Best Way to Spend $6000?!

Here's the story... I'd been shooting microstock for six years and had some limited success, but I really wanted to get more work shooting outside the microstock world. I set up a professional website via Photoshelterand I'd been photo blogging for three years. Recently, I was contacted by an ad agency to use one of my shots in a major marketing campaign. This was my first ever big photo sale. Now, I am sitting on $6000 dollars and I got the OK from my wife to invest that money back into our budding photo business -- lucky me.

What would you do? I haven't been able to buy any equipment since 2007. Right now, I have a 5D classic, 24-70 f2.8 L, 135 f2.0 L, 580 EX II speedlight, and a tri-grip reflector -- that's it. We live in a beautiful and affluent area of California. After six months of trying, I'm starting to get a slow trickle of clients for family on location shots, engagements, and I have my first wedding shoot coming up in November.

Here's my tentative plan: buy a new 5D Mark III and possibly 70-200 L. I'd sell my 135 L and maybe buy some more lighting equipment. I'm a natural light only kind of guy, but after doing my first couple pro sessions I am thinking lights would make my life much easier. Maybe I'll go Kirk Tuck revolutionary and get LED light panels.

What do you suggest? I've had some wild ideas -- thought of selling everything and switching to Nikon (D800 fever). Or, even crazier, going micro four thirds(OM-D madness). All options are on the table. In the end I want a system that is flexible enough to shoot anything that would come my way freelance wise, but I also want to stay in the front of the pack for image quality so I can stay competitive in the stock photo market (still my bread and butter and source of the current financial windfall).

Thanks for any advice.

No micro four thirds for sure if you want to do this seriously

Nikon D800 is a beauty, but so must be the 5dMkIII,

If I were you I'd invest in the canon upgrade since you have the 24-70 already instead of changing brands. I believe it should be as capable as aD800

Maybe a 21 or some UWA, maybe a prime.. If you are going to do weddings you would also make good use of a fast 85

That'd be me

So random, but a typo on your pricing page - you list "Adarama" instead of "Adorama" - if one of your potential clients tried to look it up, they wouldn't be able to judge the quality. . . .

lookingforaname wrote in post #14421489
So random, but a typo on your pricing page - you list "Adarama" instead of "Adorama" - if one of your potential clients tried to look it up, they wouldn't be able to judge the quality. . . .

Thanks for that find! I already fixed it.

Answer a question or two to yourself: 1-Are you going to continue to do basically the same type of photography as you have been in the past? Then a 5D3 would likely be a good upgrade (5D-C as a back-up). Your glass choices seem good.
2-Are you going to strike out in a different direction? Sports maybe? Then a 7D or some other combination of gear perhaps.

You seem to indicate that lighting may be in your future. You should make sure you know where you are headed before you just buy gear to buy gear.

Congrats on the windfall (not implying you didn't work hard for it). Golden opportunity!

I guess the big question is what is holding you back with your current set up. Considering that you're operating as a business, you'll want to achieve the most ROI as possible. This means spending as little as possible to achieve the results you need. IMO, for most applications, buying a generation or two behind can be a very wise choice (especially when it comes to camera bodies). Beyond the gear, money spent wisely on good marketing is always something to consider.

Id grab the wife and camera gear and blow the 6k in Tahiti, or take a cruise, or go to the destination spot of your choice.. Sounds irresponsible, but since I've gotten older all I do is flashback on all the places we've been, and I am so glad to have those memories...

You need backup equipment.

5D3, 70-200, and 100mm macro. That should about take care of your stack of cash and also give you some awesome gear for your new business.

Curtis N wrote in post #14423967
You need backup equipment.

Exactly. I almost missed a gig cuz my 5D was in for repairs. I plan on keeping my old camera and buying some cheap primes for backup. Also, my wife is trying to learn enough to become a second shooter.

jra wrote in post #14423502
I guess the big question is what is holding you back with your current set up. Considering that you're operating as a business, you'll want to achieve the most ROI as possible. This means spending as little as possible to achieve the results you need. IMO, for most applications, buying a generation or two behind can be a very wise choice (especially when it comes to camera bodies). Beyond the gear, money spent wisely on good marketing is always something to consider.

This, yes. And don't miss that last line. Develop a marketing plan and put money into it.

No, not the right way to think about backup equipment. Your backup equipment should be equal in capability to your regular equipment--if/when you use it, you still must turn out the same quality and versatility of work. If what you do requires a 1D, then your backup must be a 1D.

Back up lenses with lenses bringing additional capabilities, for instance, backing up a 70-200mm zoom with faster primes, not cheap primes.

In the position you're in, I'd say you need a 5D2 body, a couple of good studio flash units you can take on location and a careful selection of light modifiers (for both the flash units and for natural light). The factor of distintion of professional work even on location photography is the ability to modify the light creatively.

I need a sponsor for my racebike.

how much money does a entrepreneurship or marketing class cost at a local community college? invest your money in that.

If your photo got picked up for a major advertising campaign, then the problem isn't your equipment or abilities. It's marketing yourself and landing clients. I've had photos with my 7 year old 1d mk2 that have been picked up for full-page ads in magazines. You don't need to upgrade from a 5d2 + 24-70

JacobPhoto wrote in post #14426450
how much money does a entrepreneurship or marketing class cost at a local community college? invest your money in that.

If your photo got picked up for a major advertising campaign, then the problem isn't your equipment or abilities. It's marketing yourself and landing clients. I've had photos with my 7 year old 1d mk2 that have been picked up for full-page ads in magazines. You don't need to upgrade from a 5d2 + 24-70

I was afraid someone would post this... Isn't the point of the forums to talk each other into buying expensive equipment? Enough with the practical advice already.

Seriously though, I am upgrading from the 5D classic, not the mark II. If I had a mark II, I wouldn't be thinking about a new camera at all. The reason I want to step up from my 5D classic is I want faster auto focus. Also, I want better low light performance. My best, most unique images come from things I see while flying around the country and I want a camera that is better at capturing details in low light. Some of the stuff I see while flying at dawn and dusk is spectacular, but my old 5D classic just can't pull out the details at those light levels. Reference the pics in these two blog posts: 1 and 2 -- they are nearly killed by noise reduction.

After thinking it through for a couple days I'm coming to the conclusion that I am not going to get a complete set up with this cash windfall. I'm gonna have to pic and choose which pieces of the puzzle are most important at this point. Right now I am leaning towards getting the mark III and some lighting equipment. The 70-200 is gonna have to wait. My 135 L is all the telephoto I need for now. The lights will give me some confidence and added creativity.

YamahaRob wrote in post #14425854
I need a sponsor for my racebike.

Because Racebike