john*thomas
Senior Member
Unfortunately this may be long........ I'm getting ready to retire and was thinking about making a little money on the side. Here is where it starts getting long. My daughter graduated high school last year and we paid a friend of mine (that does this for a living) to take her senior pics. She did an absolutely amazing job. We paid her very good money and we ended up getting far more than we paid for but still, money not everyone could afford. Some of my daughters friends didn't get senior pics because of this. I did a couple of her friends for nothing. All they got was the pics, processed and on a thumb drive. They were very pleased. (though I admit they were not as good as the ones my friend took of my daughter).
I also did wedding pics for my oldest daughter while my middle daughter had someone do the actual wedding (they were not so good). I took some after the wedding for her which were better than the ones she paid for. (my daughter knew it was a hassle after her sisters wedding to both be in the wedding and take pics)
Some of their friends can't afford the price and only have cell phone pics. I don't want to step on the business of those like my friend but I'm considering offering an affordable option. I enjoy doing it. I enjoy sitting down in the evening and processing pics. It's relaxing so it's not like looking at how much I make per hour. I'm only going to offer the pics on a thumb drive. I'm not interested in printing. There are plenty of places they can get them printed themselves as money allows.
That said, to my main point. I probably need a back up. I saw the deal on the D610 kit and it got me looking. I love my D7100 and had planned on using it for years (it's funny, I do not see many of them being offered used). BUT for doing something like a wedding I figured I have to have a back up. Graduation pics I could schedule later but not wedding pics. Now I'm not against buying used. I bought my D7100 used (it only had like 250 actuations on it). I thought about getting a cheap back up (Like a used D3100) but then as I said, I got looking.
I can get the D610 kit for $900 (I have a couple FX lens already). I've seen a used D800 for $700 (body only with 22,000 on it.) I could get another D7100 used for $350-$400. Found a low click count D610 body for $440. Used D500's still seem pretty pricey. (In a low count) I like what is said about the D750 low light performance. They are still a bit pricey also for low shutter count examples.
I'm mostly putting this in writing to keep my thoughts organized. LOL Anything I'm missing? Opinions are like anything else, just opinions but there are people here with good solid opinions.
I also did wedding pics for my oldest daughter while my middle daughter had someone do the actual wedding (they were not so good). I took some after the wedding for her which were better than the ones she paid for. (my daughter knew it was a hassle after her sisters wedding to both be in the wedding and take pics)
Some of their friends can't afford the price and only have cell phone pics. I don't want to step on the business of those like my friend but I'm considering offering an affordable option. I enjoy doing it. I enjoy sitting down in the evening and processing pics. It's relaxing so it's not like looking at how much I make per hour. I'm only going to offer the pics on a thumb drive. I'm not interested in printing. There are plenty of places they can get them printed themselves as money allows.
That said, to my main point. I probably need a back up. I saw the deal on the D610 kit and it got me looking. I love my D7100 and had planned on using it for years (it's funny, I do not see many of them being offered used). BUT for doing something like a wedding I figured I have to have a back up. Graduation pics I could schedule later but not wedding pics. Now I'm not against buying used. I bought my D7100 used (it only had like 250 actuations on it). I thought about getting a cheap back up (Like a used D3100) but then as I said, I got looking.
I can get the D610 kit for $900 (I have a couple FX lens already). I've seen a used D800 for $700 (body only with 22,000 on it.) I could get another D7100 used for $350-$400. Found a low click count D610 body for $440. Used D500's still seem pretty pricey. (In a low count) I like what is said about the D750 low light performance. They are still a bit pricey also for low shutter count examples.
I'm mostly putting this in writing to keep my thoughts organized. LOL Anything I'm missing? Opinions are like anything else, just opinions but there are people here with good solid opinions.