One of the greatest pieces of advice that I ever read from a Pro Photographer in the field was this: "If you are spending all of your time reading about this camera gear or that, maybe you should be out shooting instead! Don't forget to simply USE what you have...to the best of your ability!"
I love that. It reminded me that although it's true that the newest, high megapixel, image quality, high level sensors "unlock" our deepest potential as photographers...it is in using what we HAVE WELL that creates the art.
G.Dan Mitchell is "the man/photographer" to whom I refer. And he is absolutely right. In our quest for the very best gear, it is easy to start believing that we are being "held back" from excellence, from capturing the light, from framing the photo, from engaging with our clients (portrait photographers). In fact, some amazing imagery is captured with the most basic equipment.
That all being true, it is also a fact: as we improve, gaining new gear DOES "unlock" some possibilities. The bokeh blur of a Canon RF 50mm 1.2 lens IS different than most "kit" lenses. No matter who you are. And that is one of the lenses on my "wish list." In time, I will own that lens. But one of the finest photos I ever took, was with my old horse Canon 40D! Granted, I DID have the Canon 16-35mm F4L IS on the front:
Being there for a sunrise on North Long Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota was the REAL gift. Being ready with my gear in the car was the other. And granted, that landscape lens is a real horse with the image stabilization. But my point is that it was a Canon 40D! With EIGHT megapixels.
I do confess that I am a Canon Gearhead, although recently I have begun to sell some lenses to focus on my goals. One I sold was this very Canon 16-35mm lens. (Kind of regretting it). But as a portrait and family session photographer, it helped me purchase the Canon RF 85mm 2.0, which will be used a ton for portraits going forward.
Here is my Current Gear: (Purchased on Amazon, B&H, or Adorama)
*Canon EOS R
*Canon 6D
*Canon RF 85mm 2.0
*Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS
*Canon EF 85mm F1.8
*Canon EF 135mm F2.0
*Canon 70-200mm F4L IS
*Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM
*Neewer 660 LED Softbox Kit
*Neewer Vision 4 300W Strobe Light
*Neewer 63" Carbon Fiber Tripod/Monopod Stand
*Westcott Rapidbox Softbox & Stand
*Westcott White Shoot-Through Umbrella/43"
*Flashpoint Pro Air-Cushioned Heavy Duty Light Stand
*Neewer Collapsible Backdrop/5X6.5 Ft
*Godox Thinklite TTL TT685C Camera Flash
*Pelican 1450 and 1500 Cases
*Impact LKB-R2 Light Kit Roller Bag #2 V2
Dreaming Of: Canon RF 50mm 1.2 L, Canon RF 85mm 1.2L
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