How do you afford it?

[mcneguy]

As you can see from my signature I have one "L" lens, probably the cheapest one made and a Tamron that is a Canon killer (my opinion) along with my 10d and other stuff. My question to the group is, all you guys who have ordered your 1d mark II bodies for $4500 and your other various "L" lenses, how do you afford it all. I make a six figure salary as does my wife and I can't really afford to come close to buying any of that stuff.

Of course I do have other issues. I own 12 guitars (all very nice ones), am in the process of building a 4000 square foot home, my daughter is going to a private college next year, and so on, so perhaps I have answered my own question but it is something I have been wondering for quite a while now. I suppose if I added up the worth of those guitars (afraid to do that) it would probably crush what most people have in photo equipment. Maybe I need to get to only one hobby...

Fabulous, I'm rambling now..

[defordphoto]

We live in cardboard boxes, eat Top Ramen three times a day and hold cardboard signs on street corners reading: "Will shoot for food", but, of course, we don't want food, we want money! Notice the multiple references to cardboard.

Those are the boxes we received all our cameras and lenses in! :lol:

[Belmondo]

I have a lot of camera equipment but only one guitar worth mentioning(Gibson Lucille). I am recently retired and otherwise wouldn't be able to afford everything I've bought, but I liquidated another hobby (model railroads) a couple years ago, and that money has been paying for most of my camera purchases ever since.

I've really reached a point where there isn't much to buy except for the big L primes, and I have no use with which to justify them. So for me, the spending is pretty much over until my Mk II becomes significantly obsolete and something much better is available. Hopefully that won't be for a couple years.

Your house is bigger than mine, too (about 10%).

[Tom W]

As you can see from my signature I have one "L" lens, probably the cheapest one made and a Tamron that is a Canon killer (my opinion) along with my 10d and other stuff. My question to the group is, all you guys who have ordered your 1d mark II bodies for $4500 and your other various "L" lenses, how do you afford it all. I make a six figure salary as does my wife and I can't really afford to come close to buying any of that stuff.

Of course I do have other issues. I own 12 guitars (all very nice ones), am in the process of building a 4000 square foot home, my daughter is going to a private college next year, and so on, so perhaps I have answered my own question but it is something I have been wondering for quite a while now. I suppose if I added up the worth of those guitars (afraid to do that) it would probably crush what most people have in photo equipment. Maybe I need to get to only one hobby...

Fabulous, I'm rambling now..

Ahhh, but you did answer your own question. 4000 square feet and private college can buy a lot of 1D Mk II cameras with fine "L" glass.

Get yourself a trailer and send her to community college. Get your priorities straight, man.

OK, j/k! Had I a daughter, she'd have a private tutor and wouldn't be allowed out of the house until she was 30.

[Tom W]

We live in cardboard boxes, eat Top Ramen three times a day and hold cardboard signs on street corners reading: "Will shoot for food", but, of course, we don't want food, we want money! Notice the multiple references to cardboard.

Those are the boxes we received all our cameras and lenses in! :lol:

I'm sorry Jim, but I just threw out a big pile of boxes. I guess I should have considered my "1D Mk II" friends. :)

What's really odd is that most of the boxes came from B&H....

[mcneguy]

I think I've identified a problem. Belmondo states that he owns a Gibson Lucille, the first thing that popped in to my mind was "I wonder how much he would sell it for"

I am sick...

[MrChevy]

I thought I was doing Ok, my check for the whole month of Mar '04 was $928.64 BEFORE taxes were taken out. I guess I am in the wrong forum :( and 10 years before I can retire. Dang, the wife HAS to get a job.

No 1D MKII for me unless things get a little better.

At least I have a little Canon gear! YES, makes life worth living :)

[SnJPhoto]

20 plus years in the military, getting deployed to dark crappy [edited] hole places, ended with a retirement that is a means to afford the addiction to photography. Don't get me wrong, the job (military) was fun, but not some of the places.

Scott

[Scottes]

Last month I took my first vacation in 5-1/2 years... I have only one hobby, and one vice.

OK, 2 hobbies. No wait, that's a vice, too.

[leony]

I've happily assisted a (mid-level) fashon shooter in NYC up until I started adding up what his studio was worth... That begged a question:

Q: so, how much do photogs make to be able to afford 100K+ worth of stuff with another 10K/year to keep it updated/running?

A: look around. what you see is 5 years of hard work without vocations, mercedes in the driveway, 50" plazma screen in the living room and going out partying every weekend. (For those outside NYC, one night out can easilly add up to $150+ without much effort). What you see is an investment in to my current income of 250K/year...which is provided by a 5-day 60-hour week. And only 10% of us make it this far.

The guy's tearsheets for 2004 so far include: Elle Girl, Vellum, Marie Clare, TV Guide and some commercial assignments that I can't disclose if I want to keep my job as his assistant.

[Conk]

3 words, Tax write-off. :mrgreen:

[Blues67]

Hell, if I worked like a dog I'd have more stuff, but I like spending time with my kids. Coaching Mite ice and F2 roller hockey, attending all my kids school functions, serving on preschool boards, ok I don't enjoy the dance recitals, going to the kids soccer and baseball games. Ok, if I sold a vehicle or three, 3 SUVs (1 show), 2 P/ups, Street bike, ATV, get rid of a mountain bike or two, sell one of the condos, stop the yearly ski trips, move out of the 3800sqft home with a 1 acre yard and 3 decks, forget the boat I was looking at, give up my season tickets to the St. Louis BLues.................................I think Ill just build slowly thank you and spend as much time with my kids. Its all about priorities. And no Mercedes, have you checked the repair history on those? I'll stick with Acura and Lexus. And yes I have been to NYC, nice to visit, otherwise, Ill stick to the Midwest. Income goes over twice as far, and hell, you can piss away $150 partying around here easy. That wont get ya more than a couple of hours in a good strip club.

[PekkaM]

Of course I do have other issues. I own 12 guitars (all very nice ones)

I only graduated a year ago (M.Sc in engineering) and all my money goes to Japanese guitars, Japanese cameras and Japanese optics. There must be something special about those Japanese... ;)

I live in small apartment, have no kids and use public transportation (have to admit, that's not an option everywhere). It's all about priorization! :D

[IanD]

Get the kids out of the house! Both daughters moved out a couple of years ago. You would be suprised how much money you can save :lol:
As some one said, priorities. Photography is something that I enjoy and I enjoy it more using good equipment. Do I take better pictures cause of my "L" glass? Probably not. But I learned long ago that quality always has greater returns. The short of it is, you buy what you are comfortable with.
Bottom line.

[Blues67]

It will be awhile before my kids are out of the house 5&7 Yrs old. I agree with buying quality, I buy the best I can afford (get my wife to let me buy). And I too have a problem with Japanese.....4 of 5 vehicles, motorcycle, ATV, Sony sends me chrismas cards, even lawn tractor and mower.

[Jim_T]

Get the kids out of the house! Both daughters moved out a couple of years ago. You would be suprised how much money you can save :lol:


Yep.. Kids gone on their own.. No mortgage, No personal debt to maintain... It doesn't take long at all to save up for goodies :)

Of course, I did struggle in my younger years..

[ShutteringFocus]

In your younger years?

Yeah...I practicaly loose lunch when I look at B&H's web site...

Seventeen year old kids are supposed to buy $500 cars and $150 cell phones...

Me? I want a $5,000 camera. :roll:

[CyberDyneSystems]

I drive an '86 Toyota I paid $800.00 for... that gets 40MPG and I NEVER pay to maintain... I live in a small affordable apt.. I have no other expenses.. really.

Some need to pay a big mortgage. Some support families.. some support GM and Haliburton and Opec with there need for big fat hulking gas guzzzling chryslers...

Me .. I support Canon... :wink:

[KirkM]

My wife and I both work in the automotive industry, and make pretty fair salaries. We aren't caught up in the need to have the biggest home the banks says we can afford. We have a a medium size ranch with full basement, and don't use half the space now. Our mortgage payment including taxes & insurance is only $800/month :) Only have one truck payment, and zero installment loans. We pay cash for just about everything. Guess that's why we can afford all our hobbies like cars, ATV's, firearms, woodworking equipment, photography. And they are all paid for too !!

Kirk

[adamsti]

Well I usually sell one "L" to move up to a bigger "L", and the one word I use is "plastic".

[minatophase3]

I currently can't afford it and that is why I am shooting with a Fuji FinePix S602Z :cry: .

But, because my equipment is not the best, it is causing me to work a little harder at getting good shots, and I think that is a good thing. So by the time I can afford it, my photography skills will be much better.

Anyone want to buy a BMW motorcycle? :?

[justme_dc]

Was the original post supposed to be a joke? I mean really, If you and your wife make 6 figures each that's a minimum of $200,000.00 a year. If you can't come up with $5000.00 to buy a camera with that much money then you need to rearrange your priorities... A 4000sq.ft. house? How big is your family? Do you really need all that space? Are you driving a car that cost more than $30,000? How about your wife? Do you own a boat or RV? Where's all that money going? Do you have a drug habit or a gambling addiction?

If you simplify your life you'll have all the money you need.

It would take me 4-6 years to earn $200,000. and I have a condo, a car, a truck, 3 motorcycles, a dog and huge pile of musical instuments and camera gear for days. I also happen to live in the third most expensive area (Los Angeles) in the USA. I manage just fine.....

[RichardtheSane]

Afford it or not, camera equipments finds a way for you to buy it....

[Gerdav43]

For me it was all about choices. Unfortunately for my 1969 Camaro with a 350 small block producing a mere 425HP it fell victim to the camera craze. It sits in primer in my garage acting more like a shelf than a Classic Automobile. I feel guilty for my neglect but I will get back to her and give her that shiny new coat that she deserves. But first a few 'L's. Don't worry fellow car enthusiasts, she's holding up well under all the junk piled on top of her. She has new shocks and springs :lol:

[PacAce]

I own 12 guitars (all very nice ones)..

Wow, 12? :shock: Obviously that's NOT enough! You need to bump that count up a bit, you know. You wouldn't be interested in a hardly used Lonestar Strat, would you? :?

[jfretless]

We Americans have it pretty good. Not to get too deep, but to be in a situation where we have problems deciding how our "hobby" money is spent... We have it pretty good, L glass or not.

John

[vvizard]

I'm just a student, so I really shouldn't be able to afford photography DSLR's I think.. The reaction of all I know seeing my gear is: "How on earth can you afford this?". Good question :P But I have few expenses. I live at my parents house this year, and this is the year I started photographing. I also got a part-time job beside school at a real sucky place (like the Norwegian version of K-mart), but at least it gives me ~ $1050 before taxes. I also got a mastercard with $1300 limit, which really can help =D

[vvizard]

Haha, and another way that works great for those of us like me, who have a hard time showing a lot of cash up front. In Norway, we got 24% import-tax. So what I do if I buy something expensive from B&H, I buy it when it's a little less than 2 weeks to my next salary. Why? Because when I'm importing, the carrier (UPS) is responsible for calculating and collecting my import-tax. But they don't bother doing that right away, as it would slow down the shipment. Instead it's sent as a bill in the mail, and it got a 2week "deadline" on it. So I can buy gear with one salary, and pay the remaining 24% on the next =)

[mjordan]

I didn't know Canon made guitars. Do they have red strips on them?




:lol:


Mike

[NILOLIGIST]

Strange thread. Is it bragging or bashing? People will do what they need to when they must.

Being single without any children does make it easier...But, if I were married with children it might take longer but it would not be impossible.

I agree with most of the posts here. With the salary in your household, you should be able to more than afford to buy whatever you want when you want. Perhaps, you are just frugal...

LOL...

NiL,

[Blues67]

I think there is a bit of both bragging and bashing. As far as kids go, yes they are astronomically expensive. But the fuel the camera bug. Capturing your kids first goal, just as the puck hits the back of the net, or you daughters look of determination with the soccer ball just leaving her foot. Your son in mid air as he stops a goal to win the game. Preserving the look of joy as your daughter peiruets during a dance recietal. Capturing your sons face he wins accedimic challenges in school competions...............priceless......makes the equipment cost much less painful. Unlike the cost of his dirtbike. Parents, dont primise things...It will come back to bite you in the ass.

[Belmondo]

Strange thread. Is it bragging or bashing? People will do what they need to when they must.

Being single without any children does make it easier...But, if I were married with children it might take longer but it would not be impossible.

I agree with most of the posts here. With the salary in your household, you should be able to more than afford to buy whatever you want when you want. Perhaps, you are just frugal...

LOL...

NiL,

This is one of the charming aspects of this forum, and possibly one of the dangers.

In the 'how old are you' thread, we've learned that we have a vast range in the ages of our ‘typical’ participants, and it's reasonable to conclude that there are also even wider ranges in income, education, numbers of dependants, lifestyle, and just about any other variable you’d care to mention. It’s safe to say, the only thing we have in common is a love for, and fascination with, digital photography.

For anyone who feels resentment towards anyone else because they make too much money, live in too big a house, drive too expensive a car, or own too much expensive camera gear, I can only suggest that you need to ‘get over it’. To a large degree, quality of life is the product of the choices we’ve made along the way. Some of us have made better choices; some of us (the geriatric crowd) are just a lot farther down the road.

My wife and I are married 42 years. We have no children, and we have both worked our entire adult lives. We invested our own money in our own business over twenty years ago and operated that business together until we finally pulled the plug on it three years ago. During that time, 12-hour days were not uncommon, days off were infrequent, and our entire net worth was always at risk.

So we’ve reached this stage in our lives where we live very comfortably. We’re not rich, but we’re comfortable. We also understand that there are things we’ve given up and will never have, children being chief among them. We’ve paid for everything we own; some might argue that we’ve paid an unacceptable price. That’s entirely possible.

The point is, we’re all alike, AND we’re all different. Let’s build on what unites us but also be thankful that we’re not all just carbon copies of each other.

[NILOLIGIST]

belmondo,

Well said. I think this forum should have a section for whiners of all kind. I think photography is the greatest thing to happen to me.

I will spend every dime on it if I like. I really want to be in a forum where photography is celebrated not being bashed for how much is spent pursuing the happiness it brings.

I agree with the "get over it " comment.

NiL,

[Tom W]

Tom, you missed your calling as a politician - or maybe not (I'd never take that kind of job - too hot under the collar sometimes). Anyway, you stated that well.

I've spent a good deal more than I had ever planned on photography equipment, but then I look around at all the folks that have boats, multiple vehicles, and huge homes and yards. I certainly don't envy them (especially those with boats since I once was partners on one of those things). We all have our priorities in life. We go to work, get our pay, and then decide how we want to spend it.

[SWPhotoImaging]

This one is easy for me . . .
I sold my motorcycles
I sold my pontoon boat
I have sold back 4 weeks of vacation each of the last two years
I stopped going fishing, golfing and anything else costly to pursue
I don't travel a lot, except on business
I live well within my means (mortgage payment is less than 1/4 of take-home pay)
I don't pay for my computers (job perk)
I don't pay for my Internet service (again, work related)
I don't pay for my own cell phone (you guessed it . .work)
I buy my reading materials (paperbacks) second-hand (except Photoshop books)
and the most important one . . .

I like Top Ramen

So for me, my camera fetish (not my photography hobby, but my camera fetish) is my only lavish self-indulgence, other than (GOOD!) tequila.

[NILOLIGIST]

Remember, it is not how much you make...It is how you spend it. Like I said, if you want it bad enough you can get it.

NiL,

[DieselGirl]

I was going to just let this thread die but I can't help but think this guy is doing nothing more than bragging. Big deal, you make six figures. Is that necessary to let us know that. I have read your post and can't seem to figure out what your point is, that is if there was one.

[martcol]

I own 12 guitars (all very nice ones)

Sell them! Easy!

Who needs guitars, fast cars, women, alcohol, fine clothes, work, oxygen....

Quick everyone, they're coming, I can hear them.......

Martin - Changing his name to L Cid!

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

We have our own company and we work long hours, due to that we hardly ever go on holiday and if we do it's 90% a workvacation, on which we earn the vacation back :D in 2 day's (of the max. 6).

But we don't mind we love the work :D.

We don't smoke, we don't drink and the only other hobby I have is Home Theater which is allready paid for and there are hardly need for expensive upgrades there (we own a PC shop and Home Theater company :D).

So, that leaves some money left for my passion photography, I do however never buy the most expensive stuff except with lenses I'm really picky.
I recently fullfilled my dream by building a studio in the building were our company started out (connected to our house), and now I hope to make some small money in my free time by making model shoots :D.
All used offcourse for the hobby.

Greetings,
Frank

[NILOLIGIST]

He is not really bragging to me. See, making six figures is really not that big of a deal at least to me. Impress me, make 8 figures.

Also, he has all of those things, house, cars, private school for the kids and the lot. But, he is not paying for all of that ALONE. He has help. Now, I would be impressed if all of that came from one income.

Also, it sounds like the household has plenty of money, I feel bad for him...He makes all that money and can't afford a cheap camera for a few thousand.

So, if he is bragging is sounds more like crying to me. LOL

Just enjoy what you have and don't expect anyone to be impressed with you or what you have but you.

That is my motto.

NiL,

[Andy_T]

Also, he has all of those things, house, cars, private school for the kids and the lot. But, he is not paying for all of that ALONE. He has help. Now, I would be impressed if all of that came from one income.


Hi Nil,

I agree with what you said as to the original poster's point.

However, don't underestimate that two people earning money also spend money .... If you don't have to 'turn the dime', money has a tendency to make its own way when you're not looking :lol:

I realized that when my wife and I got our first son a little more than a year ago. With one salary instead of two and our savings (or what was left of them after the bust of the internet stockmarket bubble :cry:) invested as downpayment in a (moderate) house, we still get by, but investments in hobbies like photography are a little more difficult to explain, nowadays :wink:

I just keep thinking ... my god, how much money did I have over to spend, back then ... too bad that reasonably-priced DSLR's were not available then...

As fas as priorities are concerned ... I also have realized now that 2 months of the rent for my company car might have bought me an average 'L' lens :cry:

Best regards,
Andy

[Blues67]

All I know is, money isn't everything. Before we had kids, we were DINKS (double incomce-no kids) and could buy damn near anything we wanted or go anywhere we felt like. Now we have two kids, my wife is a stay at home mother, and I work like a dog. We went from just shy of 6 fig. to less than half of that ( I started my own bussiness) and increased expenses with the kids. Some of my toys have gotten older, I went from playing golf weekly to a few times yearly, we only drive one new car at a time (Honda is a hell of a lot more reliable than Mercedes). And I still have enough money for camera eqiup (JUst pick and choose carefully). My daughter has become my model, she has been posing since she was 3 (now 5 and a total ham for the camera). I look at pics other parents have taken with "inexpensive" cameras and think, I dont remember that. I look at mine, like a close up of my sons face, driping with sweat through his hockey mask, and remember the feelings (and smell). A good camera for me is an essential. Saving for a MKII next.

PS my kids go to public school and are fine. We have good school here,

[NILOLIGIST]

I know why he started this thread!! So that he could have the longest thread on this forum.

Well sorry buddy, I do belive I am the champ here and probably my thread is long gone now but here is the link just in case you want to start it up again...LOL

It may not be the longest thread here, but it felt like it.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8789&postdays=0&postorder=asc&sta rt=0

NiL,

[Lamplight]

I came from another expensive hobby (cars) that I also couldn't afford. :D So my old car now rarely gets driven, and the rust I had vowed to fix (once I could afford such a costly process) is still there only worse. I never thought I could lose interest in cars but now I find that I am. :( This also makes me worry that I may be spending too much on yet another hobby I will eventually lose interest in, which of course is photography. But at least I don't have to fill the DRebel up with gas or spend thousands just to keep it running.

In the end, it's all just "stuff" anyway. :)

[jgbeam]

It's simply a matter of priorities. Buy a $20,000 car instead of a $30,000 car.

I'm also an audiophile, but a sane one. I recently bought a $750 phono cartridge-that's right, for vinyl records - remember them? But I think the guys who pay $12,000 for a cartridge are the crazy ones. And then there are the $100,000+ speaker systems!!

Whatever turn you on - you'll find a way. With $200K/year there must be a multitude of ways.

Jim

[Blues67]

Yes I remember vinyl, got over 400 of them. And a Technics SL-QL5 liniar tracking turntable. Paid $1600 for a pair of speakers 16 yrs ago and the still sound great. But I did pay over $ 30.000 for my wifes SUV. Told her she had to drive it for at least 10 yrs. Its a Honda so it will definately be around even if we keep it for 20.