Gear Acquisition Syndrome. 1 WORD Improved My Portrait Photography

I’ve just published my latest video: Gear Acquisition Syndrome. The 1 change that made me a much BETTER Portrait Photographer!. 

In this video, I look into how the history of photography is behind our gear acquisition syndrome. Camera Gear Doesn’t matter. How one mindset change made me a better portrait photographer

#gearacquisitionsyndrome #photographymindset #photographygear

I used to be obsessed with buying new camera gear. It was expensive, distracting, time-consuming, and paralyzing. But then I made a change. Instead of taking photos, I started making photos. This shift in mindset changed everything.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Photographers often believe that gear matters so much that they’ll pay ridiculous prices for it. I used to be that way. But obsessing over gear is counterproductive. It’s expensive, distracting, time-consuming, and paralyzing. And it perpetuates the myth that you can’t take great photos without great gear.

Photography Gear Envy

When I switched from taking photos to making photos, my perspective shifted. The spotlight was no longer on the camera, but on me. All of a sudden, the camera was just a tool, not the star of the show. That’s why I don’t care what strobe is lighting my subject. I care about creating a powerful image. If I can get what I need with picnic lights, then that works fine for me.

Camera Gear Doesn’t Matter

The truth is, camera gear doesn’t matter as much as we think it does. Just because you can take a photo in an instant, doesn’t mean you have to. Be intentional with your compositions. Explore your options, test out perspectives, manipulate how your scene fits into your frame. Make a photo.

Conclusion

Making a photo is more than just semantics. It’s a different mindset. One that’s changed how I think about photography. I used to think that the camera took the photo. But now I know that I make the photo. And that’s a powerful feeling. Don’t get me wrong, I still love camera gear. But I’ve learned that it’s just a tool, not the star of the show. So be intentional with your compositions, explore your options, and make a photo.

Takeaways

Here are five action points you can take away from this video:

1. Shift your mindset from “taking” a photo to “making” a photo. This puts the focus on you as the creator, rather than the camera as the tool.

2. Don’t fixate on gear. Expensive gear can be distracting, time-consuming, and paralyzing. Instead, focus on being intentional with your compositions and exploring your options.

3. Remember that the camera is just a tool. Your creative vision is what matters most.

4. Be intentional with your visual language. Focus on creating powerful images, rather than relying on gear to do the work for you.

5. Practice your craft. Master your camera, your lights, and your other equipment so that you can use them without interrupting your creative flow.

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 Transcript

I used to be obsessed with buying new camera gear. It was expensive, distracting, time-consuming, and paralyzing. But then I made a change. Instead of taking photos, I started making photos. This shift in mindset changed everything.

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

Photographers often believe that gear matters so much that they’ll pay ridiculous prices for it. I used to be that way. But obsessing over gear is counterproductive. It’s expensive, distracting, time-consuming, and paralyzing. And it perpetuates the myth that you can’t take great photos without great gear.

Photography Gear Acquisition

When I switched from taking photos to making photos, my perspective shifted. The spotlight was no longer on the camera, but on me. All of a sudden, the camera was just a tool, not the star of the show. That’s why I don’t care what strobe is lighting my subject. I care about creating a powerful image. If I can get what I need with picnic lights, then that works fine for me.

Camera Gear Doesn’t Matter

The truth is, camera gear doesn’t matter as much as we think it does. Just because you can take a photo in an instant, doesn’t mean you have to. Be intentional with your compositions. Explore your options, test out perspectives, manipulate how your scene fits into your frame. Make a photo.

Conclusion

Making a photo is more than just semantics. It’s a different mindset. One that’s changed how I think about photography. I used to think that the camera took the photo. But now I know that I make the photo. And that’s a powerful feeling. Don’t get me wrong, I still love camera gear. But I’ve learned that it’s just a tool, not the star of the show. So be intentional with your compositions, explore your options, and make a photo.