Less is More
Written by: Scott Bruck & Fontaine Lewis/Shadow Box Studios
I get stuck in my own head a lot. Overthinking, anxiety, worst case scenario stuff.
"This person will condemn me to internal damnation if I'm five minutes late."
"This person hates my photography because they haven't yet responded to my email from two hours ago."
"I'll never be as good as that."
These are examples of limitations that we impose upon ourselves, in business and in life in general.
As creatives, we love our freedoms.
But are there good limitations?
Is sacrificing freedom actually beneficial to us and our art?
When it comes to the tools we use to do our jobs, absolutely.
What if I told you that not having that $5000 camera or that $300 ND filter is actually the best thing for you?
Limitation breeds creativity. Having less immediate options will push you to find new ones.
Here are 3 reasons why limiting your kit can be a good thing:
1. LESS GEAR
Whether you're new and aspiring or experienced and a little jaded, will let you in on a little secret: you don't need the latest, newest, flashiest and most-of something.
Steer away from the soul sucking trap of clever marketing and YouTube Vlogs telling you that you need this or that and your life will be complete.
Work with what you got and be content with it. Borrow from trusted friends. Rent if needed. When you're ready to buy, do your research, and purchase when the time to upgrade or expand your services and work feels right. You'll know.
Yeah film is amazing, but it comes with extra costs and gear that might be holding you back.
Also, It helps to know what you’re shooting, and really focus on what gear you use the most. I use an 85mm lens for 80% of my work. I have 12 different lenses I could use, but I learned the 85mm inside and out, so I can use it for most situations and get great results. That means that I don’t need to bring all 12 of my lenses. I can bring one lens, and maybe a small wider lens for those “just in case” scenarios. Which goes into our next point…
2. LESS DISTRACTIONS
We've all overpacked. It honestly sucks. It's heavy, too redundant, annoying to pack up and put away, and you're even more upset when you return home and didn't use 50% of what you packed.
Be prepared. Before you shoot, sit down and make an itemized list. Build a template and use it again, tweaking as needed. Of course you want backup options, but don't go crazy.
Think about what you actually need, opposed to what you think may be an option. You'll thank yourself later. You'll lose less lens caps and batteries too.
Photo: Gear bag. Travel.
Having less gear will also make you more efficient when setting it up or transporting it. If you can keep your kit small, you are much more likely to take it with you and use it. I can tell you from experience that if I have a lighting modifier that takes 20 steps to setup, 9 times out of 10 I’m going to leave it in my bag or in my car - and then eventually I’m not even going to bother bringing it along in the first place. Getting to know the gear you have will open up possibilities in your work, and remove the need to add more to your pack.
Photo by Fontaine Lewis. Shot on film.
3. LESS COSTS
This may seem obvious after the last two points, but we especially want to reiterate this to new photographer's: you don't need to max out your credit card or beg your friends and family for an awkward loan. Stop spending if you're not earning. Start with what you got and keep shooting. Your experience, skills, and personality are of way more value than gear.
Additionally, keep in mind that some purchases come with extra expenses in other parts of your kit. If you upgrade to the latest and greatest 100MP camera, you’re going to need a powerful computer and a lot of extra storage for those larger files. You might need a new bag because you can’t fit your new lens in your old backpack. Another light stand might be too much for your Fiat 500, and now you need a new car (hopefully this is never a decision you have to make). Make sure your kit matches where you are in your career. Chances are, there’s a really good reason why you can’t afford it right now. Not a single pro photographer started out with a fully kitted out studio, 10 cameras and a hundred lenses.
Image from somewhere on Pinterest.
KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid