A spring clean is a great way to evaluate your photography practice. Decluttering your photography gear can help you focus on what goals lie ahead. This article gives you top tips on what to keep and what to clear out.
Like most photographers, your journey has likely been filled with experimentation, growth, and the accumulation of a wide variety of photography equipment. Over the years, you've explored various genres, refined your skills, and perhaps even pursued formal education in photography. But now, as you survey your living or working space, you realize that your beloved equipment has taken over every nook and cranny. Ask yourself realistically, how much of it sits collecting dust and serving no purpose in your current practice? Whether it’s a whole closet or a whole room full, it's time for a spring clean, making a deliberate effort to declutter and make space.
Here is a scenario: You began your photography journey in sports with expensive telephoto lenses, which now gather dust as you now shoot much different subjects, and you have your eye on the Nikon Z8, but It's just out of budget for you at the moment. Would it still be out of budget if you traded your old or current equipment towards the cost of buying one? This is the reality of getting rid of unused photography equipment: it can get you one step closer to your dream kit.
How to Choose What to Sell
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have endless physical storage space and endless finances to obtain and keep all the equipment that you might ever need? The truth is, that this isn’t the reality for most photographers.
You may initially be reluctant with the prospect of parting ways with unused photography equipment. After all, each piece holds memories of past projects, learning experiences, and aspirations. Even the items that you have never used before, because you bought them telling yourself that they would be useful someday. Maybe you have equipment that was purchased as a well-meaning gift that will never be used, but it was a nice thought. Wouldn’t it be great to have space rather than stuff, even if you are only going to fill that space with more stuff which will be useful to your current practice?
Evaluate your Current Needs and Shooting Preferences.
Who are you as a photographer? Whether you are a working professional or a keen hobbyist, evaluate your portfolio of images that you share with others. This might be a printed portfolio or just your Instagram page. When you know what area your work sits in, make a list of vital equipment necessary for this area of practice. Do you have all of that equipment? If not, then perhaps selling some equipment that you have been holding on to might help to get you there.
Usage Frequency and Versatility of Equipment
Evaluate how often you use each piece of equipment. Items that have been sitting unused for an extended period are good candidates for selling. Keeping equipment that serves multiple purposes makes sense. Versatile gear can help minimize the need for redundant items.
Have you transitioned to a new camera system, rendering your old bodies and lenses obsolete? If so, trading these in for equipment compatible with your current setup can streamline your workflow and enhance efficiency. By prioritizing functionality and relevance, you're well on your way to knowing what will make it into the “sell” list and what stays in the “keep” list.
The Items That You Won't Admit That You'll Never Use
Almost all photographers will have unused accessories sitting in forgotten corners. Consider those impulse purchases that never quite found their niche – perhaps you found a career as a food photographer and have an unused drone gathering dust on its case. Maybe you invested in a costly tilt-shift lens as a novelty purchase which rarely sees the light of day.
The Selling Process
Now, I know what you are thinking. The process of selling your gear to strangers on the internet can be exhausting. If I had a dollar for every “Is this still available?” message I could rent long-term storage for all of my photography equipment. There is a better solution tailored to the needs of photographers seeking to streamline the sale and collection of gear without the hassle of traditional selling methods. Rather than navigating the endless haggling from end-user buyers, MPB offers a straightforward process for selling your photography equipment. With a few clicks, you can obtain an instant online quote for your items. No more anxious anticipation of potential buyers to back out at the last minute or request unfair refunds. Instead, you receive a fair valuation upfront, providing clarity and convenience in the selling process. If the offer aligns with your expectations, simply send off your gear and await the deposit into your account.
Beyond streamlined transactions, what sets MPB apart is the level of customer satisfaction, with peace of mind for both buyers and sellers on the site. For those looking to refresh their toolkit, the option to use proceeds from sales toward purchases on the website presents an enticing opportunity to use the revenue from your old kit toward refreshing and refining your current equipment. With a generous six-month warranty accompanying every purchase, you can explore pre-loved equipment with confidence, knowing that quality and reliability are assured.
By following these tips, you can streamline your photography equipment collection, optimize your workflow, and potentially generate some extra income from selling unused gear.
