Ah, buying new camera gear. The most exciting moment in every photographer’s life. When you’re just starting, you sure need a bunch of stuff – but don’t rush! There are some things that you should never buy, no matter how tempting they seem, and in this video, Miguel Quiles gives you five of them. Let’s see if you agree.
1. UV filters
If you’re a first-time buyer of a camera and a lens, a salesperson will often offer you a UV filter to protect your lens. But the thing is – you can use a lens hood to protect your lens, and it normally already comes with a lens. Sure, a UV filter can protect your front lens element if you shoot on the beach or anywhere where sand or salt can cause scratches. But other than that, you can easily go without it.
2. AI retouching programs
AI-based retouching features have been all the rage these days. When you’re completely new to editing, it sure sounds tempting to retouch everything in a single click. However, it’s not the best solution. First of all, the results from AI editing programs are not acceptable in commercial photography. There’s still no AI that can make artistic decisions that only you can make. So, rely on yourself, start learning, slowly grow your skills, and develop your eye to see what a good portrait should look like. It takes time and patience, but it’s worth it.
3. Presets
Like the AI editing program, presets can stop you from developing your own skills and style when you start using them as a beginner. The truth is: you can’t just click a button and get a nice photo. When you buy presets from other photographers, your photos will not look the same as theirs. I mean, they could, but only if you shot exactly the same type of photos, in the same lighting, with the same gear, etc. So, once again – learn how to edit photos first and buy presets later. Buy them when you’re sure about your own editing skills. This way, you’ll know how to tweak them, how to create your own, or you may even decide that you’re better off without them.
4. Cheap memory cards
Buying a camera and a lens (or two) is already expensive, so you may want to save some money now. I mean, it’s just a memory card. Well, no. Not all memory cards are the same. Their physical quality is different, but so are their read speed and write speeds and the overall quality. So it’s better to take your time to explore your options and invest in a decent SD card right from the start.
5. Camera bundles
Camera bundles can seem really tempting. However, take some time to research what comes in the box and pay attention to each of the items offered in a bundle that caught your attention. Oftentimes, the “bundle” will include the stuff that already comes in the box with the camera anyway, such as the battery, the charger, the lens caps, the USB cable, and so on. The rest of the items are often cheap knock-offs or a bunch of useless knick-knacks you most likely won’t use. Of course, if you find a bundle with products you’ll use and from the brands you respect, go for it. But make sure to think twice before falling for marketing tricks. Have you bought any of these five things? I only bought a cheap SD card when I traveled to Athens and realized that I forgot mine back at home. It’s one of those silly screw-ups I believe we’ve all done. When I do spend money on unnecessary things, it’s something like this. What about you? Do you agree that these things aren’t worth buying? What else would you add to the list? [5 Things Beginner Portrait Photographers Should NEVER Buy | Miguel Quiles]
