It’s easy to spend far more than you can afford in photography. Read this post before you make your next purchase.

 

(Image Credit: StockSnap)

 

Photography can be an expensive pursuit, whether as a hobby or as a photography business. The more you learn, or the more ambitious you get, the more tools you see that you ‘simply can’t live without.’ Once you start accumulating accessories, it can be hard to stop before you’ve blown through your whole budget.

 

There are many ways to be a great photographer without breaking the bank. All you need to do is be creative, collaborative, and persistent. Let’s run through a few ways that you can cap your spending while still producing great work.

 

Don’t Impulse Buy – Rent First


The allure of new gear can feel irresistible in this day and age. You imagine that that one piece of equipment will change everything. But don’t buy it just because you can. Find a good supplier and rent it first. Then work with it for a while, see what it can really do and whether it’s a match for your needs. Is there another, cheaper way of achieving the same result? It’s never a good idea to buy something before you’ve spent a fair amount of time using it and seen if it’s really all that it was cracked up to be.

 

How familiar are you with the gear that you have? If you read the manual again, you could get so much more out of your existing equipment.


Lean on Your Friends and Family


Is it possible that you’re spending too much on hiring models for your shots? Of course, it’s great to work with a professional model – but slow down and take a look around you. Maybe it’s time to seek out some interesting looking people you already know and see if they would be interested in modeling for you. Who knows, you may even find someone so good that they suddenly see a new career path opening in front of them? That’s win-win for both of you.

 

Use the Internet to Further Your Studies

 

Almost everything you need to know can be learned on the internet. Before you put down some hard cash on a photographer course, trawl the web and make sure you can’t learn what you need to know at no cost. Sites like YouTube have tons of great educational videos – all you have to know is what you’re looking for.

 

Don’t believe me? Here are 5 new skills you can start learning today, each for under $20. And here's a great blog about branding your business in an affordable way.

 

Avoid the Expensive Website

 

Most photographers in this day and age realize they need a good website to display their work. But they don’t know that it’s not necessary to spend a fortune building a website. FolioWebsites has spent years developing a website and blogging platform exclusively for photographers. The interface is simple, the templates are delightful, and you can be up and running in minutes at no cost.

 

There is a time and a place to spend money. But too often, we think that a purchase will solve our problems and transform our work, only to be disappointed with the results. Take your time, stick to your budget, and get creative – chances are you’ll be thrilled with the results.