How much is Enough?

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

While I was reading a blog post from Scott Bourne this morning (I always read his stuff because he offers great information) I got to thinking... The post was titled “Slimming Down” and talked about how much gear he had and how much gear he carries around. He discusses having too much and what a distraction it can become. Go read his post and then come back here and finish this one....

As a portrait and wedding photographer I always want the latest gadgets, best camera, lighting equipment, and prettiest backdrops. Of course the perfect moment would be nice too... but that's another story and something we are always fighting for as a photographer. However, I understand where Scott is coming from on this... and I think it's because I have so many kids. I learned early that when you travel with kids (even if it's just to the grocery store), they need stuff! Lots of stuff! Diapers, bottles, wipes, toys, etc. It makes you tired having to carry all that gear around with you every where you go... not to mention, the kid, the car seat and the stroller. Plus you have to have your own belongings; purse or wallet, sunglasses, and any womanly essentials that may be necessary. So by the time my second son came along I was done with carrying all this extra baggage. I threw aside the diaper bag and opted for one purse large enough to hold all my stuff and all babies stuff (only what I absolutely needed for any particular situation). After my 4th child was born a friend of mine asked me if I would ever be able to walk around without a diaper in my purse? Little did he know there were 5 more children to follow.

So now that I'm a full time photographer I have acquired a bit of equipment, a couple DSLR cameras, a couple external flash units, extra batteries and flash (memory) cards, 4 different lenses, lens hoods, filters, etc. so I carry one camera bag, that also holds all my personal stuff like wallet, biz cards, and glasses. I'm also a completely mobile photographer, so I carry around my lighting equipment, backdrops, tripods, props, etc. in my van all the time (I know there isn't a sports car anywhere in my future). I never get bogged down with too much equipment, I keep it simple and only take what I need to each shoot. I always take a back up camera, a back up flash, and back up batteries and flash cards, but that's it! That's enough! If you've been doing this long enough there is no reason why you can't assess the situation, and figure out what you need ahead of time (along with back up... because you never know when something is going to bite the dust in the technology world)! 

Remember... Lighten Up!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media.