{my new camera!}

i bought a new camera!

i have to admit, i felt slightly guilty about it at first, but i also don’t treat myself enough. and although this is a “treat,” it is also an investment.

my other camera is about 10 years old at this point. it is still reliable and does the trick, but it is definitely slower and much heavier than this new one. photography is a funny field in that you can invest as much or as little as you want into it. these days, our smart phones have just as many megapixels as some “professional” cameras. however, it is my belief that no amount of equipment or money can truly substitute for a good eye.

i recently read an article that had a quote that resonated with me :

“walker evans once said, ‘people always ask me what kind of camera i use. it’s not the camera, it’s –‘ and he tapped his temple with his index finger.'”

i can’t help but subscribe to walker evans’ approach to photography. it is my belief that no matter what kind of camera or equipment one uses to capture an image – if it is uninspired, that will be evident, and ultimately translate to the viewer.

having admitted all that, i decided to invest in a new camera that would serve the purpose for what i predominately shoot as a fotographer… which is lifestyle portraits and headshots. once i realized that was the niche i wanted to nestle in, it became easier for me to downsize and specify the gear i wanted to go along with it.

i don’t have a lot of photographic equipment, honestly. i’ve been able to get by with a decent camera body, a few great lenses, a tripod, and an off-camera flash. i like it this way. it was particularly convenient when i lived in that tiny house… considering i only had 200-square feet to work with. and even now that i don’t live in a tiny house, i still prefer not to have a lot of “stuff” in my life. i have been downsizing for about 8 years, and i have now become particularly particular about any new possessions i acquire.

it can be challenging as a minimalist to also be a fotographer, but that is also why i chose to take my business in the direction i have, by specializing in lifestyle portraiture and headshots. nothing compares to composition and good, natural light… which is why i prefer to shoot on location. this has worked relatively well for me, as i can almost always “find” good, natural light.

i recognize that not every fotographer, very few in fact, may operate with this same belief. however, it works for me and as i always say, “to each their own.”

one of the most appealing things about this camera was the name – “kiss” – i couldn’t help but link it to my personal philosophy of “keeping it seriously simple.”

🙂

plus, it’s white! you don’t see that very often. i found it aesthetically pleasing in that regard.

it is incredibly lightweight! i found that appealing, as well. let’s just be honest here, i’m not getting any younger… and i would prefer to take care of my body by being easy on it and caring for it properly. carrying around heavy equipment is not my favourite thing, so having this super lightweight camera to work with is very pleasing.

i’m a canon girl through and through. i couldn’t really give you any major specifics as to why… nikon is great, as is sony or other brands. they are all very comparable these days, honestly. i’m just a loyal person. when i find a brand i like, i tend to stick with it. and this applies to just about anything with certain brands – whether that be a camera, salad dressing, or vitamins!

the funniest thing about this camera is the fact that it was only made for the market in japan. so when i received the package, all of the instructions were in japanese. luckily, i am pretty familiar with how canon cameras operate, so i was able to navigate just fine after figuring out how to set the menu on the camera to english 😉

i love my new camera and have enjoyed using it!

Tags: audrey michelle, blogging, camera, canon, canon camera, food and foto, foodnfoto, fotography, hire me, keep it seriously simple, kiss, lifestyle headshots, lifestyle portraits, love, new, photography, quotes, updates, whatever