What to tell friends/family when they ask why YOU need expensive bodies or lenses?

[robbins.photo]

This is a typical situation that you may also find outside photography. The Golden Rule here is: the answer should be as good as the question is. Never try to come up with the answer that is better than the question. Remember, you are not answering yourself, you are answering a person who knows as much as his/her question.

Ya.. see that Derrel! You need to start dumbing down your replies.

A ton. Rotflmao

So if you are asked why do you buy a more expensive camera, tell them "It is a better camera". That's it!!!
If they are clever enough to come up with the next question such as "in what way it is better?", tell them in what way it is better.
If they ask "Is it worth it?" or "Does it really matter?" , say "It does to me, but not necessary to you".
That't it. Do not try to turn them into your religion, and all of a sudden it gets easy peasy.
Try this approach and you will immediately see how effective it is.
The common mistake people make in this kind of situation is, when asked they start talking to themselves, explaining it to themselves rather than to a person who asked.


PS If you are unable to answer your own question "Why the f***k did I buy this expensive body", then this is a completely different proposition.

But if you can't convert them to your religion, who's going to drink the koolaid later?

 

[sashbar]

This is a typical situation that you may also find outside photography. The Golden Rule here is: the answer should be as good as the question is. Never try to come up with the answer that is better than the question. Remember, you are not answering yourself, you are answering a person who knows as much as his/her question.

Ya.. see that Derrel! You need to start dumbing down your replies.

A ton. Rotflmao

You can rotfl as much as you wish, but if you ever become a politician or any other public figure of enough significance to merit your own top PR assistant (which I somehow seriously doubt) it will be the first and probably most important advice that you will be given by this guy. I am saying it having done thousands of life and recorded interviews with politicians and all kinds of news makers. That was my work.

 

[robbins.photo]

This is a typical situation that you may also find outside photography. The Golden Rule here is: the answer should be as good as the question is. Never try to come up with the answer that is better than the question. Remember, you are not answering yourself, you are answering a person who knows as much as his/her question.

Ya.. see that Derrel! You need to start dumbing down your replies.

A ton. Rotflmao

You can rotfl as much as you wish, but if you ever become a politician or any other public figure of enough significance to merit your own top PR assistant (which I somehow seriously doubt) it will be the first and probably most important advice that you will be given by this guy. I am saying it having done thousands of life and recorded interviews with politicians and all kinds of news makers. That was my work.

Well, pretty much zero chance of me getting into politics. I have this really horrible tendency to tell people what I actually think as opposed to what they want to hear. Pretty much dooms any political career at the outset right there. Also you might wish to note that the response was a good-natured ribbing aimed at Derrel, who is known for giving some really well thought out intelligent responses to questions. It was meant to be a little more tongue in cheek than I think you interpreted it.

 

[manaheim]

"How much have you spent on your . (insert their hobby item here) _ ?"

Yeah, this is really it.

Everyone has something they do that they would LOVE to spend 8 million dollars on if they could, and most of those things would be considered a waste of money to me. A big one is golf clubs. The one thing you'll have going against you here is a really good camera is far more expensive than, say, a really good fishing pole. (though I understand some go quite high... perhaps I'll say 'of the same caliber')

Just ask them what their hobbies are, and ask them the most expensive thing they'd like to buy if they had the money.

 

[manaheim]

Oh the other reason is "Because it's none of their goddamned business".

I mean, in all seriousness, where do they get off questioning your purchases? I sincerely hope you didn't tell them how much you spent, because that would be pretty much asking for this problem, btw.

There's a buddy of mine who spends more than I do on a weeks vacation on a single night in a hotel room. I think it's ridiculous, but then I don't make as much money as he does, and he seems to be doing just fine, so who am I to judge?

 

[480sparky]

Oh the other reason is "Because it's none of their goddamned business"............

Another angle is, "How do you know how much I've spent on my gear, and what makes you think it's a lot?"

The average un-enlighted person won't know the cost difference between a D40 with an 18-55 kit on it and a D4 with a 24-70.

....I mean, in all seriousness, where do they get off questioning your purchases?.....

I do think it's a valid question in certain circumstances. I have been asked numerous times about 'What should I buy?" I am currently conversing with someone who recently upgraded from a D90 to a D7100 as is asking about lenses for a trip to Europe. I asked two questions... do you ever think you'll change to FX, and what is your ultimate use for the images.

Answers: FX is sketchy at best, and a long way off. Uses include maybe printing an 8x10, but mostly emailing, posting on FaceSpace and MyBook, etc. I said the 18-105 is more than enough. If he wants something wider, I'd suggest the Nikkor 10-24, Tokina 11-16, Tamrons' 10-24 or the Siggy 10-20. No way would I suggest a Nikkor 14-24.

 

[AlanKlein]

My friend just asked me the other day why I shoot with film. But that's another topic.

 

[SweetJem]

My friends are not into it photography at all and they don't get why I spend so much on this and not on anything else. LOL. It's simply because I love it and I wanna get better with that I do so clients will be impressed. hehehe

 

[astroNikon]

I just sold all my camera gear and bought a cheap fixer-upper boat. I should have it on the water next week

NOT !!

 

[480sparky]

I just sold all my camera gear and bought a cheap fixer-upper boat. I should have it on the water next week

NOT !!

Pix, or it didn't happen.





Oh, wait................

 

[Designer]

I just sold all my camera gear and bought a cheap fixer-upper boat. I should have it on the water next week

NOT !!

LOL! There's one for sure!

Here's a quote that I'm probably not remembering correctly: "A boat is a hole in the water that needs to be filled up with money."

 

[bribrius]

I just sold all my camera gear and bought a cheap fixer-upper boat. I should have it on the water next week

NOT !!

your missing out then. Plus, you can bring a camera on a boat. I could never put photography over the water. I LOVE being on the water. Especially running at night, in the dark. under the stars. Nice and quiet, peaceful. I love it. photography is entertaining but no where near the same experience. Photography is taking a photo. Being on the water is living the photo. I do enjoy photography though... But that is just me. id spend thirty k on a boat before id spend five k on a camera.

 

[bribrius]

I just sold all my camera gear and bought a cheap fixer-upper boat. I should have it on the water next week

NOT !!

LOL! There's one for sure!

Here's a quote that I'm probably not remembering correctly: "A boat is a hole in the water that needs to be filled up with money."

I cant argue this, and I run boats I pay cash for and fix them. But I still spend about two k a year just in fuel. All I can say is, you can do it on a budget but it wont be a small budget. im looking forward to this year. Best of both worlds. I expect to get some good photos from off the boatside.