You make me feel a bit better about the decision that I had to make the other day about going there. Going where? Going there, that’s where!

Been managing things OK for some while, when suddenly had the rug pulled from under me.

I should have listened to a sage photographer from Australia years ago who spoke to me about the risks of investing yourself in the business of another (that’s another story for another time, but thank David A. Williams for that conversation.)

So in short buy it when you can pay cash for it.

Also don’t shoot stock for the sake of shooting stock. Shoot for your personal vision, and if you can sell it as stock, then fine do so. Other wise shooting stock for the sake of shooting stock will make you stock if you know what I mean.

I shot my first wedding with a Minolta 35mm – the very finest technology 1985 had to offer (except this was in 2007). Some of those shots are still on my favorites list. It ain’t the camera.

A year or so later, I went digital, and spent $500 on a Nikon. Since that purchase, I haven’t bought a single bit of gear that wasn’t paid for by my photography. I made enough shooting weddings to upgrade the camera, pick up extra lenses, flashes, etc. Make the money, THEN spend it.

Save your pennies, buy one less latte a week, and pay cash.

I’ve been the credit card, debt up to my eyeballs route. You’ll will possibly still be paying for the gear long after it’s gone. Trust me, it ain’t pretty.

For me, my current kit with regards to the Body (Understanding it is not all about the Body but lens too) is a limiting factor for me to grow in my photography hobby and so have to look at an upgrade of some sort. I am not down playing the model I have, its just that its entry level status and spec is not fulfilling my broad scope of interests.

My options have tied me down to two models, One which will work well for now (purchase will inlcude a pro zoom of some kind prob. 70-200 2.8), to later become a secondary or a bigger model which will work for the next five years. Whichever route I take my final layout will be the around the same in $$.

First prize is to go for the all cash in once and for all, however my alternate is also to go the loan route. In my favour right now is that Photography is not my full time profession and do have a full time job in a completely different industry. Waying up the the repayments say over 18 months is well worth it when the new kit whichever option, will stick it out for the next 3-5 years.

I am at this time also looking at the stick it out for 5-6 months putting the money aside to end up at the same position but with no debt.

So, I do Amen this post but have to look at it from both sides.

Regards,
Gareth

PS. My other plus is that I am single… :p

I have always strictly stuck with my “pay cash” mantra. After years of coping with a student loan, I vowed never to be in debt and pay interest for anything again.

If I used my one credit card, it was usually for online purchases, for the points bonus and insurance coverage. I always made sure that I had the cash to cover the purchase amount and always paid it off completely.

I was laid off back in March and my policy with avoiding credit and loans made that situation so much easier. I had no loans to worry about and enough savings to help me out while I look for a job. If I had a debt when this had happened, I would be in big trouble.

Anyone looking for a graphic designer/photographer?

Here are a couple of resources for those who feel that renting may not be an option for them because they don’t live near a pro rental counter. I’ve heard amazing things about the customer service at LensRental.com. To find other good places you might consult this comparison of 8 online lens rental providers http://photodoto.com/8-online-lens-rental-stores-compared/

Happy Renting! :*)

However, I was surprised that in 88 comments, no one has yet mentioned the magic word in the photo gear conundrum: “rent”!

This is what the pros do.

This is an excerpt of a reply to a friend who was shopping for a camera before a vacation overseas and asked my opinion about what dslr camera she should ‘invest’ in to start a business with it in the next few years…

After a moment of reflecting bemusedly to myself that no one seems to have photography as a ‘hobby’ anymore; they are all determined to start a ‘business…I suggested the following:

“I recommend that you find a good camera store that rents pro equipment and rent for at least the first year. This allows you to play with stuff until you discover what you really want to add to your collection. And also helps you to remember that you cannot ‘buy’ photographer, you must ‘become’ photographer. (Zen, eh? ;*) )

Right now, buy the minimum camera that you can get with manual settings. Spend 300-500 dollars at the most or buy a used Canon Rebel on Craigslist or Ebay and then every weekend you can rent the bigger ‘pro’ bodies and glass and–here is the key: spend what you save NOT buying a BIG camera on the computer gear for processing (at least 50% of photography in a digital world), training classes to teach you to use the computer gear, as well as photography classes & workshops & books. Educate yourself experimentally by renting a wide variety of rental lenses and rental camera pro bodies. And then after a year or two of learning / renting you will know what gear you ‘really’ need and you will have experience with a much wider variety of equipment than if you were limited to just what you could afford to put a capital expense into.

Bottom line: invest in the photographer rather than the photography equipment. That is the best way for your investment to appreciate in value. Or put another way: Spend less; Learn more. This is the balance that pays off the best.”

I’ll also add that in doing pursuing this course you have the opportunity to establish a relationship with your local rental guys, who can be a very valuable educational asset in themselves and point you toward gear to try that you may never have uncovered on your own.