Jump out of the rabbit hole!
Every photographer, filmmaker, and creative has fallen into the gear rabbit hole at some point. We obsess over cameras, lenses, lighting, stabilizers, drones, and the latest “game-changing” tech. We tell ourselves, if I just had that one new piece of gear, my work would be better.
And while gear does matter, it also doesn’t matter nearly as much as we think. In fact, having too much gear can hold us back.
Why gear matters
Let’s be honest, gear isn’t meaningless. The right tools can make or break certain projects.
Technical quality
A high-end camera does give better resolution, dynamic range, and low-light performance than an entry-level one. If you’re shooting a billboard campaign or cinematic commercial, gear choices absolutely impact the final product. You never know what a client might end up doing with your photos. Once I had an assignment for shooting full body photos of the Belgium Red Devils & BMW. Two days after the shoot I got a call from the agency asking me what resolution I was shooting because the quality wasn’t efficient. I was flabbergasted, since the resolution was 62 million pixels. After mailing back and forth they explained to me that they were experimenting with a new idea for the campaign and they just needed the heads of the players, so they just cropped it in on the photos. That is deleting about 90 % of the photo and using that for a billboard commercial… Well no matter how big your resolution is, that's never going to work . In the end they kept the concept the same so it worked out fine. Also, I had back up, closer, shots that could’ve been used for the other concept, they just needed to ask…
Reliability & efficiency
Pro-level gear is built to withstand tough conditions. A cheap tripod might collapse at the worst moment, while a pro one just works. Good autofocus can mean the difference between nailing a fleeting moment and missing the shot entirely. It’s also about timing and planning. Some shots are technically challenging and with manual actions can take a lot of time. If your shooting schedule is packed and you lose a lot of time nailing a shot because of technical challenges, that is very stressful. Losing daylight here guys! So if you have the right camera with a crazy intelligent autofocus, or “high speed” syncing issues with your flashlights can be a real stress if it doesn’t work and if it just works that might just save your day . You can focus on the creative/human part and let the camera handle the technical part. Note that we as pro’s are fully capable of doing it manually but that requires more time and most of the time there is no budget for more time!
The right tools for the job
If you’re filming a handheld documentary, a lightweight mirrorless camera is ideal. If you’re shooting a high-budget commercial, clients will expect a cinema camera. Some jobs simply require specific tools. But that also goes the other way around. Because often big cameras are used for projects that don't require them, just because the crew or client wants to “look” professionally. Such a waste of time and money. The right tool for the right job is my main focus when selecting gear for a job.
So yes, gear matters. But here’s the trap thinking that better gear automatically makes better work.
Why gear doesn’t matter
I’ve seen people create insanely good work with entry-level gear. I’ve also seen people with the most expensive cameras turn out boring, soulless images.
Here’s why gear alone doesn’t make you a better creative:
Creativity vs equipment
A good photographer sees light, composition, and emotion, a camera just captures it. A great filmmaker understands pacing, movement, and storytelling, a fancy lens won’t fix bad direction.
Constraints force creativity
This is one of my strongest beliefs about creativity! Some of the most innovative work happens when you don’t have the perfect tools. Limited gear forces you to be resourceful, experiment, and think differently. Constraints make you think out of the box and be creative. This is a bit harder when you are on a timed and commissioned job, but you can be creative with what gear you have in preparation of the shoot.
Clients don’t care (as much as you think)
A client cares about the final image or film, not the camera you used. They’ll notice the emotion, the storytelling, the impact, not whether you shot it on a 500 € lens or a 50,000 € one. They often don't see the difference from “that one special lens” you used versus a more standard lens. Don’t get me wrong some projects require all those. But since I'm shooting mostly commercials it’s not always necessary. The clients want to see their message and product/service displayed as they desired. How that happens, that’s up to us! Oh man, I even had briefings where “they” told me to bring extra gear to make it look bigger than it was. That was probably about justifying bills I guess..
Skill beats specs
Give a beginner the best camera in the world, and they’ll still take beginner-level shots. Give a seasoned pro a basic camera, and they’ll still find ways to make magic. Another one of my main beliefs. There is a big difference between having a great camera and taking super snapshots. Once you get a briefing with atmosphere,? lights, emotion, and technical specifications within a specific time… No camera is going to save you unless you have the experience and skills. The camera is just a tool for us pros to get that result.?
Why more gear can hold you back
Ironically, having too much gear can actually make you less creative.
More gear,?more distractions
Instead of thinking about creative ideas, you’re thinking about what lens to use, which camera to bring, and which stabilizer to test. Even trying to get gear into the project and come up with a reason even if it’s not necessary!
You’re constantly checking for firmware updates, calibrating lenses, charging batteries, and packing gear instead of planning and envisioning your shoot. There was a point where I had all the gear needed for a shoot: drones, audio gear, flash light, video light, drone, cameras … I spent a lot of time maintaining that gear, it drove me crazy. Now I just have the basics, excellent cameras and lenses and rent what extra I need.?
Gear becomes an excuse
Ever thought, I can’t start this project until I get that new lens? Instead of shooting with what you have, you’re waiting for the “perfect” setup, which never really comes.
Also, sometimes I bought specific gear for a specific shoot, that actually was a big amount of the fee that I would gain from that shoot. And not all of them were a long term investments.?
The upgrade trap: always chasing, never creating
Every year, something newer, better, and more expensive comes out. If you’re constantly upgrading, you’re spending more time testing gear than actually creating work. The upgrades released aren’t always what you need, it’s what the manufacturer needs to gain more money. Most of the time you can just skip 2 or 3 upgrade versions of the same camera (same goes for smartphones) before actual new technology is added. In general, don’t watch youtube, it’s the most hidden sales channel. I just use it to look for a thing indeed to learn and don’t open it when I don’t need it. It’s a hardcore selling channel.
Overcomplicating simple shoots
More gear is more setup time. A simple portrait shoot turns into a two-hour light test. Instead of focusing on your subject, you’re tweaking dials and settings. This is the same when I was beginning, I was so stressed about the gear, the focus, the right light that I forgot about the model. I ended up with great sharp and perfectly lit photos, lacking emotion and interaction with the model. You learn the hard way!
So, what’s the truth about gear?
Gear is a tool, not a solution. The right equipment can improve your workflow, quality, and technical execution, but it won’t replace creativity, vision, and skill.
Buy gear when…
Don’t buy gear when…
Final Thought: Focus on the work, not the tools
I’ve made all the mistakes there are in the book and i’m writing it down so you can learn from my mistakes. But I'm not sorry I made these mistakes, it was a natural learning process to become who I am as a professional visual artist today!
Some of the most legendary photographs and films were made with gear that would be considered outdated today. But the vision? The story? The execution? That’s what made them great.
Gear helps. But the best investment is always in your skills, creativity, and storytelling.
Use what you have. Master it. Then upgrade with purpose.
Check out my work on www.nikocaignie.be