Hi and welcome to Episode 132 of the Photography Explained podcast.
I’m your host Rick, and in each episode I will try to explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details. What I tell you is based on my lifetime of photographic experience. And not Google. Definitely no Google in this episode.
Here is the answery bit
You might want to get some shiny new photography gear, but do you actually need it? Pretty much every time I find myself looking for new photography gear, when I stop and ask myself if I really need it, the answer is no. I only get new photography gear if it will
- Help me take photos that I cannot take with my existing gear, or
- Help me to take better photos, or
- Help me do something new, or
- Help me by saving me time.
- Or if I have just broken something, or something needs replacing that is life expired.
OK – that is the disappointing, dull reality. If you are looking for some shiny new gear, you probably do not need it. Let me explain.
You can listen to the episode here
Or keep on reading. Or do both. Entirely up to you!
The talky bit
I know, photography gear is great. I used to spend all my time looking at gear, finding new things to buy, comparing stuff, reading reviews, and finding the best deals. I loved it. It was like a thing to me. Get the best gear and I will be the best photographer. Of course I will.
And the reality?
Well, that was then, and this is now.
Now I use a Canon 6D. I use a Canon 17-40mm lens. I bought the Canon 6D in about 2016, and the lens before then.
I have a Manfrotto tripod with geared head, which I bought about 5 years ago.
I have a Peak Design backpack that I bought about 5 years ago.
When did I last buy gear?
The last gear that I bought? A Jobi Gorillapod. I bought that last year as I needed a small tripod to put my phone on so I could record a course I was creating. So there was a need.
And before that?
New memory cards. See I replace my memory cards every couple of years, to make sure that I have relatively new cards. These are a critical bit of kit, the thing that records the photo and that I use to get the photos onto my PC.
And before that, it was larger external hard drives, as mine were getting full.
And before that? No idea.
I have less gear now than I have ever had. Seriously I don’t have much gear. And I have been a fan of the 12-month rule for a few years now.
What is the 12-month rule?
Simple – if I haven’t used something in 12 months I get rid of it. Normally by selling it on eBay. I reckon that if I haven’t used something in 12 months I really don’t need it. And do you know what? I have never regretted selling gear that I bought but did not use. Because if I haven’t used it in 12 months I probably didn’t need it in the first place.
- My only regret was buying it in the first place!
Yes, I have bought lots of gear that I did not need. I have been guilty of that.
And if that is you as well, have a think about this.
Why does this matter?
I will tell you why. Photography is about creating new photos. So yes, you need gear, but that is not what photography is all about. Think of photography gear as tools, equipment that you use to get a job done.
If you think like this, why would you buy things that you do not really need?
Now I know that buying gear is fun, and we all love to do it. All I want to get over to you here is that gear is not the thing, it is the taking of the photos.
As I said at the beginning, I have criteria that I apply to make sure that any gear that I buy I need.
- Help me take photos that I cannot take with my existing gear.
This could be a wider-angle lens for example. I can’t make my lens wider than it is, but I can move back a bit. But if that is not enough, and if there is a continuing need for a wider angle lens then fine.
- Help me to take better photos.
A higher-quality lens is an example here. A higher-quality lens will improve the quality of the photos that you and I get. That is how I ended up with the Canon 17-40mm lens. But that lens, which is a great lens I have to say, works perfectly for me, so now I have that splendid lens I don’t need another one.
- Help me do something new
Something new. Hmmmm. A few years ago I had the need to blur some water for a shoot, so I bought an ND filter. More on these in a future episode. With the filter I bought I could use a super long shutter speed in daylight, which is amazing.
- Help me by saving me time.
My tripod geared head saves me time by allowing me to get the horizontals and verticals right in camera quicker, and much more accurately. This saves me time taking the photos and also when editing the photos.
- Or if I have just broken something, or something needs replacing.
Yeah, I break stuff. If I do, and I need it, which I will do as I only break stuff that I use, then fair play. And stuff does wear out over time if used a lot.
That is me and gear.
Get gear that will help you take better photos, which is fine. But don’t obsess about gear like I did, unless you want to that is. If photography for you is all about the gear, there is nothing wrong with that. Just be aware that the gear will not improve your photography anywhere near as much as getting out taking photos and practising photography will.
What do I do?
I think I have told you that. I don’t buy gear unless I really need it. That is what I do.
Next episode
Yes, I am adding to the 10 things that I told you about in episode 110, and will talk about some of them a bit more. See there is always more to say!
Ask me a question.
If you have a photography question you would like me to answer in plain English in less than 10 minutes (ish) without the irrelevant details, just head over to PhotographyExplainedPodcast.com/start.
This is a great place to go to find out more about me and my podcast, and also find ways that you can help me.
I would love to hear from you, even if you just want to say hi.
This episode was powered by, wait for it, a strawberry and banana smoothie. Yep fruit in milk, how utterly healthy. And there is a cheese sandwich waiting for me, lovingly prepared by Mrs M, which I will devour right after recording this episode sitting here in my homemade, acoustically cushioned recording emporium.
I’ve been Rick McEvoy, thanks again very much for listening to my small but perfectly formed podcast (it says here), and for giving me 10 (ish) minutes of your valuable time. Get in touch with your questions, I look forward to hearing from you.
Take care, stay safe
Cheers from me Rick”
Right – that was the podcast episode.
Want to know more?
Head over to the Start page on the Photography Explained Podcast website to find out more.
And here is the list of episodes published to date – you can listen to any episode straight from this page which is nice.
Let me know if there is a photography thing that you want me to explain and I will add it to my list. Just head over to the This is my list of things to explain page of this website to see what is on there already.
Let me send you stuff
I send out a weekly email to my subscribers. It is my take on one photography thing, plus what I have been writing and talking about. And anything else on my mind. Just fill in the box and you can get my weekly photographic musings straight to your inbox. Which is nice.
And finally a little bit about me
Finally, yes this paragraph is all about me – check out my Rick McEvoy Photography website to find out more about me and my architectural, construction, real estate and travel photography work. I also write about general photography stuff, all in plain English without the irrelevant detail.
Thank you
Thanks for listening to my podcast (if you did) and reading this blog post (which I assume you have done as you are reading this).
Cheers from me Rick
