It probably won’t surprise you that there are “must-haves” items that photographers don’t really need in their lifetime. Before making your next purchase or business decision, check out this list.
You don’t have to search the Internet to find a list of “must-haves” that all photographers should own. I must confess that I added to the noise by writing articles like this my self. While I hope these pearls of wisdom are always helpful, your home can easily start to look like a photo shop if you buy every single item that was introduced to you. Not only is this bad news for your bank balance, but it can also slow your progress as a photographer, as some of these unnecessary entries will only act as a distraction.
In no particular order, here are 10 things you probably don’t need as a photographer.
1. Photoshop
For many years, Photoshop was one of the few places where your work could be edited. This has changed in recent years thanks to free Photoshop copies like PhotoPea and GIMP. Photoshop is definitely one of the great editing programs out there, but unless you’re using a lot of Adobe’s fancy tools, the cost of the subscription could be spent on something else.
2. Latest camera
Keeping up to date with the latest camera versions will not make you a better photographer. While buying new equipment is obviously nice, the incremental improvements that manufacturers make aren’t worth the thousands of dollars you need to shell out every few years. I still shoot occasionally on my backup Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which was released in 2008. Personally, I believe you’re better off owning the equipment you have and using that camera money. in other place.
3. Camera Strap
This may seem like a small thing, but I don’t think you need to spend money on an additional camera strap when your camera probably comes with a perfectly fine one with purchase. While I can see value in some of the fancy quick release options available, the traditional camera strap has never let me down and the roughly $50 saved could be used for a few inspirational picture book instead of.
4. Light meter
Being able to measure light clearly is a useful thing for photographers to do. That said, I don’t think in this day and age a dedicated light meter is worth having in most cases. Not only is it something extra to carry around in your camera bag, but a suitable light meter will cost several hundred dollars. Instead, I prefer to rely on the meters built into the camera, or if I need a rough idea of what the light is doing when I’m shooting on film, I use the light meter app on my phone. your phone. It won’t be as good as a purpose-built light meter, but my iPhone and Pocket light meter the app has always done a great job of getting me to the right ballpark.
5. Film photography
While I must confess that shooting on film occasionally, I don’t think the majority of photographers (myself included) should work in this medium. It’s expensive, there’s a higher risk of image loss, and it’s a much slower way to learn photography when compared to digital instant feedback. If the most interesting thing about a photograph is the fact it was taken on film, the photographer is in trouble. Worry less about cameras and media and more about photos and stories made. A great image captured on a smartphone will always outperform a mediocre photo on a film camera. Film photography is one of the biggest distractions for photographers trying to learn their craft and hone their style.
6. Branded photo box
There are some great hardcore cases that are water resistant and seem bombproof. They also cost a small fortune if you need a few to hold all your gear. Instead, search for “hard tool case” or “waterproof tool case” online to find similar sturdy storage options for your camera gear. I own several of these tool cases, and they are just as tough and waterproof as the ones that cost 5x more. By skipping the dedicated photography cases, you can avoid the higher premiums that seem to apply to most photographic equipment. For those worried about looks, these tool cases look as professional as anything you can buy from a camera store. With the money saved on buying a few of these cheaper tool cases, you can arm yourself with a nice lens.
7. Pre-order purchased
It feels like every photographer out there has a set of presets for sale these days. You can guess from the last sentence that I am not a fan of presets. More specifically, paying a handsome amount at a preset value will make your work look like someone else’s. By all means, use presets to help speed up your workflow, but it’s better if you make your ownnot only so you understand what’s going on with your images, but also so that your work doesn’t look like other people’s.
8. Group of people to work with
If you believe in the many behind-the-scenes videos online, you’d think it’s important to have a large group of people with you when you’re doing your shots. I’m here to say it’s not necessary. Of course, it’s great to have a team of stylists, makeup artists, and assistants accompanying you during the shoot. But you’d be surprised how much you can do on your own. Remember, it’s the final countable image, not the numbers in your entourage. The reason I want to make this point is for photographers who are afraid to pick up their cameras because they don’t have a group of people to work with. This kind of thinking will only slow down your growth as a photographer.
9. A fancy website
Having an online home for your work has always been important to photographers, and a personal website remains the best place for clients and clients to see your images. That being said, this site doesn’t need to have every novel plugin or widget you can throw at it. Please don’t waste your time and money trying to make a website do something special when your own photography will speak for you. Instead, choose an off-the-peg template that best suits your style and brand and works flawlessly on all devices. You will waste thousands of hours and dollars on websites and web designers trying to keep these features working if you try to do anything too fancy.
10. Have 100s of great images in your portfolio
The biggest mistake I see photographers make is that they think they need a huge amount of work to get clients. Of course, it’s important to have an exhaustive collection of images in your portfolio, but you don’t have to create 100 great photos for clients to start calling you. The number of images you really need in your portfolio will vary from industry to industry, but 10 to 15 great images will let most potential clients and clients know that you are capable of doing great things. what they need. The biggest pitfall when trying to amass hundreds of great images for your portfolio is that by the time you’re halfway down that magic number, the older work will no longer meet our standards. you and you will want to remove it. If you wait until you’ve created 100 great pieces of work before pitching as a photographer, you’ll never really get there.
So there you have it, 10 items that I don’t think you need as a photographer. While I’m sure some of my suggestions will ruffle the hair, I truly believe less is more when it comes to creating great pieces. Carrying around too much, both physically and metaphorically, is never a good place for a creative person. By minimizing what you need as a photographer, you can eliminate distractions and use your time, money, and energy on things that will really make a difference. your career.
For you
Any items you think I’ve omitted from the list? Anything I mentioned that you disagree with? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
