Sometimes as a business owner, it’s a struggle for me to feel “justified” spending money on the business, when I know it could be put to good use for us a family.  When I first started up, there were a lot of large, up front costs–new computer, new cameras and lenses and flashes.  Website company.  Even a camera good camera bag costs upwards of a few hundred dollars.  But I have to remind myself that in order to keep growing, I have to make sure that I’m using the best equipment thats available to me, and the best equipment for my different purposes.  Lately, I’ve been in need of (or on the verge of needing) a few things.  I believe our computer needs to be replaced soon.  I’ve had it for almost five years, and while it’s still amazing for general purposes, it’s getting a little slow for my photography.  Things in photoshop take longer.  I can’t be running all of my programs at once.  Newer technology would benefit me greatly–and I think my computer will be happier “retired” to a family who needs it for mostly light use.  Also, I’m in need of a change with my lens situation.  And this is an issue.  Because good lenses are over a thousand dollars.  So to know what lenses I would love without ever using them is like a shot in the dark.  So I did what I thought was a good move, though it killed me to do–I just rented three lenses for a couple of weeks.  And it’s more expensive than you’d ever believe it would be.  But to rent over three thousand dollars in lenses in order to try them out instead of purchasing them outright makes more sense, right?  That’s what I keep trying to tell myself, though when I review it in my mind, it seems more like throwing money away to me–hard earned money–because once I send them back in two weeks, it’s like I never had them.  And all that money that I spent to rent them will be gone as well.  In those two weeks, I have two weddings, a few family sessions and a day of mini sessions.  So it will be nice to try them out, get a feel for them and see if any of them would be a valuable addition to “what’s in my bag”.

Today, I tried out a 35mm lens for a few minutes before the bus came.  For those of you who aren’t camera folk, a 35mm is considered a wide angle lens, which allows me to get more in the picture from a closer distance.  I think this would be useful for me when working with young children, since I like to be super close to them to interact.  Having this lens will make it easier for me to get full body shots while being closer to them.  Also, from a wedding photography point of view, this lens will help me to get more in the picture when I’m in a small space and don’t have room to back up.  For example, usually in the bride’s dressing room–there isn’t a lot of space for me to work.  So having this lens will allow me to photograph the space better since it fits more in the frame.  Can’t wait to try it out at my wedding tomorrow!