is this something to be proud of?

I'll be the first to admit it... I need an intervention.

I just went through my order history from B&H (which only goes back to Jan 2009) and realized that in the last 4 years alone I have spent over $14,000 in camera gear.

If I include camera/studio gear purchased from AlienBees, Calumet, Ebay, Amazon, my local camera shop, and other misc vendors, as well as B&H purchases from 2004-2009, I think I could easily double that figure.

That number is staggering and honestly quite depressing for something that is merely a hobby for me and have never made a dime on.

Another way I look at this is that I could be driving around in a brand new SUV today if only I followed the crowds and stuck with a cheap point and shoot as my first digital camera.

Do I regret spending all that money? Well, yes, anyone in their right mind would. What I don't regret is the memorable photos of my kids growing up that I've made over the years which makes it all worth it.

Another positive is that if I ever lose my full time job, at least I'll have something to possibly fall back upon in the short term until another opportunity arises.

But until I win the lottery, enough is enough. I need to start exhibiting self control. My wife gives me way too much spending freedom. If she only knew how much, my life would suck in an instant.

I welcome any words of support with gratitude.

You must be single

LV Moose wrote in post #15605452
You must be single

More like "will be" if my wife ever finds out.

It's a hobby, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I won't get into how much I've spent on gear over the past few years, as it rolls into the "someone's annual income" range, but I don't think it matters. My wife knows exactly how much has been spent and encourages it. The whole point of a hobby is to provide entertainment and self satisfaction, not financial gain. I think the expense only becomes an issue when it affects other family finance issues or if it cuts into your retirement savings.
In our house we have two small kids, so we aren't drinking or going out all the time like we used to, which saves us a few hundred dollars a week..... I'm not doing motorcycling anymore either which is a lot more money saved. Ultimately, our hobbies are part of what makes the work we do worthwhile, if investing in your hobby doesn't put you in a bad place financially, I wouldn't sweat it. If the money spent is starting to make you nervous, slow down and just enjoy what you have for a while. It is just a hobby after all, you're not obligated one way or the other.

While I am nowhere near that total, I have compressed it all into the last 2 years and I am done for the foreseeable future until/unless there is a major leap in tech that really makes an upgrade compelling.

Now I just go around enabling others and getting them to buy DSLRs.

Like you, this is a hobby. I haven't made a penny on it. But the pics of my Kids I have taken I wouldn't trade either. Just make sure you have them backed up really well, I use an online offsite backup so I don't even have to think about it.

I do it just as a hobby myself... and have quite a bit of dough tied up in gear... but, before, my main hobby was motorcycling... custom suspension, rearsets, exhaust, etc etc... not to mention track days at $1500+ for a weekend (figuring in track costs, tire costs, hotel and transportation costs) ... So... I think that photography has actually turned into a cheaper hobby... and as long as I keep delivering pictures of our infant to the wife, I get no complaints there... She doesn't mind me going out, taking pictures up on the Parkway at 2AM nearly as much as disappearing for a weekend to go out and possibly wreck the bike.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #15605495
It's a hobby, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I won't get into how much I've spent on gear over the past few years, as it rolls into the "someone's annual income" range, but I don't think it matters. My wife knows exactly how much has been spent and encourages it. The whole point of a hobby is to provide entertainment and self satisfaction, not financial gain. I think the expense only becomes an issue when it affects other family finance issues or if it cuts into your retirement savings.
In our house we have two small kids, so we aren't drinking or going out all the time like we used to, which saves us a few hundred dollars a week..... I'm not doing motorcycling anymore either which is a lot more money saved. Ultimately, our hobbies are part of what makes the work we do worthwhile, if investing in your hobby doesn't put you in a bad place financially, I wouldn't sweat it. If the money spent is starting to make you nervous, slow down and just enjoy what you have for a while. It is just a hobby after all, you're not obligated one way or the other.

Well said.

va_rider wrote in post #15605501
taking pictures up on the Parkway at 2AM

Of what? Sounds like fun though.

Proud of? No, definitely not. Pride is a feeling that should be left for achievements - positive ones.
Spending money isn't one of them - neither is saving at every corner.

There are only two things you should look at:
1) Can you afford it? (Anybody going into debt for a hobby is an idiot)
2) Are you happy with your choice?

As mentioned already spending money on a hobby doesnt make fiscal sense. But ultimately you need to do things to soothe your soul rather than your accountant's. Just compare what you would spend on other outlets and you'll probably find that other hobbies like buying a Harley, antiquing, golf, or any number of other activities would cost you a similar amount. Just be responsible and use it to give back to your family and your community when you can.

I've always been terrified of what the result would be if I tallied all my photography-related purchases up, made over the last 5+ years. I finally did it, and funnily enough it's not as large a figure as I thought - $20,000 give or take a few thou. I was afraid it would be closer to double that amount

To be fair, I've sold a ton of gear as well, so factoring in the cash I made from those sales it might be closer to $12K++, give or take. I don't think I even own any of my original equipment anymore, tbh.

At the end of the day, as long as you aren't starving or putting yourself or your family in debt, then I say don't sweat it.

coeng wrote in post #15605516
Of what? Sounds like fun though.

The first 11 Shots in this set are from up on the Parkway in various places... or just off of the Parkway.

http://www.flickr.com …m/sets/72157628​107666618/

LV Moose wrote in post #15605452
You must be single

coeng wrote in post #15605487
More like "will be" if my wife ever finds out.

Well, my wife, (and the fear of her wrath), is the only thing keeping my photography-related spending in check. She takes care of the bills, so there's no way of hiding it from her.

Photography, travel, and hiking are my only hobbies. If I was on my own, the amount I'd spend on camera gear would rival yours, at least.

I look at it this way; photography keeps me from getting bored, and thus keeps me out of trouble. It's also probably cheaper than golf.

Oy, I recently did this and I am right there with you. It's scary looking at the actual numbers, and I am sure I am way behind a lot of the members of this forum.

I look at it like this... A professional card player gambles away LOTS more money than that in a given year. If he's any good then he makes up for that loss with winnings.

Buying camera gear is a gamble. Not knowing if you're going to make that money back over a certain amount of time is certainly a gamble. Some of us take that gamble and it pays off. Others, well, maybe they have another income that allows them to play around with their money a bit.

I'm happy to say that I have spent close to that amount over a 4 year period and it has paid for itself 4 times over within the last couple years.