How can you afford new gear aspiring Pro photographers?

2 years 20 hours ago #736664 by Kenta
I have a question for all of you aspiring to be pro photographers who do nothing else:  How in the world do you afford photograph gear when you are starting out?  Photography doesn't pay much when we are starting, and gear is so darn expensive!  


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2 years 17 hours ago #736666 by Nikon Shooter
Things have changed for many trades including photography.

My strategy was to purchase, while I could, the best gear and
pass the it along with the experience cumulated throughout
the years to my sons — who have learned to work together and
assist each other — so they could take over without borrowing
to get started.

I know that strarting from scratch would be very challenging.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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1 year 11 months ago #736775 by Tom Henry
I save up and only buy when I have the cash to pay for what I'm getting.  I don't put anything on credit, not at least photography gear. 


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1 year 11 months ago #736806 by Bump N More
No $$, no buy.  I'm the same way, I don't like using credit cards unless emergency.  The only camera I bought on credit was my very first camera.   


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1 year 11 months ago #736885 by Happy Hour
Same goes with me, although I will use a credit card so I can get the miles, but I pay off the credit card before my next billing cycle.  


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1 year 11 months ago #736922 by Beth Anderson
Be smart about your purchases.  I know photographers who are shooting with their iPhones and getting the job done.  Only buy if you absolutely need and you 100% know it will do the job better.  


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1 year 11 months ago - 1 year 11 months ago #736953 by Screamin Scott
A lot of Pros rent what they need and include the rental costs in their billing.

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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1 year 11 months ago #737045 by Hoss
I put aside $300 per month for my photography.  That's $3600 per year allowance I give myself.  So I keep that in a seperate savings account.  When buy something on credit card, I immediately pay that expense from my "photo" savings account.  That way I get my points from the purchase also.   


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1 year 11 months ago #737176 by Craig Stone
Sell old gear!  


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1 year 11 months ago #737232 by Stanly
LOL I opened up this thread and was going to say the same thing.  Sell old gear to finance new! 

Nikon Z6 | Nikon FM10 | Nikon D80 | Nikon 50mm f/1.8D | Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S VR | 35-105mm f/3.5 Macro | 80-200mm f/4.5 | SB600 | Pocket Wizard II
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1 year 11 months ago #737378 by JaneK
How often are you all buying new stuff?  I'm just getting when something breaks.  And that is funded by placing on credit card, but paying off in a month or two. 


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1 year 10 months ago #738647 by lightcapture
Bargain preowned pro lenses.


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1 year 10 months ago #738832 by Colorado Mike
I'm smart with my purchases and only buy when I need things.  That way, I have the money when I REALLY need something.  


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1 year 10 months ago #739063 by Kyle O

Colorado Mike wrote: I'm smart with my purchases and only buy when I need things.  That way, I have the money when I REALLY need something.  


Yep, I'm the same way.   Buy only when I really need it.  


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1 year 10 months ago #739189 by Ben Vanderbilt
+1 Agree


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