How Do You Do It??? [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

geo1976

14th of July 2008 (Mon), 23:52

I visit this site everyday and just get inspired by the wonderful photography here. I really want to get an SLR but at the moment I just can't swing it with the limited funds coming in. I'll be happy with a 30D.

Some of you have families, jobs, part time jobs, etc. How do you manage to keep adding to this expensive hobby? Do you give blood? Win at casinos? Lottery? Scratch tickets? Inheritance money?lol

eddarr

14th of July 2008 (Mon), 23:59

There are a few similar threads to this. I think it comes down to making a choice. Extras or gear. Give up a few lunches a month and maybe an expensive dinner and you've got a new lens.

It also depends on what you do with photography. If it is a hobby just be patient and the gear will come. If you make a living with photography then that is a different story. You have to buy the gear even before any money comes in.

jbone

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 00:08

You may want to consider starting with something like an xti. Im not sure how much 30d's are going for but im sure with the savings you can get a nice lens to go with the xti. If you have your mind set on the 30D then so be it. Nit having an slr doesnt mean you cant start taking some great photos with the powershot. There are some people that can take as good if not better pics with point and shoots than many can take with dslr's. While your waiting for the funds start practicing, work on composition, etc. Then when you get the camera you want you'll be that much ahead of the game.

Moppie

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 00:25

I have a savings account.
Each month I put a percentage of my wages in it.
When it has enough in it for what I want, I go and buy it.

Becca

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 05:55

I have a savings account.
Each month I put a percentage of my wages in it.
When it has enough in it for what I want, I go and buy it.

That's what I do, too. I never buy on credit and rarely buy new. I don't have the biggest and best, but what I have is mine free and clear.

::John::

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 05:59

Same here - put a little away every month and then go pay cash for it.

geo1976

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 08:00

I have a savings account.
Each month I put a percentage of my wages in it.
When it has enough in it for what I want, I go and buy it.

That's definitely the way to go. No debt = no worries or guilt about your purchase.

I'm going to attempt this. Thanks

20droger

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 09:37

We have a budget. I never touch the budget.

I do extra jobs to get money outside the budget, and then spend it on gear. It takes time, but we've managed to get a few nice things.

speedy_2

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 12:15

I was able to initially buy my XT, case, 2 lenses, & tripod after my last deployment in the Navy. I had decided I wanted one before I left on the deployment. It's easy to save money when you're getting paid, but stuck on a boat in the middle of the Pacific. :lol:

slimninj4

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 13:35

I got a part time job for a while to pay for my toys. It worked well since I pretty much got everything I wanted before quiting. Now I have toys and time with my family.

gjl711

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 13:45

I do set a few $$ aside monthly for equipment purchases but about 1/2 comes from exchanging a few photographic services for cash.

Eagle

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 18:14

1) Save and buy when you have enough.
2) Credit Card
3) Loan
4) Bonus checks
5) Tax rebates/refunds
6) Just happen to be wealthy

Some good, some not so good. Same as how you buy anything else.

midnight_rider

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 18:28

Let me answer you before they cut my lights off here. JK
I was (and still am) surprised at how much i spent on unneeded items. Here are somethings that led my to my 2 L lenses and my 40D.
1. I stopped going into the gas station. I always spent extra money on a soda, water, or a snack.
2. I joined sams club. Buying everything in bulk really helps. Not because it is that much cheaper but because of all of the extra crap I would buy while I was at the store on weekly visits. Once a month is really nice.
3. I never have but don't play the lotto. The average person will never get back what they spend.
4. Put 5 or 10% of what you earn aside in savings. It may surprise you how little you need it if it is not in your account balance. Many checking accounts come with a change program where they take the balance to the next full dollar and place it into a saving account for you. It really adds up.
5. Enjoy what you have in life. When you do not need something then you can truly save.

pennypue

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 18:33

I hate to go shopping, especially at the mall.
I'm not allowed in the grocery store.
And my boyfriend is an absolute Love, he packs my lunch. (and grocery shops....I eat a whole lot better this way)

Saves me a bundle. I love the FedEx man, the UPS man, and sometimes the DHL lady! ;)
They all bring my camera stuff to me.

Nick Pro

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 21:10

Mind you, I dont have any bills to pay, but I cant get a job so.... I do help out other photographers sometimes. But I save save save! As there was a post here, I put my spare change into a container, than cash it in. I also have never bought a new lens, and I also try to get well loved (beat up) equipment. Less expensive, and it still works perfectly.

cdifoto

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 21:16

Some of you have families, jobs, part time jobs, etc. How do you manage to keep adding to this expensive hobby?
Regular coffee instead of Starbucks saves me a lot. I don't smoke so that saves me a lot as well. I also don't gas-ass around everywhere...that too saves me a lot. Eating out is a very rare occurrence.

Analyze your spending habits and you'd be surprised.

rklepper

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 22:45

I don't use credit cards to buy things so I have more money to spend on photo stuff, although I really have little gear.

jmcder53

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 23:02

cdiphoto, i love your avatar. we may have been separated at birth.

i'm surprised noone has suggested selling crack. ok i'm kidding, i was watching that movie "talladega nights" and there is a mention of it in there. funny movie.
i'm looking for any job to pay the bills right now, and once i start to get the medical debt paid off from a few hospital visits, i'm gonna try to start getting a few pieces of equipment at a time. best piece of advice i can give, is don't give up. don't get discouraged. i've made that mistake.
of course for me my backup plan is to find a woman who has alot of money and marry her. anyone know if Natalie Gulbis is single?

20droger

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 23:07

cdiphoto, i love your avatar. we may have been separated at birth.
Yeah, but he doesn't say why he wants to shoot four bridesmaids, or which four. I mean, what did they do that was so bad they should be shot?

nobodyspecial

15th of July 2008 (Tue), 23:34

Save,save and save some more.
I stopped buying stuff other than gas from the gas station. I stopped buying soda from the market and bought the Britania water filter and reuse the plastic water bottles I already have instead of constantly buying more bottles water. Ride my bike when time isn't an issue to get somewhere.
I do use my credit card, ONLY when the money I saved is enough for what I need. I make the payment to the card two days after making the purchase. Then I take the cashback reward points and have the credit card company send me a gift card for the bookstore and from there I get a book to help me understand what I'm doing.

AdamC

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 01:27

My initial gear (400D twin lens kit) was a very generous Christmas present. The only thing I've added to that is one L lens bought used from a friend which is still technically on loan as I haven't paid for it yet. Photography has cost me a total of less than $200 out of my own pocket, because I can't afford to buy stuff (damn home loan interest rates.)

The lesson is this: if you don't have the money, learn to make best use of what you have. Be a shooter and not a gearhound.

theflyingkiwi

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 04:10

I save the money. I am single with no mortgage or anything like that. However I just don't go out and buy stuff on the credit card, that's just a waste.

I only buy the stuff when I know got 80-90% of the money required in the bank. if I am replacing the equipment I have got I try and sell it before hand so I don't have any money tied up in the item.

neilwood32

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 08:05

I wait til i can afford it and then spend. No Credit card atm and thats the way its staying!

If i cant afford it, it isnt needed!

andrew748

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 08:43

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzSzhHmhiOY ;)

I'm a big fan of the Bank of Mum and i also just got some paying work as an events photographer, so the camera should now pay for itself

dolfinack

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 09:04

Of course for me my backup plan is to find a woman who has alot of money and marry her. anyone know if Natalie Gulbis is single?

Gonna have to fight through me first buddy...

I do the spare change in a jar thang too. Adds up to approx £100 after about 4-5 months. Handy enough. Also riding the bike everywhere whenever petrol is £1.25 a litre is a must!! You Yanks don't know how good you got it!! :cry:

jmcder53

16th of July 2008 (Wed), 23:21

i'm not much of a fighter. all the way in ireland huh? well i'm part irish, and some scottish too. i mean, my last name is mcdermott. i'm in the same country as her, so i get automatic dibs.

i hate to sound like i just want equipment. a dedicated canon flash would help in low-light candid photography. i tried using my canon 20d at a restaurant with a 28-80 3.5-5.6, and it just didn't seem to want to focus. a larger aperture lens, or an image stabilized one could help, i had some neurological stuff happen a few years ago, sometimes can't hold the camera supersteady.

jmcder53

17th of July 2008 (Thu), 16:24

not sure if this is funny, or if i should be scared, i've kind of gotten into golf, so i was doing a google search to see if the lpga had any tournaments in or around memphis. trying to expand the search i typed different golfer's names with memphis, tn. so the search i did using "natalie gulbis memphis tn" this is one of the links......to this page and my comment/reply and my info.

How Do You Do It??? - Page 2 - Canon Digital Photography For...
Location: Hernando, Mississippi (close to memphis, tn) ... is to find a woman who has alot of money and marry her. anyone know if Natalie Gulbis is single? ...

photography-on-the.net/forum/showth... - 74k - 12 hours ago - Similar pages

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=5926108

DStanic

17th of July 2008 (Thu), 18:05

I have a savings account.
Each month I put a percentage of my wages in it.
When it has enough in it for what I want, I go and buy it.

Same here, me and my wife both have savings accounts for our personal spending. That way she can't bother me about how much I spend (or even know WHAT I spend it on.. lol).

I'm still working on cutting back on fast food etc.. I know I could save up alot and buy a lens or something in a couple of months.

Belmondo

17th of July 2008 (Thu), 18:12

Having been at something for a long time helps. When we retired and moved to the desert, I sold off most of my model railroad collection and had a fair-sized lump of cash with which to start photography. Frankly, I'd be a better photographer today if I'd spent more time learning how to use the equipment I had instead of thinking better gear would improve my photos.

CrazieCricket

19th of July 2008 (Sat), 12:05

Well initially I came into some $$$ so that got me started. But from now on it will be saving $$ before I buy more gear. The savings account thing that was mentioned earlier is one way I have of saving. Everytime I use my atm card it rounds it up to the nearest dollar and puts the difference into savings automatically. Also have a change jar for extra change laying around.

crazyskillz07

19th of July 2008 (Sat), 12:45

I have been working 80 hours a week for the past 2 months. Other than the money I spend on gas and food the rest is going towards my 300mm 2.8L IS. Almost there....

DStanic

19th of July 2008 (Sat), 20:09

My wife thinks getting a UWA will be a good idea for when we go up North this fall. :D Gotta find me a Sigma 10-20 now!

AdamC

19th of July 2008 (Sat), 21:23

I have been working 80 hours a week for the past 2 months. Other than the money I spend on gas and food the rest is going towards my 300mm 2.8L IS. Almost there....

Ah, so you're one of those lucky buggers that actually get *paid* for overtime..

Tom Reichner

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 00:08

It's about choices. I sold my condo, then rented a room in someone's basement and lived there - so that I could use the money I got from my condo for photo gear and photo trips.

Now, I drive a very, very used Toyota Corolla with over 300,000 miles on it. A truly old, beat-up car, just so that I can afford to buy decent lenses.

My priorities:
My car is worth less than $800, and I don't even consider upgrading.
My main lens is worth over $5,000 - and I think about upgrading to the 800mm every day of my life.

If photography is more important to you than the other things in life, then you will somehow be able to afford good gear.

If not, then money for good equipment will happen only if there's anything left over after paying the mortgage, property taxes, car payment, etc. Been there/done that. It wasn't nearly as much fun as using the $ on gear & trips!

KCY

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 00:38

I don't know what to say the OP has a 5D now.......and this thread was started back in 2008 ;)

how did you even come across this thread?? :confused:

Aijay

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 00:53

Do a written budget on April 1st. Take your monthly income (net) and write down only the necessities you have you pay...you'd be surprised (as I was blown away) how much money I piss away every month. It really makes you think twice about supersizing or going out to eat lunch instead of packing one.

tikkathreebarrels

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 01:00

OP:
5D Classic, 100 f/2.8L Macro, 45mm TS-E f/2.8, Sigma 50 f/1.4 EX, Sigma 24 Macro f/1.8, 430EX II

The kit you list in your sig is hardly junk. Your 100mm macro I presume can be pressed into service as a 100 fast prime, your tilt shift is quite a specialised piece of kit and with the excellent 5D full frame body you've also got 24 and 50mm primes.

I'd like to ask whether you get lots of use from all your lenses or might you sell some on to fund the new purchases which you are looking for?

monk3y

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 01:12

neilwood32

26th of March 2010 (Fri), 07:35

My wife thinks getting a UWA will be a good idea for when we go up North this fall. :D Gotta find me a Sigma 10-20 now!

You will love it - my wife was moaning about it when I bought it but she is happy now she has seen what it is capable off!:D

birdfromboat

27th of March 2010 (Sat), 07:25

there are so many ways to save on equipment now it can be hard to decide you have finally found the best combination of rebates, rewards, group rate discounts, just plain used, or going out of business sales, etc.etc.
I personally bought and sold alot of used stuff and slowly added enough of my own cash over time to build up to what I consider my 'core' gear, and will ocasionally pick up a used 'peripheral' peice like a fish eye or a prime for a specific need and then sell it after awhile or trade it for another something or other I am interested in.
My 5D and my 5 L zooms are mine and will stay. It took alot of buying and selling and saving and shopping to get them and I am done and glad of it. The 100 macro or the extension rings might go tho...........anyone got a tilt/shift they want to work a deal on?

S7000

27th of March 2010 (Sat), 08:53

How do I do it?

I've got more debt that sense. :lol:

KCY

27th of March 2010 (Sat), 10:41

How do I do it?

I've got more debt that sense. :lol:

bw! Now this is a good answer!:lol::lol:

neilwood32

27th of March 2010 (Sat), 19:01

Quite a common answer i think you would find if you did a poll.

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 09:24

20droger

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 10:24

Fortunately I have unlimited funds. Just don't have the time to spend it all. With more time to shop I'd only have only the best, top of the line gear. If anyone needs anything just list it here and I'll be happy to buy it for you. ....Really.....
I want the lenses with pink or green around the brand name in the Lens Tables I posted.

Do this small thing and I promise I shall never, ever tease you again.

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 11:46

I want the lenses with pink or green around the brand name in the Lens Tables I posted.

Do this small thing and I promise I shall never, ever tease you again.

Sorry, I don't believe You :cool:
Go eat some more little mousies :p

Eagle

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 11:57

Fortunately I have unlimited funds. Just don't have the time to spend it all. With more time to shop I'd only have only the best, top of the line gear. If anyone needs anything just list it here and I'll be happy to buy it for you. ....Really.....
I'm going easy on you, just send me a 7D............. and a 5D2................ and a 600mm......... and a 1.4X............ and a 70-200mm 2.8 IS...................... and a 16-35 2.8........ and a Domke bag............... might as well throw in a Crumpler.................... and a Lowepro Super Trekker.............

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 13:45

I'm going easy on you, just send me a 7D............. and a 5D2................ and a 600mm......... and a 1.4X............ and a 70-200mm 2.8 IS...................... and a 16-35 2.8........ and a Domke bag............... might as well throw in a Crumpler.................... and a Lowepro Super Trekker.............

OMG you have a poor sense of good camera gear. I wouldn't stoop so low as to even purchase that stuff. It would be embarrassing :oops:

Forget about it....You're right up there with Roger....you're off the gift list :lol:

KCY

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 17:47

Quite a common answer i think you would find if you did a poll.

hehehehe I think that is a jab for stealthy ;)

Fortunately I have unlimited funds. Just don't have the time to spend it all. With more time to shop I'd only have only the best, top of the line gear. If anyone needs anything just list it here and I'll be happy to buy it for you. ....Really.....

OMG you have a poor sense of good camera gear. I wouldn't stoop so low as to even purchase that stuff. It would be embarrassing :oops:

Forget about it....You're right up there with Roger....you're off the gift list :lol:

Hmmmm.....can you just send me a blank check...I promise to only buy camera gear with it;):p:p

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 17:55

hehehehe I think that is a jab for stealthy ;)

Hmmmm.....can you just send me a blank check...I promise to only buy camera gear with it;):p:p

No....you might share it with Stealthy :lol:

neilwood32

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 18:10

Would I poke fun at Stealthy? :p

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 18:14

Would I poke fun at Stealthy? :p

YES

neilwood32

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 18:23

Ok maybe I would - but then again who wouldn't? :D

seaside

28th of March 2010 (Sun), 18:52

Ok maybe I would - but then again who wouldn't? :D

ME .............

20droger

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 00:07

ME .............
Self portrait?

neilwood32

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 06:28

Self portrait?

I hope not...:p

seaside

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 06:40

Self portrait?

I hope not...:p

Just a warning to watch out for those Stealthies :D

20droger

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 10:03

Just a warning to watch out for those Stealthies :D
Trust me. I'm not afraid of any "ninja" who claims he is stealthy but wears vermilion and thinks he's Hello Kitty.

seaside

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 12:27

Trust me. I'm not afraid of any "ninja" who claims he is stealthy but wears vermilion and thinks he's Hello Kitty.

You're right.... sounds a little feminine :p

20droger

29th of March 2010 (Mon), 15:21

You're right.... sounds a little feminine :p
"Feminine" is not the word I would use, but then, this IS a family forum.

neilwood32

30th of March 2010 (Tue), 10:21

Trust me. I'm not afraid of any "ninja" who claims he is stealthy but wears vermilion and thinks he's Hello Kitty.

I can just hear the new nursery rhyme - Who's afraid of the big pink ninja kitty in leotards? (sang to the tune of who's afraid of the big bad wolf)

Eww I just got a mental image of that...........barf!

seaside

30th of March 2010 (Tue), 15:03

"Feminine" is not the word I would use, but then, this IS a family forum.

Ahh come-on Rog, let it all hang out. Tell us what you really think ;) I could point you to places in this forum where words have been used that even you probably have never seen in writing. It's not family stuff either :) Just ask Neil :cool: :p

20droger

30th of March 2010 (Tue), 18:17

Ahh come-on Rog, let it all hang out. Tell us what you really think ;) I could point you to places in this forum where words have been used that even you probably have never seen in writing. It's not family stuff either :) Just ask Neil :cool: :p
Oh, I dunno about that! I've seen an awful lot of cussin' in my lifetime.

I once got cussed out by a Paris cab driver. He went on for over ten minutes and never repeated himself once. I was impressed.

The average American only knows four or five cuss words, max. He seems to thing that repetition gets his point across. It doesn't. It's just boring.

I, on the other hand, could cuss you out at length and never use a single word that couldn't be printed in a family newspaper. The content, however, would leave no doubt that you've been cussed at.

'Tis an advantage of a decent vocabulary.

number six

30th of March 2010 (Tue), 18:30

Lady Astor to Winston Churchill: 'If you were my husband, I'd poison your coffee!'

Churchill: 'My dear, if you were my wife I'd drink it.'

neilwood32

31st of March 2010 (Wed), 06:55

Oh, I dunno about that! I've seen an awful lot of cussin' in my lifetime.

I once got cussed out by a Paris cab driver. He went on for over ten minutes and never repeated himself once. I was impressed.

The average American only knows four or five cuss words, max. He seems to thing that repetition gets his point across. It doesn't. It's just boring.

I, on the other hand, could cuss you out at length and never use a single word that couldn't be printed in a family newspaper. The content, however, would leave no doubt that you've been cussed at.

'Tis an advantage of a decent vocabulary.

'Tis even better when you can cuss in a language that no-one you are speaking to knows and you can get away with almost anything!
Swearing in Dutch for example in a room of English speaking folks is great!:lol:

Mind you, we up here in the frozen North have our own curse words that the sasenachs dont know!;)

20droger

31st of March 2010 (Wed), 10:53

'Tis even better when you can cuss in a language that no-one you are speaking to knows and you can get away with almost anything!
Swearing in Dutch for example in a room of English speaking folks is great!:lol:

Mind you, we up here in the frozen North have our own curse words that the sasenachs dont know!;)
Gotta be careful there. If they find out what it means, you could be toast! Like in "Hannibal Brooks", where the prisoner kept smiling and calling his German guard a filthy pig.

neilwood32

31st of March 2010 (Wed), 10:56

Yeah I know - but if they don't even know what language it is (and I'm not going to be the one to tell them) whats the chances of them finding out?

20droger

31st of March 2010 (Wed), 11:01

Yeah I know - but if they don't even know what language it is (and I'm not going to be the one to tell them) whats the chances of them finding out?
Well, in "Hannibal Brooks," the prisoner simply pointed out a pig to the elephant, not realizing the guard was within earshot.

geo1976

31st of March 2010 (Wed), 19:50

I should ask... after asking this question over 2 years ago... how come you were able to buy the gears you currently have??

I totally forgot about this question!!lol

Well, I ended up getting the 30D body with no lens. I read the manual front to back til I saved up enough for a 135L(took about 2 months after purchasing 30D). I quickly realized I didn't need to save so much money to buy L lenses, I could just buy the cheaper ones (50 f1.4 over a 50L).

I got really strict with my spending. Luckily my daughter was at an age where I didn't need to buy diapers, milk, stuff like that anymore and went all out on gear. Sigma 50 f1.4 came next, then a Canon 28 f1.8, all around April of '09. Soon after I picked up Photoshop and Lightroom at www.academicsuperstore.com I could get an incredible discount because my daughter was in school.

So little by little I bought and sold gear here on POTN. I don't mind my gear being used as long as its in great working condition. So I saved alot of money just by buying used gear.

My next purchase will be a 5D mark II. But I'm extremely happy about how far I've come with my gear in just around a year at this. Now I'm focusing totally on getting experience. You can check out my work on my fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/George-Rivera-Photographer/311071609691?ref=ts

Thanks for bringing this post back up. I tend to doubt myself alot so just seeing how far I've come really helps boost me up. :)