My Top 5 Resources for...

Throughout my time as a student here at the AIP-OD I have done a lot of research and ordered a lot of equipment.  It felt a little old-school writing papers again and doing all of this personal and academic research made me feel a little nerdy at times, but as a professional it is very important to take a keen interest in the things you do and always put in your best effort.  "Google-it" is not always the answer so I have put together a list of my top 5 places for...

 

  ...finding what I want and need to exceed.

 

Research & Purchases

 

5.  http://snapsort.com/

       If you're like me, purchasing your first DSLR was confusing and frustrating.  With all of the different brands, specifications, and prices out there it can be difficult to know what you want and need.  The best suggestion I learned about choosing a camera is to hold it; each manufacturer designs camera bodies differently and will feel differently in your hands.  If you're loyal to one brand or another or just curious, this website will help you look at the differences and similarities between cameras as well as what they recommend for you in regards to your particular requirements.

4.  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

     This is a very popular site for shopping for gear.  What I love about them is their student discount membership and huge variety of equipment.  They have a great Used section where you can find deals on certain products and most of the time I can get free shipping--bonus!!  You can also "trade up or cash in" your used gear--a great feature for when you outgrow your gear and are looking to upgrade!

3.  http://www.adorama.com/

     Another very popular site and arguably the best next to B&H.  They also offer student discounts, free shipping, and have a Used department where you can sell your old gear too.  Both Adorama and B&H allow you to subscribe to email notifications for sales and discounts and I have taken equal advantage of their great deals.  What do I think makes Adorama just a little bit better?  They offer you the option to rent equipment which makes it easy to try out a new lens or DSLR, rent a camera body while yours is being serviced, or rent lighting equipment...just something to consider before investing in gear you aren't sure about.

2.  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

     The Photography program will undoubtedly present you with classes in which  you will have to write papers and answer discussion questions that require citations in MLA format; it's daunting, but essential.  "Why?" you might ask--two reasons: plagiarism and copyright infringement.  Both can get you caught in legal and academic disputes and that is very unprofessional.  OWL, the Online Writing Lab, is my go-to for writing a correct citation for the many types of resources I use which brings me to...

1.  The local public library.

    Yes!  I go to the library and you should too.  It is not only a great place to check out books on photographers you might be studying in classes like Photo History I and History of Photography II or for your own personal interest, but there are also books to help you learn how to make money for your photos right now, learn tips and tricks, and *wink, wink* I have also seen a copy of the textbook for those two classes at my local library.

"Outstanding past work in photography, and in fact in all the arts, is very important to today’s photographers. But it should be used for inspiration and not for imitation. These works should be something to be built upon, not to be repeated."--Alexey Brodovitch  (Benigno)

Do you have a favorite go-to for your resources?  Did I miss something?  Please leave me some feedback in the comments section below!

Works Cited

adorama. Adorama Camera, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.adorama.com/ >

Benigno, John A. "Famous Photography Quotes." mastersofphotography.blogspot. Blogger, 11 July 2012. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://mastersofphotography.blogspot.com/p/famous-photography-quotes.html>

bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014.  <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ >

owl.english.purdue. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ >

snapsort. Snapsort, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://snapsort.com/>

"Used Department." bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Used-Department/ci/2870/N/4294247188>
    

Where Should I Shop for Cameras and Equipment to Get the Best Deals?

Where’s the best place to buy a camera or other photo equipment? With so many options now, how is someone supposed to know where to start?

Obviously when you start shopping you should check out options and prices on the internet. Now be careful when you are looking at a particular product, be it a camera, lens, or other photography equipment, that you know what you are getting. When I bought my Canon 5D Mark II, I found sites that offered Canon 5D Mark II at really low prices, from Asia. They are call “knock off” products for a reason. They tell you they are the same, but the quality is usually lower AND (important point) there is no manufacturer’s warranty from Canon.  So Lesson 1: Make sure you know what is being sold. 

Lesson 2: Purchase from a reputable dealer. You CAN get great deals online. I purchased my camera used through Amazon.com. It actually was being sold by a pawn shop out west. It was an amazing deal. Because it was through Amazon, I had their guarantee policy. So as soon as it arrived, I tested the entire camera out and found that there was a row of dead pixels in the sensor. I contacted the seller and told them I would either return the camera, or they could pay for the repair work to be done by Canon. They agreed to pay for the repair work, which was $250 dollars. (Actually they credited the $250 back to me and I paid Canon). BINGO! I had a perfect camera totally repaired and certified by Canon. I only paid $1500 for the camera body including the repair. I already had Canon DSLRs so my lenses transferred to the new camera.

I almost always check Amazon first when looking for camera and accessories because most of the major camera equipment stores sell through them, and may offer better deals through Amazon than on their own websites such as B&H or Adorama. When you look at something on Amazon, see where it is being sold from. If you look up an L-series 24-70mm lens today, there are a bunch of used ones being sold from Japan. I’d stick with stateside purchases. Check out some used dealers also. One I trust is KEH.com. Also check in Rangefinder or Professional Photographer magazines for dealers.

Lesson 3: Get great deals at trade shows at the national photography conferences. When I attended the WPPI convention a couple years ago, I spent a lot of time at the trade show. I learned a lot and made some great vendor connections I’m still using today. I also found fantastic deals, most which were good for 30-60 days after the convention. This is how I bought my Westcott studio light package. I saved about 50% of the total retail cost. I also purchased template software for albums, photo collages, and marketing materials for a fraction of the normal cost. Beside all the valuable training and classes and interaction with great photographers, I was able to make great purchases, and plan for future purchases. (It was at the Canon booth that I learned that I wanted a 5D Mark II and L-series lenses to regain the quality I lot switching from medium format film to digital. So when I was ready to purchase, I could spend time looking for a great deal.)

The most important thing to remember when making photography equipment purchases is (Lesson 4) that YOU are the most important piece of equipment that will determine how your images turn out. Save BEFORE and buy when you can pay cash. While you are learning, you don’t have to have the best equipment. Learn to use what you have now to make great images. Then when you can afford to upgrade, you will be that much further ahead.