Pro equipment list

Harvey_nikon

Harvey_nikon

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Hi,

I may be being made redundant shortly, I really can't stand the prospect of being stuck trying to find an office/logistics job so the other option is photography + supplement job.

I am considering putting a business plan together etc and need to look at what equipment I would need.

In my local area I would be mainly looking at portraits, weddings & product shots although any work is good work.

So far I have the following:

Nikon D3s
Nikon 14-24mm f2.8
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8
2 x Sb900
Plenty of memory cards.

Maybe the Nikon 50mm f1.4 and the 16mm2.8 D fisheye.

I have a tripod, head, 2 x lencarta studio lights with wireless trigger.

I know I need to look at backdrops and a decent bag but what am I missing? I know there must be a couple of things not on the list that should be.
 
Add another body for starters.
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Hi,

I may be being made redundant shortly, I really can't stand the prospect of being stuck trying to find an office/logistics job so the other option is photography + supplement job.

I am considering putting a business plan together etc and need to look at what equipment I would need.

In my local area I would be mainly looking at portraits, weddings & product shots although any work is good work.

So far I have the following:

Nikon D3s
Nikon 14-24mm f2.8
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f2.8
2 x Sb900
Plenty of memory cards.

Maybe the Nikon 50mm f1.4 and the 16mm2.8 D fisheye.

I have a tripod, head, 2 x lencarta studio lights with wireless trigger.

I know I need to look at backdrops and a decent bag but what am I missing? I know there must be a couple of things not on the list that should be.
Click to expand...

A second body - D3 would be good.
 
yeah I will be looking at getting duplicates of bodies and lenses. I just need a comprehensive list to look at backing up :)
 
equipment wise I've only used the D60 and usually shoot in manual mode, used lens ranging from 50mm 1.8 to the 70-200mm f2.8. studio lights have only been used for studio shots so far, have a couple of volunteers for portraits though, one being a girl who has started doing modelling/glamour since Jan.

Experience wise, couple of wedding shoots & product shoots. Done a few pet shoots for people outdoors with a friend wanting a few equestrian shots in the summer.
 
scottcampbell said:
What photography experience do you have?
Click to expand...

shortened that for you...

First of all, sorry to hear about your situation. Apologies if any of this is teaching granny to suck eggs or whatever... doubtless others will chime in.

It's all very nice planning on dropping £12k on the nikon professional setup (as indeed nikon would love you to :D) but you really do need to justify a) the equipment b) the work c) the business plan.

From photolease on hire purchase, that setup costs £500pm for 3 years (2 D3s + the 3 lenses / 2 speedlights). Do you have the savings to be paying that plus your living costs while you somehow manage to build up a portfolio, experience and a client base - and then some?

This really isn't a business where you can plan to 'accept any and all work' -- you need to be focussed towards your goals, both in terms of portfolio, professional development, marketing, equipment...the list goes on. I've seen a studio shooting with a kit lens, because at f8 it's still bloody sharp - but weddings you need a bag full of fast glass.

It's all too easy to go onto warehouse express and make a basket full of a wishlist of £15k of toys, but justifying that and making that into a profitable business is a very different thing.

Other major costs include transport and insurance for that, insurance (public liability, professional indemnity, equipment), national insurance and tax, marketing, professional development, among others...

Come to a basic premise: where would you like to be in 5 years? And what do you need to do in the next 3, then 6, then 12, months, to help you get there?

I'd advise: if as a job, you want to shoot people... go out and shoot people. A lot. From now on, you need to be specifically taking photos of /people/ once a week absolute minimum. And a son/daughter doesn't count. Ideally they should all be total strangers (and I don't mean that in a creepy way!) - models TFCD, reportage stuff, just build up and keep up a momentum - a LOT of professional photography isn't the photography itself, however the photography DOES need to be very good for the rest to get you the jobs.


And as an actual answer to your first post, I'd get another 2 studio heads, and some form of white seamless backdrop... paper or vinyl depending on your circumstances, it's boring but clients and designers etc like it cos it's easy to work into anything, but other than that, that is the 'nikon professional kit' that they'd love it if everyone in the world who made a living through photography could justify or needed to swan out and buy :D
 
Redundancy, a good kick up the bum for the motivated but you need to treat everything as a business would and only buy what you need and avoid everything else. As a simple rule conserve the cash!! A business plan is a great idea as it gives you focus and direction. You might want to consider events as another income stream (not a cheap startup you but the profit is quite good)

For what you've listed you'd be focusing on I'd consider selling the 14-24 (lovely lens but limited use for your business), put the cash from the sale into a decent website, business cards, other startup costs etc.

Assuming it isn't illegal, you might want to start the business (even as self employed) before the end of the last tax year (I think you've still got time) and transfer all your current assets into the business last year. I suspect you'll get a tax rebate from last year which should help your cash flow this year. An accountant could be very beneficial here, but time is short on this one!
 
Thanks for all the info, it's all good advice and I really do appreciate it all :D

I wouldn't be thinking of getting all the kit straight off the bat so to speak, I am just getting as many ideas together as possible now regarding kit as well as looking at areas of photography that interest me, then, I will look at what is viable and go from there.

One thing I know that I need to do is practice more, at a recent friends wedding I reached the limits of my body but was also noticed areas I need to work on.

Simon, I am looking at doing it legitimately, got a name and domain sorted, I just need to figure everything else out. I find out where I stand regarding my redundancy next week, they do have other jobs that we have interviewed for but even then, I will want to get it sorted by mid summer on the side.
 
tjcroom said:
Wow good luck. I hope it all pans out for you.
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:) Worst thing that happens is that it falls on its bum and I end up working full time in an office again. I'd rather try and fail than have regrets, I have enough of those :D
 
Good luck!
I'm in a similar boat...Like me you already have most of what you need - maybe some studio lights and a decent printer set-up if you decide to go down the 'eventing' route?
I bought mine over ten years ago and it looks as though they're finally about to get a proper work-out...I'd be stuffed if I had to come up with the cash for all of it now and aside from another D3/D3s and the printer, I'm there, more or less. It's still another £3k to pony-up at an uncertain time though...
 
Sorry about your situation, not good.

Firstly, that business plan. So far the first thing on your list has been kit. Simple advice is similar to Simon's, keep it to a minimum, you are going to need cash elsewhere too. Buy second hand where possible (MPB have some decent stuff ATM) and keep as many pennies as possible for marketing.

Website and SEO can easily set you back the same as 14-24mm, which is going to bring you more work? The cost of effective marketing can be quite staggering so make sure you do your sums and shop effectively.

Being a pro tog is about a lot more than the photography or the kit, that's the tip of the iceberg.
 
I'm also investing in a couple of small-business courses run as part of my Army resettlement package as well as German language courses...no good being a brilliant tog if I can't communicate effectively, eh?

It all costs money...
 
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