Photo books have always held a special kind of magic, an invitation to slow down, look closely, and reflect on the images they contain.
From enduring classics to standout new releases, photography offers a world of stories: intimate portraits, vast landscapes, elegant studies in light and shadow, and the fleeting poetry of the everyday. With this in mind, we’ve curated a selection of photobooks that make truly memorable gifts, works that inspire, endure, and bring a touch of beauty to any shelf or coffee table this Christmas.
1. The Americans — Robert Frank (Aperture) $50.00
Undoubtedly one of the most iconic photobooks ever published, perhaps no other has impacted photography like The Americans, the landmark 1959 debut by the Swiss-born, American, Robert Frank (1924-2019). Comprising over 80 monochrome images captured during a series of road trips across the United States, it’s a gritty, forthright, and absorbing portrait of mid-century America, one that reveals both its iconic symbols and the realities of everyday life. Controversial upon release for its unflinching critique of the ‘American Dream’, it went on to redefine photographic storytelling. A timeless classic, it’s the perfect gift for anyone passionate about photography, visual culture, or the power of narrative imagery.
— The Americans is published by Aperture and is available here.
2. Collecting Hands — Monaris (Setanta) €48,95
A rising star in contemporary street photography, Paola Franqui — better known as Monaris — is fast developing a reputation for her captivating, cinematic depictions of everyday life, transforming fleeting urban moments into scenes of quiet emotion and beauty. In Collecting Hands, she turns her lens toward one of humanity’s most expressive features, revealing the poetry in gestures and the small details that often go unnoticed. Keys, umbrellas, and clasped palms become visual metaphors for connection, labor, and care, each frame rich with atmosphere and heart. Accompanied by text from Dave Krugman, this beautifully produced volume from Setanta explores the tactile language of touch and the stories our hands silently tell, an evocative gift for lovers of street photography and the subtleties of human expression.
– Collecting Hands is published by Setanta and is available here.
3. Genesis — Sebastião Salgado (Taschen) €25,00
A towering figure in contemporary photography, Sebastião Salgado (1944-2025) devoted his life to documenting both the beauty and fragility of our world. Genesis, his magnum opus, represents the culmination of an eight-year journey across remote regions of the planet — from the icy expanses of the Arctic to the depths of the Amazon — revealing landscapes, wildlife, and communities untouched by modernity. Shot entirely in luminous black and white, these images form a profound meditation on nature and our place within it. Published by Taschen in its 45th edition, Genesis stands as both a visual masterpiece and a love letter to the Earth. Following Salgado’s passing earlier this year, it endures as a deeply moving testament to his vision, making it an unforgettable gift for any admirer of photography, nature, and the human spirit.
– Genesis is published by Taschen and is available here.
4. Ecounters — Evelyn Hofer (Steidl) €58,00
Few photographers have captured the quiet essence of their subjects quite like Evelyn Hofer (1922–2009). Known for her meticulous approach and painterly sensibility, the German-American photographer created portraits, interiors, and cityscapes that radiate stillness and depth. Working with a large-format camera, she sought connection and respect, taking time to understand each person or place before pressing the shutter. Encounters, published by Steidl, offers the most comprehensive exploration of her oeuvre to date, spanning her celebrated series on New York, Dublin, and Washington, as well as previously unseen work. Graceful, contemplative, and exquisitely produced, it’s an ideal gift for admirers of classic portraiture, travel and street photography.
– Ecounters is published by Steidl and is available here.
5. False Friends — Dominic Turner (Self-Published) €48,00
In False Friends, Dublin-based photographer Dominic Turner blurs the boundaries between truth and illusion, inviting viewers into a world that feels at once familiar and strange. Working in rich monochrome, his images are tactile and atmospheric, their shadows and textures revealing fragments of stories that never quite resolve. Taking its title from the linguistic term for words that look alike but hold different meanings, the book reflects on ambiguity and the limits of perception in an age of misinformation. Meticulously crafted using film, hand-printing, and delicate Japanese papers, False Friends is both visually arresting and quietly disquieting, a haunting meditation on the uncertain space between seeing and believing.
– False Friends is self-published by Dominic Turner and is available here.
6. The Iconic Photographs — Steve McCurry (Phaidon) €69,95
Few photographers have captured the world’s beauty and diversity quite like American photographer Steve McCurry. Over a career spanning more than four decades, the American photographer has created some of the most iconic and evocative images of our time, from the piercing gaze of the Afghan Girl to vivid portraits and landscapes that transcend borders and cultures. The Iconic Photographs, published by Phaidon, brings together the most memorable moments of his extraordinary career, a breathtaking collection that celebrates humanity in all its richness and variety.
– Steve McCurry, The Iconic Photographs, is published by Phaidon and is available here.
9. Helen Levitt (Thames & Hudson) €70,95
A pioneering figure in twentieth-century photography, Helen Levitt (1913–2009) dedicated her life to capturing the quiet poetry of everyday life on the streets of New York. Inspired early on by Henri Cartier-Bresson and equipped with her trusty 35mm Leica, she roamed the city’s stoops and sidewalks, distilling its fleeting gestures, humor, and humanity with unmatched sensitivity. An early adopter of color, Levitt’s work merges documentary precision with lyrical artistry, revealing beauty in the seemingly ordinary.
– Helen Levitt is published by Thames & Hudson and is available here.
7. Byways — Roger Deakin (Damiani) €50,00
Best known as one of cinema’s greatest visual storytellers, Sir Roger A. Deakins has shaped the look and feel of countless modern classics. Byways, his first monograph, reveals a more personal side to his vision, bringing together five decades of black-and-white photographs that span rural England to distant landscapes encountered during his film work. Marked by quiet irony and striking composition, these images possess the same painterly sensitivity that defines his cinematography, yet feel deeply intimate and human. Published by Damiani, Byways is both a rare glimpse into the eye of a master and a beautifully crafted gift for lovers of film, photography, and the poetry of light.
– Byways is published by Damiani and is available here.
8. Escaramuza — Constance Jaeggi (GOST) €60,00
In Escaramuza, US-based Swiss photographer Constance Jaeggi turns her lens to a vibrant, all-female equestrian tradition that bridges history, identity, and art. Rooted in Charrería—Mexico’s national sport—Escaramuza emerged in the 1950s as a space where women could reclaim visibility through grace and strength, performing daring, synchronized maneuvers sidesaddle and in traditional dress. Traveling across the United States, Jaeggi captures these modern horsewomen with intimacy and reverence, her photographs revealing both power and poetry. Accompanied by prose from Mexican-American poets ire’ne lara Silva and Angelina Sáenz, the book weaves image and language into a moving portrait of heritage, resilience, and belonging.
– Escaramuza is published by Gost and is available here.
10. The Unseen Saul Leiter (Thames & Hudson) €49,95
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative photographers of the post-war era, Saul Leiter transformed the streets of New York into painterly meditations on color, form, and light. The Unseen Saul Leiter presents seventy-six previously unpublished images, carefully curated from the artist’s vast archive by the Saul Leiter Foundation. Captured between the 1950s and 1970s, these photographs reveal the quiet poetry of the everyday through rain-streaked windows, fleeting reflections, and delicate abstractions. A beautifully produced volume from Thames & Hudson, it’s an evocative tribute to one of photography’s true visionaries, and a perfect gift for anyone who finds magic in the subtle moments of everyday life.
– The Unseen Saul Leiter is published by Thames & Hudson and is available here.
All images © their respective owners