Gear Talk – Renting Equipment
March 6, 2009 by Holly McCaig
Filed under Photography Gear
Let’s talk gear!
If you’re just starting out in your business, but have been shooting for quite a while, you may find that eventually you don’t have all the equipment that you need. So, what do you do?
Sure, you could take out a small loan to help cover costs. But, let’s be serious, in this economy, I think that’s the last thing we’re thinking about.
My favorite option is renting. It’s a great way to try out new equipment and to cover yourself in a bind. I’ve heard of people having to send in their lenses or bodies for repair, but still have to cover their sessions. So, they rent.
One of our more recommended online sites to rent from is Borrow Lenses. You can’t go wrong with their customer service. But, as their popularity grows, the availability of lenses and other pieces can become less. You have to act quick. However, never fear shooting their owner an email. He’s a pretty nice guy if I say so myself.
Call your local camera stores too. They rent out lenses, lighting, studio equipment and more. You may pay a little more, but you avoid the shipping costs that are involved.
So, what have you been renting lately?
I rented the Canon 85mm 1.2L from them last month. They were so easy to work with and had really quick response time to my emails and phone calls. Playing with the lens was awesome, but it did take a little getting used to.
I used to live by an awesome camera store that I would rent from, so the shipping on this rental was a little hard to swallow – but totally worth it!