How to save up for equipment?

[480sparky44 43]

Buying used also helps. Sometimes you can score some killer deals if you're prepared for it.

So far, some of my 'scores' have been:

2 300ws monolights/stands/umbrella + soft box, $100 (Craigslist)
My 10.5mm Fisheye? Nikonians.... $425.
My recently-acquired 105mm Micro Nikkor was found in the local photo store in their used department. I won't embarrass y'all with what I paid.
My Gossen Starlite light meter.... an Ebay find for $125.
I purchased my Manfrotto 804RC2 head from a fellow TPF'r.


Edit to add: Just today, my latest 'score' came in the mail...... a Delkin Devices SensorScope: $20.

 

[Markw]

Get great grades, have many accomplishments in high school.
Have college paid for by scholarships with a surplus of $4k/semester
Have a moderately decent job
Love what you're doing (the photography part), and be good at it, so you can have clients
Do jobs for clients, make money.
Use money to buy more photo stuff!

Rinse and repeat steps 4-6.

Mark

 

[djacobox372]

It makes a difference if u buy from inexpensive sources. Estate sales and ebay lots are your friend.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

It makes a difference if u buy from inexpensive sources. Estate sales and ebay lots are your friend.

Don't exclude craigslist. I just made an offer on 3 pocketwizards and a sekonic 358 for $420. I'll meet the seller in the middle in a HEARTBEAT heh =)

Pocket Wizard Plus IIs +Light Meter

 

[penfolderoldo]

Haha cool. Anything short of whoring yourself out to 1000 fat chicks for 50 bucks helps.

Can't help thinking of that great Quagmire line "aw c'mon, fat chicks need lovin' too...!"

I'm very lucky, i've got a great job that's also my hobby, getting paid for taking pics for me means i'm very very fortunate Down side is your gear gets battered about, is out in all weathers n costs a fortune! 7D i've had for just under a year n it's coming up to 50k shots! Still wouldn't change careers for anything tho...

 

[TheFantasticG]

Good job. Being an electrician for a drilling company on an oil rig pays well and I work only six months out of the year.

 

[Infinite_Day]

A big dose of patience and common sense helps as well. Neither my wife or I have well paying jobs (for college educated professionals) as we both are public employees but our combined income is decent for two people with no kids. We budget, save and save some more. By doing this we have very little debt outside of our unfortunate student loans which allows us to live off of 50% of our net income - the rest goes to savings. We have a cash surplus for some toys here and there while still maintaining a comfortable reserve and we take a ridiculous vacation (paid in cash, not credit) each year. It's all about managing your incoming vs. your outgoing cash and not getting stuck in the credit suck hole.

 

[usayit]

A line item on a household budget. Set reasonable expectations and the budget tells you how long till your next purchase.

Buy many cheap things... buy a few expensive things... never buy many expensive things. (I keep repeating that to myself over and over... its tough at times.. )

 

[Boyun]

Do not keep a balance on your credit card. Do not borrow money unless you can generate an income from it ( income = revenue - expenses ). Therefore, it is very important to minimize your expenses. Interest payment is an expense. Service charges are expenses. Not taking advantage of early payment discounts is an expense. If you cannot manage your bills, use cash (or debit card). One more expense is depreciation, so watch what you buy.

 

[RedVixen81]

i know that my equipment was not as expensive as others, and yes i may have got it thru best buy, but that in no way makes me a pro.. i only got it from there because the company i work for has a rewards program where we can choose a gift card from up to 200 merchants.. and i had about $435 that i earned and that helped cover most of the expense...

 

[kundalini]

I quit doing cocaine.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

i know that my equipment was not as expensive as others, and yes i may have got it thru best buy, but that in no way makes me a pro.. i only got it from there because the company i work for has a rewards program where we can choose a gift card from up to 200 merchants.. and i had about $435 that i earned and that helped cover most of the expense...

Some of us rib bestbuy because of some of the "instant pro's" that walk out of the store with a new DSLR, not because bestbuy doesn't sell good stuff =)

 

[Mach0]

Some of us rib bestbuy because of some of the "instant pro's" that walk out of the store with a new DSLR, not because bestbuy doesn't sell good stuff =)

They won't be around much longer...( best buy)

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Some of us rib bestbuy because of some of the "instant pro's" that walk out of the store with a new DSLR, not because bestbuy doesn't sell good stuff =)

They won't be around much longer...( best buy)

Indeed, the fauxtographers will flock to Amazon!

 

[Mach0]

Indeed, the fauxtographers will flock to Amazon!

My new employee worked for best buy before coming with us and said amazon is putting them out of business.