it's the end of the year, have you drawn the line?

[cmM]

I'm just curious how much have you guys spent this year on photography. I keep all my receipts... it's actually the thickest folder in my little filing cabinet :o . I was going to count them and add it all up see what the figures are but when I saw how many pieces of paper there are in there.... I gave up.

Maybe we can all add to this thread and at the end add it all up (we'd probably end up with some 7 figure number :p ).

As far as I go... well from cameras to lenses, studio equipment, etc... I've spent somewhere arounf $6k. Goodbye wealth and riches; hello photography.

Since I shot a couple shows/weddings I was thinking about stating photography as a profession when it comes to my income taxes, and since my income for photography was less than 1000 and my "work related expenses" were astronomical, perhaps I could get a decent tax refund :lol:

...anyway, how much did you spend?

P.S.: Make sure your wives don't see this thread or else I'm pretty sure I'll be hearing about a few domestic violence / murder attempt complaints :)

[Wazza]

I'm going to blow over next year, in maybe 3 months or so. ;)

So this year, all I have purchased is umm... printing costs. And a frame or two. My current camera I bought last year, just a P&S Sony V1. I'm trying to keep under maybe US$4K on a 20D and 2-3 lenses. Body alone costs $US1900. Perhaps shipping one from the states at $1300 + delivery would be a better option.

[Scottes]

$13, 827.83

[PacAce]

I stopped adding them up a long time ago. Too depressing! :confused:

[timmyquest]

the 17-40 is on the way, then with the help of some saving and a tax return, i'll have the 100-400 for baseball season. Then i need to start saving for school for when i transfer. The only other lens i can see myself buying anytime soon that i dont actually need, is the 135 f/2.

I dont want to get a new camera, i do...but i cant afford it, and i'm starting to think that using older tech is making me a better photographer.

Anyways, in the last year...lets see

$1200 for Drebel, 3 year replacement plan, battery, and CF card
$100 for battery grip
$80 for 50mm f/1.8 and some filters
$350 for 550EX
$900 for 70-200 f/2.8
$200 for 2x Tcon
$2200 for 1D
$90 for another CF card
$700 for 17-40

$5820 total
I sold the rebel and battery grip for $700
I sold the tcon for 200

Total spent: $4920...i dont think thats somehting i should have added

[Mills]

Way Too Much, But Worth Every Penny!

[aam1234]

If I add the 24-70L which I'm planning to buy very soon, then the total would be around $8,000 (didn't buy that lens yet because of technical reasons...change of address).

[ilya]

not much in 2004 - just studio stuff just over $1k.

[Moppie]

$13, 827.83
:eek: :eek:

If I convert that to NZ dollars, its roughly what I earned this year after tax :D


Iv spent less than a NZ$100 this year, one 128mb CF card and a ND4 filter.
Iv also spent about NZ$35 on prints.

Next year is planned as my big year, sell a car thats costing me money and its not even running, move out of my entry level employment position, and work on the g/f.
Hopefuly the 20d will be avliable at a good price, along with some lens I should be able to get well set up for $NZ2-3,000.

[aam1234]

and work on the g/f

Care to clarify that one. :)

[iwatkins]

Not too much this year, most of my outlay was the tail end of 2003.

I've probably spent around £1500 on equipment and printing costs this year.

However, I've just put in an order for studio equipment (I've got use of some space for car photography) that'll set me back around the £5k mark. But that is OK, that is for 2005 :D

Cheers

Ian

[thomascanty]

I'm just curious how much have you guys spent this year on photography.

I haven't added it all up yet, but I'm guessing it's somewhere around $7-8K for this year.

Since I shot a couple shows/weddings I was thinking about stating photography as a profession when it comes to my income taxes

I've always been tempted to do this also, but a couple years ago my tax accountant told me this was a very good way to get your file red flagged for an audit. I guess too many people try this. Of course, I'm just taking her word for it...

[gramps]

close to the $6,000 range...........still need a couple more lenses and some software......

[RichardtheSane]

I've just worked it out and I think I've spent £3700 sterling wich is approximatly $7000 US Dollars.

Oh my, I really wish I hadn't worked that out, oh well, it is worth it!

[Scottes]

Oh my, I really wish I hadn't worked that out

Believe me whan I say that I wasn't happy about filling out the insurance forms. Actually though, only the "Total" box was difficult...

[RichardtheSane]

Believe me whan I say that I wasn't happy about filling out the insurance forms. Actually though, only the "Total" box was difficult...

Yes, insurance does tend to sting a bit when you list your photo gear as being worth more than double your car value.

[sGu]

Anywhere between GBP £10,000 to GBP £15,000

[Wazza]

:eek: :eek:

If I convert that to NZ dollars, its roughly what I earned this year after tax :D
.......
Next year is planned as my big year, sell a car thats costing me money and its not even running, move out of my entry level employment position, and work on the g/f.
Hopefuly the 20d will be avliable at a good price, along with some lens I should be able to get well set up for $NZ2-3,000.

Sounds very similar to me. Same pay, (yeah NZ pay sucks).
But anyway, if you can let me know where to buy a 20D that cheap, with a NZ 1-2 year warranty. Please order 2.
I do have a few good friends in USA, I could probably trust sending huge sums of money, and get one for US$1300. :)

[cmM]

okay ladies and gentlemen.....
so far 11 photographers have spent approximately $83,800

that's it... change of major: business -> opening a camera store. :D

[Moppie]

But anyway, if you can let me know where to buy a 20D that cheap, with a NZ 1-2 year warranty. Please order 2.

Hey, Im talking a used one this time next year after the 30D comes out :)

And only US$83,000?
Forget the camera store, buy shares in Canon.

[EoSD30fReAk]

i've spent about $3500 this year on lenses and filters and i also bought some second hand bodies for around $500 but after repairing them i sold some of them and made another $500 and that way i bought another lens ;)

[Turbowolf]

Way too much for a college student. Actually, I used some of my retirement money to do a complete upgrade over the last year ... the list below was all obtained within the last 14 months. It started innocently, with a Digital Rebel - and after a very short time the bug bit. I have had nothing but good results since going digital, and having the ability to buy software at student prices cannot be beaten.

If I add the cost of my last four photo-safari's, and the cost of a new 2005 Kawasaki DR650 (Street & Dirt usable) for backcountry access in Montana, well, it hasn't been cheap. Gotta run, off to Mount St. Helen's to try and get shots of the volcano venting.

[Jon]

Not less than $5500, not counting small stuff like card & battery holders, cleaning supplies, ink and paper, or dual-use stuff like CF cards, CD-Rs/DVD+Rs and card readers, or books/subscriptions/software. I expect when I run that "camera" report in Money, the numbers will be a tad higher. Don't think I'll print it though, even if it is less than Ann's horse expenses!

[steven]

Took a little while adding it all up but the bottom line was

18,907.98:oops::rolleyes::eek::o

but I'm having alot of fun with it :cool:

[Danny Boy]

Man, this thread really made me think (ouch!!!). I guess that my "estimate" is about $7K. Now I'm depressed, yet happy. This $$ includes camera, lenses, bags, filters, and even a new Canon i9900 printer (which I really like). Oh yeah, don't mention this to my wife.

Can I include Doom 3 in this estimate? Oh, nevermind... different category.

Dan