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3 Things to Remember When Shopping for Photography Gear

by Dan Bailey on December 6, 2010 · 17 comments

Which piece of gear should you buy?

Trying to decide which piece of gear to buy is often one of the most agonizing decisions that we photographers make.

Whatever it is we’re buying, whether it’s a new camera body, new lens, imaging software title or computer display, we do our research and usually narrow it down to two choices. Then, we hem and haw for days or weeks over which item to get. One might be lighter, but the other might have this feature or that feature, or it might cost less. We cruise the forums, lurk on message boards and ask other photographers which one they’d recommend.

Even then, the decisions don’t always come easy. After all, the stuff that we buy is usually pretty expensive, and so we want to get as much from our dollar as we can and get the gear that is optimal for our photographic needs.

You can only wait so long to pull the trigger, though, and every day that goes by could be another day that you’re not implementing a better workflow, shooting photos, or getting the job done as efficiently as you could.

At some point, you just have to make a decision and throw down your credit card. However, before you do that, consider the following points that might help you reach your decision more quickly.

1. You, not your gear, makes the difference in your photography. Sure, great gear can help you be a better photographer, but truly great shooters have made jaw dropping images with minimal equipment. Just keep in perspective that no single piece of gear will be the end-all-be-all in your photography. Whatever item you end up getting, in the end, you’ll make it work for you and your style. [click to continue…]

Quick Take Video: Switronix and Litepanels LED Lights On Set

by Jared Abrams on November 24, 2010 · 3 comments

Here is a Quick Take Video we shot while waiting for make up on a commercial production. We had both the Switronix Torch LED TL-50 and Litepanels MicroPro Hybrid on set so we thought we would show you the difference between the two LED lights. The Switronix Torch LED is a little smaller than the MicroPro and seems to pack a bit more punch. At about the size of a small prime lens, it’s quite compact with its all-metal housing. Complete with two ¼-20 thread mounts on the top and bottom of the light, it also features a battery indicator light and is fully dimmable. [click to continue…]

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6 Ways Both Beginner and Advanced Photographers Can Save Money

by Dan Bailey on November 15, 2010 · 16 comments

There’s no question that photography is a very expensive profession to get tangled up in, especially when you’re just starting out and you have to make all those big capital investments. With that in mind, here are six ways that you can save money so that you don’t drive your freelance photo business into the ditch before it even gets off the ground.

1. Buy used camera gear: There’s always been a good market for used photo gear, but ever since the Great Recession, or whatever they call it, tons of great equipment has found its way onto eBay and Craigslist. Picking up a used version of the lens or camera body you want can save you hundreds of dollars. With today’s high tech bodies, I’d probably go for used lenses over cameras these days, but don’t rule out the option if you’re on a tight budget. Check out the B&H Photo and Video used equipment department for some potentially big savings.

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It’s a Very Exciting Time to Be a Photographer!

by Dan Bailey on October 18, 2010 · 13 comments

The other day, Beate Chelette posted a video on her Black Star Rising “Ask The Photo Business Coach” titled “Should I Stay in the Business or Get Out.” She basically says, “Quit your complaining or get out…”

If you haven’t seen it yet, have a look and then pass it on- it’s something that we all need to hear, especially in this day and age.

Sometimes we get so focused on the negative aspects of the photo industry that it’s hard to see the light. It’s not hard with all the challenges that we’ve faced during the past few years, with massive stock agency and media consolidation, the continuing devaluation of imagery, declining licensing rates, stagnant (if not shrinking) editorial rates, and a worldwide economy that has battered and beat down nearly everyone.

Yeah, we’ve heard it all. Photography is a tough business, it’s highly competitive, it’s tough to make a living with your camera, blah blah blah… The truth is that it always has been hard, we just don’t see that because we’re caught up right in the middle of it.

With all the negativity, we just can’t seem to see that it’s actually a great time to be a working photographer. [click to continue…]

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Photographers Love Fall

by Dan Bailey on October 14, 2010 · 14 comments

Fall on the tundra, Chugach Mountains, Alaska

Seeing all the great fall images around the web lately, I’m reaffirmed at how much we photographers love fall.

The color of the world changes so dramatically over the course of a few beautiful weeks when leaves slowly turn from summer green to their bright hues of yellow, red and orange. This wonderful change has us scrambling for our tripods and extra memory cards as we head out the door in droves with our cameras to make autumn landscape and nature images.

Leaves aren’t the only thing to change color. Grass also takes on it’s golden hue which leaves us with entire fields of yellow and bronze. Berries take on their full saturated brilliance as their sugar content rises to maximum levels, which has the birds and bears scrambling to gobble up as many as they can before that first big frost withers them. [click to continue…]

Video: Vincent Laforet at Photo Cine Expo 2010

by Jared Abrams on October 12, 2010 · 9 comments

I got the chance to hit up Vincent Laforet at the Photo Cine Expo here in Los Angeles. Vincent is the person who is credited for starting the HDSLR revolution with his short film Reverie way back in 2008, as we moved into an age where the line between Motion and Still Photography has gotten soft.  Photo pun if you will.

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Good Photography Is Not About The Gear, It’s About The Story

by Dan Bailey on October 11, 2010 · 36 comments

What does it mean when you shoot an assignment and one of your favorite images from the shoot is the one that you snapped with your iPhone?

I’ll tell you what it means. It means that you obviously need to be reminded that it’s not the gear that matters most, it’s your uninhibited creativity and your ability to tell the whole story with a single shot. Those things should never be ignored. [click to continue…]

Should You Buy A New Camera?

by Dan Bailey on October 7, 2010 · 9 comments

Although it's the operator, not the machine that counts, a good machine will take you farther with your craft.

Ok, you’ve sat there with your hand raised patiently for some time now, so go ahead and ask your question.

“Should I buy a better camera?”

Do you want the quick answer answer or the more practical answer? Both? Ok, here goes.

Quick answer: Yes, because buying stuff is fun, it will help stimulate the economy, and it will make you a better photographer.

Now for the practical answer: Yes, but not if you think it will make you a better photographer.

“But wait,” you say, ” I thought it was the photographer, not the camera, that makes the difference?” [click to continue…]

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