Need to upgrade my photography equipment. Loan/debt? Or save?

[imagemaker46]

There is no rush or time line for you to get back into this, I would start saving and depending on how much gear and the level of gear that you want to buy, 5k won't get you much. On my side, I've been in debt with gear for what seems all my career. Just when I get out of debt, which was last year, I went out and bought a Canon 1Dx and am now back into the hole for another $7,000. When upgrading gear becomes a necessity, loans and debt, may very well be the only way. I don't recommend it, unless you have enough work booked to get you back out of it within a year, or less.

 

[Braineack]

Anywho, I can't & won't do anything until I have a faster $2000 Mac.

Apple is genius.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Getting in practice and charging clients don't seem to go together... As mentioned doing some work as an assistant/second shooter could give you practice (that and/or maybe another way to make some extra income would need to be considered for the next year you mentioned or longer). If you go with used equipment then as you build your business you could upgrade.

And yeah, being professional about photography as a business would be beneficial in having success.
American Society of Media Photographers

 

[cconner]

Go to 500px and search for your old gear, you will find that others are killing it with that old gear. Getting all new gear and into debt isn't going to make you a magician.


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[JohnnyWrench]

You don't need a $2000 Mac. The Mac Minis are great little machines with plenty of juice. I have one. And I just picked up a 23 inch Apple Cinema Display on craigslist for $150. Save up, buy used, do more with less and don't take on a bunch of debt.