Connecting the new photographer dots can be less stressful when you make the move to photography improvement following some basic tips. Photography Tip#1 will explore the logistics of renting equipment for a specific shoot. The concept of renting equipment has many positive advantages before making that big expenditure to acquire “the right camera.”
The evolutions process from moving up with camera equipment can be challenging as the journey to creating better photos begins. Deciding the right equipment to buy seems like a monumental decision especially if you are employed, have personal obligations and a life outside of photography.
Photography Tip #1
Rent your equipment for the first several photo shoot adventures.
Improving in your photography skills means you need to shoot, A LOT. The more you practice the better you will get. Like getting to Carnegie Hall, you won’t get there if you don’t practice! The Photographers Adventure Club offers so many amazing opportunities to learn on the job while having fun! In the Phoenix area there are events several times a week which create the opportunity to shoot with experienced photographers that are delighted to help and share their experience. Watch the workshop announcements from the PAC, Photographers Adventure Club through Fisheye Connect and jump in. They are all designed to have the photog improve and make it easier to capture some unique settings.
A night shooting workshop in Moab, Utah at Arches National Park was one of the first events I wanted to try as a new photog and did not have the right equipment for long exposure and the proper lens. I thought about buying a camera but the price seemed overwhelming for this one workshop and I didn’t even know if I would like night photography so making that decision without a dedicated commitment was not something I wanted to do.
The workshop leader sent me an e-mail with a Canon and Nikon option.
I shoot Canon but the instructor shoots Nikon so I had the dilemma of renting the camera the instructor could help me with or reading the instructions and trying the camera I thought I might end up buying. I chose the Canon because I felt comfortable with some of the settings however, the upgrade in the equipment was entirely new for the settings. I did get the camera 2 days early so was able to practice with the settings as I would be changing them in the dark.
Renting the camera was an unfamiliar concept to me. The process seemed logical to simply go into a photography store in Flagstaff, Arizona, talk to someone and get the suggested equipment. There were no camera stores in Flagstaff that rented equipment so using the rental company the workshop leader suggested made sense. Obtaining other online bids was easy to compare the price and Pro Photo Rental Services seemed to be a good value. There are many companies that rent equipment once you know exactly what you want to rent. Working with the event leader is strongly suggested as they know what you need to capture the best shots that they are going to be directing you to.
Pro Photo Rental in Boulder, Colorado did an amazing job in helping through all the anxiety and following up on every detail of how the process worked. Jared Kohlmann owner of Pro Photo Rental Services was so patient and kind with a new photog that I would highly recommend comparing his prices when renting even lenses or new camera bodies as they come out. The invoice was constructed online as I checked the equipment desired.
The total of $207.51 for the Canon 5D MarkII with 2 lenses and shipping for a 7 day shoot seemed like a great value. The one thing I realized at night in the dark was that $10,000 worth of equipment SHOULD have been insured! It all worked out fine but in the future, insurance will be added.
The instructions came via e-mail, showing how the rental process was going to work.
The camera came in a shipping container zip tied together right to my front door
Equipment arrived in perfect condition. Additional memory cards and a remote for the long exposure were purchased as Pro Photo Rental did not rent remotes and the memory card was small. Jared, the owner, shared an Amazon link where I could purchase the remote for only $20.00.
Once the workshop was finished it was time to ship the equipment back. The location of a UPS store and the hours of operation had been investigated prior to arriving so it was easy to pack up the equipment, use the ties and pre-addressed return label to get the camera and lenses back to Pro Photo Rental on time. No need to take the case back to Arizona to mail when it could be shipped right after the event in Utah and save rental days.
Connecting the new photog dots with Photography tip #1: renting equipment, really makes learning new camera tools easy. The process was simple and renting equipment will no longer cause any stress.
Please share in the comments any ideas you have that might help others new to photography with something that has helped you!
Watch for more Connecting The New Photog Dots: Photography Tips from Photos by Carra.
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