DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> How do you fund your photography hobby?
Pages:  
Showing posts 51 - 75 of 79, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 08/23/2007 10:19:01 PM · #51
My husband is a vintage guitar broker, so if I need anything, it comes out of one of those chunks.
 08/23/2007 10:20:47 PM · #52
If you have to work to fund it, is it really a hobby?
 08/23/2007 10:25:56 PM · #53
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
If you have to work to fund it, is it really a hobby?


If you have to work overtime to pay for the hotel and airfare, is it really a vacation?
 08/23/2007 10:28:03 PM · #54
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
If you have to work to fund it, is it really a hobby?


yeah, otherwise it's just a profession that you really, really like :)
 08/23/2007 10:28:33 PM · #55
Almost every hobby needs to be funded. Photography is just one of the more expensive ones.

Anyways, there are tons of ways to make some extra money. Buying/reselling is one, just be smart about it. My neighbor used to buy nintendo wii's and then sell them on ebay for double or triple the price she paid. That was when you had to wait in line outside a store at 4am to get them, though.
 08/23/2007 10:30:52 PM · #56
I bought my D50 refurbish for $300. I then got a $50 lens, and then later a tamron. I have very little invested. My quality suffers, but it is still fun.
 08/23/2007 10:49:52 PM · #57
My new D40 was from a wee bit of my inheritance from my mom. I think she would approve :)
 08/23/2007 11:13:42 PM · #58
I took over my son's paper route. (He was tired of doing it after 5 years.) I only make about $125/month, but after teaching all day in a classroom without windows, I get some fresh air, a little exercise, and I also walk my dog at the same time!
 08/24/2007 10:54:52 AM · #59
I don't fund it. Hence my very lacking equipment list. :) Paying for things like rent and school are a little more important right now but just wait till I graduate in a year and a half. I'll have an equipment list as long as my arm.

I probably actually won't, but it's fun to think about.

Edit to add: For the people that do stock photo, what kind of things are they typically looking for when you submit to them? Maybe this needs another thread.

Message edited by author 2007-08-24 10:55:29.
 08/24/2007 11:33:21 AM · #60
I teach 5 year olds...
 08/24/2007 12:17:31 PM · #61
I fix sick chips and herd bits.
 08/24/2007 01:01:59 PM · #62
Originally posted by rex:
You guys and your tax returns. Why do you give the Government a loan throughout every year only to pay you back with NO INTEREST?

If you are getting back more than $100 then you are getting back too much.

Raise your dependents and keep that money throughout the year for yourself.

It's the best way for some people to save money. Other people just don't understand how to do W-4's beyond the basic worksheet determination. I was both of those for awhile -- I used to absolutely suck at saving money, so if I didn't let the gov't take it out and then give it back to me in a lump sum each year, I'd spend it. (I still spent it in the form of the big tax returns, but I could spend it on big things then!) I still suck at saving, but I decided that I could accomplish the same thing by opening a savings acc't and having money direct-deposited into it each pay period so that I never saw that money in my checking acc't, and I bumped up my exemptions at the same time. Now I end up with the same amount each year, but it's earning interest.
 08/24/2007 01:09:58 PM · #63
Originally posted by Creature:
Originally posted by rex:
You guys and your tax returns. Why do you give the Government a loan throughout every year only to pay you back with NO INTEREST?

If you are getting back more than $100 then you are getting back too much.

Raise your dependents and keep that money throughout the year for yourself.

It's the best way for some people to save money. Other people just don't understand how to do W-4's beyond the basic worksheet determination. I was both of those for awhile -- I used to absolutely suck at saving money, so if I didn't let the gov't take it out and then give it back to me in a lump sum each year, I'd spend it. (I still spent it in the form of the big tax returns, but I could spend it on big things then!) I still suck at saving, but I decided that I could accomplish the same thing by opening a savings acc't and having money direct-deposited into it each pay period so that I never saw that money in my checking acc't, and I bumped up my exemptions at the same time. Now I end up with the same amount each year, but it's earning interest.


I didn't used to bother adjusting my W4 until the year I underpaid $13k and decided to pay more attention. Now I'm usually about $50 out.

Message edited by author 2007-08-24 13:10:17.
 08/24/2007 01:28:10 PM · #64
I work during the week, take pictures purely for fun (because im not that great) and then spend more of the money I make, maintaining & buying gas for my boat for the summer.

I spent $6000 on my boat in Sept'06 and $1200 on camera+lens in Nov'06. My boat has probably cost me another $1500+ this year between maintenance, insurance, gas, parts, storage etc. My camera.. has cost me the price of a Lowe-pro carry bag.

Photography is cheap.. boating is expensive. LOL

As the saying goes .... " you gotta pay to play "
 08/24/2007 01:31:56 PM · #65
Originally posted by Nerve:
Photography is cheap.. boating is expensive. LOL


That depends on your level of photography. $6000 wouldn't even get you a 1Dsmk3 much less a lens to go with it. :)
 08/24/2007 01:40:54 PM · #66
Originally posted by JeffDay:
Self employment (write off)......

Yup, same here... we need color accurate equipment for a portfolio of our small painting business.

btw, hey there fellow Portlander :)
 08/24/2007 01:54:10 PM · #67
Originally posted by SamDoe1:
Originally posted by Nerve:
Photography is cheap.. boating is expensive. LOL


That depends on your level of photography. $6000 wouldn't even get you a 1Dsmk3 much less a lens to go with it. :)


It depends on your level of sailing, $50k wouldn't even get you a sail on some boats. $6k doesn't pay for the annual maintenance ;) Photography's cheap compared to a lot of the alternatives...

Message edited by author 2007-08-24 13:55:06.
 08/24/2007 01:59:04 PM · #68
Originally posted by SamDoe1:
Originally posted by Nerve:
Photography is cheap.. boating is expensive. LOL


That depends on your level of photography. $6000 wouldn't even get you a 1Dsmk3 much less a lens to go with it. :)


But you can't cruise along the water ways with your gf with a 1Dsmk3.. ;)

(I had to google it to see what the heck a 1Dsmk3 was.... LOL)

What I meant more less was.. general photography for the normal everyday person with some cash, is still cheaper then owning a boat. From $200 P&S's to your entry level SLRs.
08/24/2007 02:06:39 PM · #69
$650 for room and board, no wife/kids/big responsibilities and a job that pays me too much to read DPC and strobist all day. :)
 08/24/2007 02:07:48 PM · #70
Originally posted by rex:
You guys and your tax returns. Why do you give the Government a loan throughout every year only to pay you back with NO INTEREST?

If you are getting back more than $100 then you are getting back too much.

Raise your dependents and keep that money throughout the year for yourself.


I have no dependents, and I claim zero. For me, it's significantly easier to overpay and get a nice return than it is to claim an allowance for myself and write a check for a couple hundred dollars.
08/24/2007 02:19:17 PM · #71
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I have no dependents, and I claim zero. For me, it's significantly easier to overpay and get a nice return than it is to claim an allowance for myself and write a check for a couple hundred dollars.


I work out what I'll owe and write in the amount to pay each month. None of this claiming points or whatever.
08/24/2007 02:34:19 PM · #72
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I have no dependents, and I claim zero. For me, it's significantly easier to overpay and get a nice return than it is to claim an allowance for myself and write a check for a couple hundred dollars.


I work out what I'll owe and write in the amount to pay each month. None of this claiming points or whatever.


That works well enough if you know what you're going to be making. I never quite do. Anyway... *shrug*
 08/24/2007 03:24:24 PM · #73
Originally posted by Rebecca:
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I have no dependents, and I claim zero. For me, it's significantly easier to overpay and get a nice return than it is to claim an allowance for myself and write a check for a couple hundred dollars.


I work out what I'll owe and write in the amount to pay each month. None of this claiming points or whatever.


That works well enough if you know what you're going to be making. I never quite do. Anyway... *shrug*


I am the same way, my pay depends on what I get "off my desk" every month- which is actually really nice, because I love being in control of my income, but from a tax calculation stand point its a nightmare.
 08/24/2007 04:10:09 PM · #74
I'm guessing it wouldn't be cool to mention that Canon gives me stuff. You can hate me if you want. It's cool. I'm just a lucky guy... :-)
 08/24/2007 04:44:32 PM · #75
The army has very generously offered to fund my obsession...
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 06/23/2025 05:43:33 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 06/23/2025 05:43:33 PM EDT.