We all love to give gifts this time of year, but for some it can be challenging to find something that will be meaningful and memorable, especially for those on your list that seem to have everything.  In desperation we reach for the latest trendy gift that will most likely end up in a drawer or is absolutely useless to the receiver, but what are we to do?

Fortunately photographic gifts of portraits, camera equipment and images of fond memories never go out of style and are treasured for generations for parents, grandparents, spouses and friends.  Below are five great photography gifts for you to consider.

1-Camera. Capturing lasting and beautiful images has never been easier.  A present day camera that can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars has functions and technology that would have cost thousands just 5 years ago and weren’t even available 10 years ago.    To capture special moments with loved ones, keep a lightweight and dependable camera nearby.  Point and shoot cameras can easily be used for a quick shot, but also have the functionality to allow for more options as you become a more skilled and creative photographer.  Professionals suggest proven brand names that stand behind their product.  For instance, locally a big box retailer was offering a Canon PowerShot SX130IS package for around $250.00 that has12x zoom, fully automatic or changeable settings and a very large resolution.  Buy an extra memory card and you can shoot pictures non-stop from now until Easter without ever having to download your photos.

2- Portraits. Ask someone what they would save if their house was burning down and 9 times out of 10 they’ll answer “my family photos.”  A great gift option is to choose that one special family photo from a recent special occasion or trip and have it touched up, blown up and framed.  Then choose a prominent spot for display in your home.  A new trendy option is a gallery wrapped canvass, they come in a variety of sizes, the color just pops off the canvass and the texture really brings the photo to life.  They do not need to be framed and they look great on the wall!  Contact local photo processors Digi-Graphics or Fine Print Imaging to find out costs.

3-Video Slide Show. With today’s technology it is easy to create a video slide show of the previous year’s pictures set to music for a loved one.  Few things can get a grown man misty eyed faster than watching beautiful photos of his children set to one of his favorite songs.  There are a number of easy to use and inexpensive software options available to create professional looking slide shows.  One of the easiest is Windows Media Player, available on almost every PC.  Then burn it to a disk, gift wrap it and pass the tissues.

4-Photo Storage. These days it seems everyone owns a digital camera.  That means that most images are digital files that can easily be viewed on your camera, music player, phone, personal computer and Facebook page.  As a result, fewer and fewer actual prints are made as we discover more electronic viewing methods.  The downside is that each hard-drive crash is the equivalent of your house burning down and losing all your family photos and negatives.  For $75-100.00 you can purchase a dependable data storage system that includes scheduling software to backup all your photos once a week.  Realize that as technology advances you will most likely need to transfer your photo files from one medium to another.   For additional protection and the latest technology, you can purchase offsite cyber storage sites which have the benefits of accessibility regardless of technological advances, offsite storage in case of theft or fire, and expandable storage capacity.  Check out sites like Carbonite.com or Shutterfly.com.  [also contact Rebit a local  Colorado company (Longmont) that sells easy to use backup/recovery software for PC's]

5-Professional Photography Session. Around the holidays family and friends converge from across the planet to your home.  These once a year occasions are rare opportunities to get professional portraits of everyone while they are dressed nice, cheery and all in one place.  Schedule a professional photographer to come to your home, visit their studio or weather permitting meet at a local park, river or natural area.  Even with all the fantastic technology available today hiring a professional for special occasions will be worth the effort.  Hiring a pro gets you more than just an extra body to shoot a few photos – they know how to pose people, capitalize on available light, make suggestions on what to wear and their attention to detail will be the difference between a ragged bunch of holiday partiers and a family portrait to be treasured for generations.  An often overlooked benefit to hiring a professional is the respect they will command when posing and setting up shots from their reveling holiday subjects.  Look for a professional photographer that is easy to work with, accommodating, friendly and professional.  Be sure to talk to them ahead of time and let them know what shots are important to you and what your vision is.  Most photographers offer packages and gift certificates that will make wonderful gifts.