Photography Equipment

Hello All!! I'd like to start doing some freelance photography, and I picked up a book today I could not put down. It's called "the Digital SLR Expert - Portraits" and the 5 authors in it give a list of their equipment, and I compiled a list of my own, taking bits from here and there. Afterwards I priced out this list, and the total cost came to around $11,100. Considering i'm still a student, and have never seen that much money at one time in my life, I was wondering what other options for certian items could be replaced so I dont make my wallet commit suicide lol.

Heres my list, with average prices (mostly at Amazon.com because that was one of the first options in Google)

580EX Speedlite
$370 - $400 Amazon

Canon Infrared Triggers & Receivers
$220 BH Photo

Satin Umbrellas
$20 - $30 Amazon

Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L
$1,695 Amazon Lens Hood - $50 Amazon

Canon 24-70mmF/2.8L
$1,239 Amazon Lens Hood - $54 Amazon

Silver/White Reflector
$22 - Amazon

Manfrotto Portable Light Stand
$82 Amazon

Shoe Mount Multiclamp
$20 Amazon

Lowepro Backpack or Two Wheel Trolley
$360 Lowepro

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
$2700 Amazon

Canon EOS 5D
$1300 - $2400 Amazon

Compact Flash Memory Cards – 4 GB – 8 GB
$35 - $100

Backup Battery
$60 - $100

Quantum Turbo 2x2 Battery Pack
$570

Sekonic Light Meter L-758DR
$500

Any advice, or if you know a place where I can find somethng cheaper, would greatly help! Thank you!!!

Depends on what you plan on photographing. Why not start out small, and let your income from "freelancing" allow you to upgrade?

You already have a Rebel and kit lens. If you want off-camera flash, get some Vivitar 285HV's, a sync cord and some peanut slaves. You'll have to get some umbrellas and light stands.

Are you making the assumption that buying all that gear will make you an expert? What is your skill level with the gear that you have...sold anything?

consider buying the lighting equipment second hand. If the Rebel XS isn't quite cutting it for you then maybe get a 40d/50d or something cheaper then a 5d(mk2). When shooting portraits with umbrellas and stuff you don't need to push the ISO very high anyways.

Consider Sigma or Tamron versions of the lenses. While the Canon 24-70L is awsome the Sigma 24-70 is still quite good and 1/3 of the cost.

Shawn_BS wrote in post #9193224
Alternatives in red - also price your stuff at B&H - better shop and service. I cant get prices atm (my work block "shopping sites" like B&H)

580EX Speedlite
$370 - $400 Amazon Sigma 500 Super

Canon Infrared Triggers & Receivers
$220 BH Photo

Satin Umbrellas
$20 - $30 Amazon

Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L
$1,695 Amazon Lens Hood - $50 Amazon Sigma 70-200 f2.8 (non IS - but shouldnt be a problem)

Canon 24-70mmF/2.8L
$1,239 Amazon Lens Hood - $54 Amazon Sigma 24-70 f2.8

Silver/White Reflector
$22 - Amazon

Manfrotto Portable Light Stand
$82 Amazon

Shoe Mount Multiclamp
$20 Amazon

Lowepro Backpack or Two Wheel Trolley
$360 Lowepro available for a lot less than £360!!

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
$2700 Amazon

Canon EOS 5D
$1300 - $2400 Amazon

Compact Flash Memory Cards – 4 GB – 8 GB
$35 - $100

Backup Battery
$60 - $100

Quantum Turbo 2x2 Battery Pack
$570

Sekonic Light Meter L-758DR
$500

Any advice, or if you know a place where I can find somethng cheaper, would greatly help! Thank you!!!

I would guess you could knock a good couple of thousand of that fairly easily with the above but having all that gear will not make you a pro - it will just make you poor!

A lot of pro photographers use a lot less gear than that and achieve wonderful results! Better to learn to use the gear you have and get the best out of it before trying to go pro by buying all that gear! Trade up bit by bit

Buy the Rebel Xsi, 18-55mm IS, 50mm f/1.8, and a 430EXII. Probably for well under $1000. Take time to LEARN photography. Enjoy the process. Don't even think about "freelancing" until you are much farther along in your journey. It's just like learning a musical instrument. You can't go out and buy a Martin D-28 without having played guitar, and expect to be getting coffehouse gigs off the bat.

Thanks for all of the advice! As far as lenes go, non IS is fine, ive heard the L series was the better to use but more expensive. I dont plan on this equipment making me a pro lol, I know that takes time to develop, I just wanted to start planning for the future and what better time then now, right? I am still an amateur by any means, and no I have not sold anything. Im not sure what I plan on photographing yet, i'd love to get into portraits, and one day i'd eventually like to become a director of photography, but for right now thats just a general idea of where i'd eventually like to wind up.

Start out MUCH slower than this! Start with one item at a time, and buy the ones that you want, not budget lenses to "learn on." That way you won't have to replace them later. You don't need a $500 battery pack, there are many, MANY less expensive options. The Canon 5D is a great portrait lens and you can find one used for around $1200.

There are far too many options avaialable that will be much less than you've listed. Take your time!

lol, I wasnt planning on going out and getting all of this in one shot. This was just a generic list of equipment i've heard has worked really well. There is plenty of room for improvement as far as what i'm actually looking to get. Right now I have the XS as a starter camera. I have the 5d and 5d MKII listed because i've heard over and over its good to have a backup, and no, I definaty dont wanna learn on the L series. But i'd like to learn on something that resembeles it, as far as 70-200mm with a f/2.8. Wouldnt chance a first time driver getting behind the wheel of a ferrari and expecting them to be a good driver lol.

As mentioned above, start with what you have. You're going to hit a point where you're not buying because you heard something was cool or would be a good investment, you'll be buying because you need something that your current setup can't deliver.

ChrisRabior wrote in post #9194651
As mentioned above, start with what you have. You're going to hit a point where you're not buying because you heard something was cool or would be a good investment, you'll be buying because you need something that your current setup can't deliver.

Exactly what I was going to say.^
Max out your current equipment and upgrade when you NEED to, not when someone else tells you that some equipment is better. Some weekend warriors can make some solid pictures with Rebels and kit lenses.

All L series lenses come with hoods .

yanr wrote in post #9196303
All L series lenses come with hoods .

haha see, I didnt know that =P

Thank you all for the advice, it is definatly well recieved. Other then bodies and lenses, what would be some good lighting to start out with? A simple hot shoe flash, a umbrealla or softbox...?

You can do a lot of cool stuff with a hotshoe flash on a lightstand with an umbrella (shoot-through or reflective) I have one of these that I trigger with a set of Cactus V4 triggers.

Check out http://www.strobist.co​m

egordon99 wrote in post #9198609
You can do a lot of cool stuff with a hotshoe flash on a lightstand with an umbrella (shoot-through or reflective) I have one of these that I trigger with a set of Cactus V4 triggers.

Check out http://www.strobist.co​m

Thats the lighting I was going for in my original post, i've used something like it before and I really liked the way the pictures came out. I had used a remote trigger in the hot shoe for the light because my camera doesnt have an output for it.