Does photography give you GAS?

There are several reasons why I love to shoot with a point and shoot camera. You deal with less bulk, less complexity and (generally) lower costs. There are a LOT of photography gear choices to make, but it can quickly get overwhelming. It can also lead to what is known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome or GAS. I know a lot of photographers that suffer from GAS. Heck, I’ll admit to having suffered from GAS from time to time. Buying new gear can make you feel good. In certain cases it might allow you to capture some images that you couldn’t before. Gear can be very seductive. It can lure you like a sugary treat and there’s an endless supply of candy out there to satisfy your photographic sweet tooth. But don’t, for a second, believe the lie that having top end gear will automatically make you a top end photographer. Having GAS can cost you a LOT of money.

People who suffer from GAS mistakenly believe that they will be able to vastly improve their photos if they “only had this lens” or “bought that carbon fiber tripod”. As a pro photographer, I can tell you that gear is only one part of the process. Most pros will tell you that there’s a lot of technique, experience and skill that goes into making an awesome image. A good photographer is one who can take whatever gear is available to them and make stunning images. You can too.

Don’t get me wrong, there are certain times and situations that might require specialized equipment to get the job done. But the VAST majority of the time, you’ll be able to create amazing and compelling images with the tools you already have: A mobile phone, point and shoot or advanced compact camera. For centuries, artists around the world have created stunning works of art (painting, sculpture, etc.) with the tools they had at hand. Often times they weren’t the most technologically advanced “things”. The most important factor was that they were tools in hands of experienced artisans who applied the skills of their craft and got the job done.

In today’s photographic world, I’ve seen truly amazing images come from mobile phone cameras. Browsing through Instagram, you’ll see what I mean. It’s less often about the gear and more often about other important factors that make or break a photograph. The good news is that you can learn to capture these kind of images too. Develop the skills, “eye” and awareness of composition, lighting, color and shape or intentionally selecting your subjects and catching that decisive “moment in time”. Those, my friend, are the things that, in my humble opinion, can create an image that will crush a thoughtless picture taken with a gazillion dollar camera any day of the week.

Your Assignment: Learn, practice, learn some more and practice some more. Stay passionate and seek those illusive images that I know you’ll be able to create. Learn more about your camera (such as how to adjust your exposure). Just don’t rely on the too often used crutches of GAS thinking that can lead to disappointment and an empty piggy bank. Don’t spend your money, instead spend your time to learn and practice your craft.