[Trigger Happy Pro]

I started four years ago with an initial investment of around $4,000. I bought a Canon EOS 7D, a couple of cheap EF-S kit lenses, a background stand and one 10×20 white Muslin backdrop. I found a deal on a set of old speedotron lights through a friend. $100 cash and a few hundred in photoshop work. Over four years I have never spent any money on school or memberships. I’ve never taken out any loans or used a credit card. I’ve slowly built up putting whatever money I made, back into the equipment. I’ve been job free for about 18 months and now own a Canon EOS 7D, a Canon 5d Mark iii, the same cheap EF-S canon lenses, a Canon EF 28-135mm (used and free from a friend that thought it was broke….contacts were dity, works fine), a Canon EF 50mm F1.4, a Canon 70-200mm F 2.8 IS l, Canon 580EX speedlight (Craigslist $200), about $200 worth of wireless triggers, the same white backdrop, and a black backdrop. I recently updated my lighting by finding a sale on a set of Bowens monolights.

Continuing education? Google and a few magazines on my iPad.

Memory cards? I still have and use the same memory cards I started with four years ago.

Website? $120 annually ($10 monthly).

Camera straps? I spent $21.95 each on Ebay with free shipping for a padded shoulder sling type.

Invest wisely and make your equipment pay for itself and for new equipment. You don’t need to jump in with $4,000 like I did. You can get a low priced decent Canon Rebel on Craigslist for $300. All you need to start doing photography is a camera and a tripod. If you concentrate on the basic fundamentals and camera settings, you can get great pictures with an amateur class camera and basic kit lenses. As for editing software, a lot of the time a new camera will come with Photoshop Elements. That’s enough to get started with and learn with. Or find a friend that’s a college student and have them buy you a copy of Photoshop at their school store with their student discount. Take the time and do it right and your work will pay for all of the other stuff you want.

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