Knowing which gear you need versus what you want can both save your money and save your sanity. Knowing why you want it can help you maximize your investment.
Another day, I realized. I officially have all my bases. When it comes to photography and video equipment, I can, with a straight face, claim to have at least one tool to do every aspect of my work. Of course, this realization came at the end of one of those long weekends, where my lack of impulse control got better and better and I found myself hitting the order button on B&H multiple times. I should probably go ahead and just bake the FedEx guy a plate of cookies, since he and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next week.
I can’t say I’m completely proud of myself. After years of out-of-control spending, this year I’ve done a much better job of keeping things under control. A few reasons for that. One, since received Nikon Z9, I can finally stop obsessing over every new camera that comes on the market. The last years of trying to decide when or even whether to switch to a mirrorless camera have resulted in me making more than one disappointing camera purchase in an attempt to improve stills/video games. your future or not. Many cameras that have come and gone have kicked off aggressively outside the gate just to prove the lack of one way or another. After almost a year with the Z9, it’s clear that this is the only camera I’ll need for at least the next few years. After buying a spare Z9 earlier this year, I can say that, when it comes to the body, I’m ready. So my equipment allowance was freed up to tackle other areas.
The second reason my spending has improved this year is that I set a very specific budget and created a spreadsheet that keeps me accountable for every dollar I spend. No more random purchases I forgot I made. Everything is clearly listed now, and the countdown on my budget lets me know when I’m nearing my annual limit.
Of course, this does not mean that I did not spend money. But the usefulness of my purchase has increased dramatically. The amount of money spent on the camera is much less, this type of camera will be obsolete within 2-3 years. More money spent on less sexy but more practical items like lights, stands, grips, camera aids, etc., these will last decades. The content type doesn’t get the headlines, but in reality, it’s much more essential to getting the final image than having the latest and greatest camera body.
So that’s what led me to the conclusion the other day that I’ve officially completed my list. In almost every category needed for the type of work I do, I have a competent starter. Still camera, motion camera, static strobe light, small strobe light, constant illuminator, constant LED panel, small LED light, portable LED light. Flags, writing and silk in 8×8, 6×6, 4×4 and smaller directions. Reflector plate. Big stands, small stands, rolling stands, crank stands. You get the picture. The only areas that may still need an update are replacing my 70-200mm F-mount with a Z-mount version. And, as someone who has spent more than half of his working life as a director and cinematographer, anyone would think that I would own a cinema camera of my own. But, as the projects I shoot developed, it became clear that the cinema camera I wanted to own was the most affordable type of camera to rent. Unless of course you win the lottery. The Z9’s video capabilities are more than enough for any smaller film project, personal film project, or client work where Go to Alexa not in the budget. So for now, I own everything needed to work on my film projects except for the cinema camera itself, which I can rent on a project-by-project basis.
So, with all the tools needed to make virtually any movie or still an idea I have in mind, why should I still struggle with the desire to spend more?
There are certainly practical reasons. The more things you shoot, the more blind spots you can identify. How many times have you made a purchase directly after a shoot because you realized you needed a specific kit to solve a particular problem? Not all purchases are attractive purchases. And a person needs to spend a little time to accomplish a specific goal.
Personally, I think my propensity to overspend comes down to two factors. Firstly, I have a feeling of having OCD, which makes it very difficult for me to get out of my mind once the bee is in my bonnet. Once my mind identifies a problem, such as if it takes me too long to do a particular task, my brain won’t rest until the problem is solved and eliminated. cancel. Even if it’s not an urgent matter and can be easily resolved until later, it’s still hard for me to let things go. I have to fix the problem now or else I won’t be able to switch my brain to anything else. This is not a compliment. But that’s how my brain works.
The other factor is also part of my personality, but I suspect it is shared by many of you who may be reading this article. If I look back at my spending in recent years, I’ll notice that most of it tends to happen in two moments: when I’m super happy or when I’m depressed. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic call for help with depression. But the slow, bubbly kind of thing happens in the background when everything seems fine on the surface, but you still want more. I tend to do two things when I reach that goal. Eat too much or buy too much.
I don’t mean this article is a therapy session. I am well aware of these traits in myself and have remembered for so long. But, what makes them relevant to the spending control discussion is that I think that model holds a key to why so many of us obsess over devices, even if it’s financially harmful. our.
In addition to the literal function of the device we are buying, the act of buying things puts us in a hurry. Dopamine success is unmistakable. Think of the joy you get when your new device arrives and you have to carefully unbox it. Think about the potential rush you feel when you spend weeks researching a kit and eventually making a purchase. Buying equipment is and should be a business decision. But, we’d fool ourselves into denying that there’s a tiny bit of adrenaline that excites it with each new acquisition. That’s just human nature. That’s the urge we have when the kids see presents under the Christmas tree or go shopping at the mall for a brand new pair. Getting new things feels good.
The difference, of course, is that photography is a rather expensive pursuit. I also have a problem when it comes to buying shoes. I’ve never come across a shoe store that I didn’t like. However, buying multiple pairs of Converse will cost me a lot less than buying multiple cameras. Both can provide a similar short-term boost to my dopamine levels. But indulgence in one thing risks overloading the price of my shoes, while the other risks driving me into business.
I use myself and my own spending motives in this article simply as an example. After all, my perspective is the only one I can share with 100% accuracy. I constantly question my own decisions and the roots of them because that knowledge can help me become a smarter consumer. To know when I make a purchase based on want instead of need. To help establish a specific spending plan that helps me control some of my basic instincts while still allowing me to have the tools I need to create art that truly gives life meaning mine.
But, of course, in order to continue creating that work of art, I need to keep a close eye on both what I spend my money on and why I spend it. I have mentioned some impractical reasons for my spending in this essay. But that’s just me. What are some of the reasons you find yourself spending money on non-rigorous gear? How do you keep yourself in check?
