Pixiq

Being a working photographer in one of the most expensive cities in the world means that every dollar counts. So when I find a cheaper alternative, whether it be gear, or PP software, I will take full advantage of it. Less money spent on gear = more money in my pocket. Believe me, not a day goes by when I don't dream about a Canon 85mm f1.2L  but at this point in my career, I just can't justify it. 

A friend of mine, and a great photographer Shawn Parker berated me one day for buying an expensive Polaroid camera. I paid $25 for it, it's worth a few hundred, and Shawn told me "Sell it, and buy something you can use!" His point being that with those few hundred dollars, I could invest in something that could make me money. 

I didn't sell that camera, and while it's never made me a dime, I still have a great time shooting The Impossible Project  film on it. 

I learned a lesson from Shawn that day though, and these days whenever I buy anything camera related, I ask myself 2 questions: 1) Is there a cheaper version of this that will do the same thing?  2) Will this make me money?

Example: Last year my beloved Tokina 11-16 started back focusing on me. At the same time I was starting to shoot a lot more weddings and Red Carpet events, so I knew I needed a wide lens, but that the 11-16 was too wide for most of what I do. So instead of getting a replacement, I sold the lens and replaced it with Nikon's kit lens, the  18-105mm. It's a slow lens, but I use it almost exclusively with a flash, so that takes care of that. It's also not the sharpest lens when you view photos at 100%, but most of the photos I take with it are viewed online or in newspapers or magazines, not much bigger than 4x6 inches like the photo above I took of Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali and Stanley Tucci a couple weeks ago on top of the Empire State Building.

The bottom line is this: Before you make a big purchase, ask yourself the 2 questions above. Don't be afraid to buy used, or use an older model. You would be surprised how many professional photographers I see shooting with a Nikon D200 and they're making just as much money as the guy next to them with 2 D3S's. Let me be clear about something: while you don't need the newest gear to take great photos, you do need the RIGHT gear to fit your situation. The 18-105mm is fine for weddings, but absolutely unsuitable for sports, just as a $10,000 400mm f/2.8 is useless for weddings. Get the best gear to fit what you shoot most often. It might sound basic, but everyone needs reminded once in a while!