Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGrimm
...30-40k in equipment, of which most seems to have a 3-5 year life cycle.
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Like what?
The only thing I can think of that would need replacing after 3-5 years is the camera Body and the speedlights.
Pro lenses hold their value very well and if they aren't damaged, they would never need replacing.
Tripods, Heads, Light Stands, Soft Boxes, etc etc... all those things should hold up for a very very long time. Especially in a studio environment.
It's definitely not cheap though, and with the digital age and the internet, it's easy enough to teach yourself photography right up to a level where the only thing separating you, from a Professional, is natural creative talent (something I certainly don't have).
Since it doesn't take much to impress most people, it must be hard for some photographers to compete with the wannabees (like me) who own a DSLR and will shoot things, for their friends, for free.
If I am hiring a professional, I am hiring, hopefully, a creative genius with an elevated understanding of blending ambient and artificial light to record light in a way that goes beyond the rules of composition.