I graduated high school I could pick a camera I wanted and I chose a camcorder. It planted the first seeds in my love for film and editing. This wish-I-could-be-a-YouTuber starter kit is under $100, has raving reviews, films in HD, and comes with a microphone attached. Ready, set, action!

10. VTech Kiddie Zoom Creator Cam We wanted to get David a camera this year, and after extensive research we landed on this one! It caters more to video making and editing which I know David will love since all he wants to do is film himself making funny faces on my phone then watch it. But this guy even comes with a green screen! 20 animated backgrounds to make your idea come to life. It’s taking home videos and family skits to a whole new level. Finalist for 2021 Toy of the Year.

11. Fujifilm Instax Square I know this is the third Instax on the list but I could not…would not…pass up this matte terracotta beaut. She’s just so pretty! Instantly develops classic square prints to fit all those cool Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie frames.

12. Holga 35mm Film Camera For the avid Instagrammer who maybe needs a reminder of where it all started. The only film camera on my list, Holga makes soft, vignetted images with random light leaks, just like all those filters we tap on today. It’s a gorgeous show stopper, a conversation piece, and a nod to the OG cameras.