Whoops ! You forgot your best friend/photographer’s gift. Here’s a few ideas to get you covered :

1. An online course

   Magnum offers really interesting courses like this one by Alec Soth on storytelling. David duChemin is also a great resource. I’ve done this one on the editing process and it has helped me tremendously.

2. A workshop

   Book a workshop with a photographer your friend has been telling you about. Chances are a name is coming back again and again, sometimes to the point of annoyance (you know this one ;).

3. A cheap and funny looking camera

   Go to your closest electronics store and buy a cheap but funny looking camera. You can wright a note telling that you’ve got the idea from the story your friend told you about Stephen Shore using a Mick-a-Matic for his American Surfaces project. You can also buy a Polaroid camera for 50-100 bucks with some film to use with it and offer that instead. Works like a charm.

4. Museum tickets

   You can buy online tickets for a photo or art museum with a photo collection. Print them at home. Done.

   You can also create a pack with train/plane tickets and a hotel reservation if it’s in your budget and the location is far away.

5. Offer your time

   Your friend needs to expand their portfolio ? You can offer your time and angel face to become a model for one day. You’ll spend some time together, have a great day (hopefully) and your pal will leave with tons of picture to help them in their career. Plus, you’ll get your next facebook profile photo for free.

Hurry up ! And have a wonderful Christmas time 🎄