photography for a living

[Michael J.]

If you do photography for a living would you upgrade your gear you already own, and if you a hobby photographer what is the motivation to get more expensive gears?

Why I ask this question. That's easy said.

My cousin he doers photography for a living, and I met him on Chinese New Year. He told me that a lot of hobby photographers are wanting very expensive gears and asking him which one they should buy, and so on. When he asked them what they like to capture, many of them told him their families and their vacation trip.

He told me that he can get good money for his work and good tools are necessary to get the best quality. But, he asked me, why would a hobby photographer spent lot of money.

Imagine, an average income on salary based in Thailand is approx. 15,000.00 THB = 460.829 USD per month if you own a degree. Without a degree the approx. monthly salary is 9,000.00 THB = 276.498 USD. Put away the cost of living, and some payback for house and car they have very less money left to safe up for expensive cameras, lenses, etc.. But they wanna it so badly that they cut education for their children, eating habit changes - instead good fresh food instant soups which cost a fraction of a 35 Baht soup, and so on.

What is what those people want achieve?

 

[J-see]

As a hobby-shooter I buy more expensive gear the moment the previous doesn't allow me to do what I want. I went FX because the light during these seasons limited me too much in what I could and could not shoot.

I got the Tamron because the 70-300mm didn't cut it for birds and neither did my 200mm. Now I ordered another 300mm because f/7.1 doesn't cut it either. Each time I can't get the shots I want, I look for what could. Sometimes I get something for no other reason than the need to have it.

I think we hobby shooters get more expensive gear because we suffer some form of insanity.

 

[Nero]

For me personally I plan on upgrading mainly because I'm a geek for this sort of thing. I'm always looking for a way to make my gear repertoire better. Plus, a new model would give me some features I can't have with my current model.

Insanity is another possibility.

 

[carguy]

I consider myself a hobbiest. When I've upgraded it's because I reached a limitation to what I had or wanted another option. I went with what I could afford and saved for what I couldn't afford at the time.

Just my experience.

 

[Pretzel]

For a hobby... unless I had the disposable income WITHOUT taking education away from my kids or healthy food off of my table, I wouldn't upgrade my equipment. So much more can be gained by learning/perfecting the skill to use the equipment, and with so much information available on the internet, for MUCH LESS than the cost of the latest, greatest equipment.

Most people don't realize this, though. Unfortunately, they equate more spending to better results.

Then again, if I had the disposable income to cover it, I'd probably have it ALL. I guess it all boils down to priorities... and there's not a scenario in which I would choose non-essential luxuries over family and health.

 

[mikew_RIP]

I used to always upgrade? because i wanted to,now being retired any money i spend takes longer to replace so i tend to need a reason, like the new D7200 if it gives me a stop or two on ISO and better low light focus lock i may buy it.
Photography will always have a large element of followers that upgrade because its new shiny male jewelery but if thats there kick so be it,if i win the lottery i will show you what upgrading is .

 

[traceyjj]

For more than 30 years photography has been a hobby... but it was pushed into the background while the kids were younger. They came first.
I upgraded last year, but that was purely because it was a "big" birthday, and hubby wanted to buy me something special, and something I would enjoy. We have 4 kids youngest is 16, and its not until recently that we have started spending money on ourselves... we have just over a year left on our mortgage, and that is our only debt, so when that is done I will be able to justify to myself getting the one of the other lenses I want... or a small carry round body to replace my oly xz1

 

[mauckcg]

Lucky me, I wanted better race car pictures. At the time i didn't quite realize what I was getting into. Endurance races run into the night which pushes you towards 2.8 glass. I have the disposable income for faster glass, though there are limits to what I am willing to spend on what is ultimately a hobby.

 

[Rick M]

I think you'll find most people that spend a lot of money on gear already have the essentials covered. I wouldn't sacrifice to buy my expensive toys. Luckily print sales have covered my purchases for the past 2 years. While I don't need to make money at it, I feel less guilty buying expensive lenses.