it’s out there and is bound to bite you sooner or later. Whether photography is a business or a hobby for you, But there is a sane way to approach your desires and check if they are ruling you or you are ruling them. So here are some tips to help you know who rules each other .
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The first question is the most defined "Are you going to make money from this lens?” Whether photography is a hobby or profession for you makes a big difference in the purchase decision.
Hobby: what can you currently do with your camera?
If you can’t answer this question truthfully, then you have textbook gear lust. If you answer it and that answer is, “Nothing,” you too have gear lust. That’s not a bad thing! I just want to help you recognize it so you can make your choice with a little more clarity.
But, if there is a technique or style you have tried to replicate over and over again with your current equipment, such as parallel lines in architectural photography or a ten-minute exposure when your camera has no Blub mode, you’re one step closer to justifying an outlay of cash.
Profits: should you get professional equipments?
If you are making a profit or looking to do so with your equipment, you’re going to want to look at this decision through money-making glasses. That equipment won’t do you any good if it just sits on a shelf. It needs to be making you money!
Professional equipment question for profit-seekers, let’s look at how this lens will be used. Make no mistake; it’s easy for pros to justify business-related purchases right away when they are really just gear lust in disguise.
Real lesson: I bought a drone on the chance that I’d get a gig where I’d use it heavily. The client ended up canceling the project, but I bought the drone before the contract was signed, because of my gear lust. I made up a reason to justify it when I had no concrete payback schedule. Now I use the drone mostly as a hobby and it dented my pocketbook unnecessarily.
Will the pro equipment increase profits?
These new photos you will take with this new equipment, will those photos increase your profits? Really?
Dig deep with this one, because you need to look at this as a business decision. Do you have work lined up that will pay for most, if not all, of the new equipment purchase?
This choice can be made more difficult if the manufacturer has upgraded your camera or lens to a Mark II or III version. If your old equipment is simply aged beyond your capabilities, or it can’t be repaired, it’s time to buy new camera.But if it can be repaired and you can get a few more years of use out of it, then save your profits for expanding your business rather than giving in to gear lust.
what photo business stage are you?
You’ve made your way through the chart and are going to buy that new piece of equipment. Congratulations on choice .
There is one last thing to consider: What stage are you at in your business development?
If you’re just beginning, I would consider some lower cost options for equipment. This might mean getting a mid-level camera body instead of the pro-version that gear lust is drawing you toward. Spending much more than you need to on a camera body won’t make you that much more profit. Investing it in advertising has a better chance of bringing in more clients and hence more profits.
If you have a specific project to shoot for a client and you’re not sure if you’ll use that equipment afterward, renting can be a viable option to keep your profits up.
If the money is coming in steady enough, but it’s not your main source of income yet, then it’s likely a good time to upgrade to better camera . Especially if you have made a case for how you can increase profits or ease workflow (e.g. replacing a 6-year old computer will vastly improve your editing speed and leave more time for finding and shooting new gigs).
Be honest with yourself here. If paid work is sporadic and you can do other types of jobs to make cash, hold off on spending profits until the volume is up and more regular.
Lessons: I hope it helps you find your way to photo-taking bliss. Remember, that’s why we own all this stuff: to take amazing photos. Don’t let the gear lust pull you away from that goal.
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