April 2013 Perspective: Your Vision, Talent and Passion Made The Image
It’s Jenn here! I started writing on this perspective series since January this year. There hasn’t been a particular theme on photography, finance or anything. Sort of just what I have encountered or has been the highlight of the month. This past 30 days since my last post, I have been sitting down with different photographers. Photographers that I contacted or contacted me. I feel blessed to be a part of this industry and get to be connected with very talented people in the process.
Just last week, I sat down with a photographer who asked me what equipment I use and was surprised that I haven’t upgraded to 5D mk iii yet. This is not the first time I got that response but I was particularly impressed when she later on added: You are right. If you think it’s the camera that makes a photographer, well, it’s not! It’s their talent, vision and passion that make that image! Cameras, lighting and editing software are just tools to create their art. I feel sad that there are photographers who race to get the best equipment available out there and got in debt as a result.
Whoa. She just read my mind! I am a believer that you need to know your equipment inside and out, explore the elements available to you on location and put your heart and soul into your work. This is not a race to spend the most and get the best equipment available out there. I am a pretty competitive person so I still think this is a race. 😉 A race to beat your yesterday-self and create a piece, an image, that speaks to your subject, your audience and yourself.
Note: this doesn’t mean that you are not supposed to upgrade your equipment. We all still need to do our due diligence on tools and invest wisely and accordingly. Just don’t make a big hole on your saving/retirement account, that’s all I am saying!
Share the love,
Jenn
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So awesome of you to share this info!
I totally agree with this. While there is definitely a difference between an entry-level dslr and a semi-pro or pro body, it makes me sad to see beginning photographers buy all sorts of “stuff”, because they think it’ll make them a better photographer. Great post.
i agree with you jete! i made my assistant(s) to shoot with my pro body if they didnt own one. this post is written to instill the desire to do more with what you have. 🙂
So true! Knowledge is priceless, we will constantly be behind in the world of technology so doing great things with what you have is so important!
Hear hear! I have the same equipment as you, and sometimes I see guests at weddings with the newest and best. But what we bring is so much more than just pressing a button – from booking to post-process, the toys are just a part of the fun.
Regardless of the fact that I think everything you said is right, I still want a 5Diii. Can’t help myself. 😛
I can’t thank you enough for this post and the perspective it confirms out loud. I have lost count of how many times I’ve been approached with the conversation about what models I use and why I’m “behind.” My theory has been and will remain, “I’m invested in because of the images I produce, not what I produce them with. Period.”
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
loving your kind comments, ladies!
ray, i am not judging. i totally understand how tempting it is to upgrade to mk iii! 🙂
Great post and oh so true. When I moved up to full frame, the 5D Mark III had already come out so I went with it and I plan on using it for many years to come because I have so much to learn. I had to shoot 3 free family shoots with my 50mm f/1.2 before I could get my focus right. Practice just makes us better but never perfect.
SO true, I’m still a newbie however I’ve understood from the beginning that it wasn’t my gear that made my photos. Now that I’m a little further down the road I get gear-gitty and swoon over quality glass but always remember it’s the eye behind the glass. Great post!
michelle, i have owned my 50 f1.2 for a solid 2 years now and still loving the moments that i got to discover new insights of this baby! the joy discovering it, each and every time!
vaughn! glad to see you back here again! true true! the eye behind the glass makes all the difference!
The photographer does take the photos, not the camera! I started shooting with used gear and that’s where I learned most of my technique. Once I started shooting more seriously then I upgraded my gear with the money I had saved from shoots. I totally agree with you!