[SlickYamaha]

For the people who do this professionally, or semi professionally, do you consider it tacky to list your equipment on your website? I know we all kinda list our gear in our signatures here. I have seen many companies who have a detailed list of all their equipment and pictures of it for their clients to see.

I was just kinda interested to see how everyone feels on this matter...

Thanks.

[magkelly]

Matter of personal preference unless you have a deal with some manufacturer. I don't consider it tacky but I'm not inclined to do it myself. I'm the sort that thinks it's the photographer that matters, not his or her choice of equipment. I tend to downplay what gear I use unless I'm on a board with other photographers having fun in a post talking about what I've currently got.

Professionally I'm not keen on the the idea of being sponsored. I don't like strings or product placement type situations. I use what I use and get on with it. I love my cameras, but I'd definitely want my potential client's focus on my work, not on my gear. If all they're going to be doing is looking at what cameras I use? Then they're not looking at me, at what I can do and I don't think I'd much like that. I'd rather not list it, just show off my work instead. What camera I use? It should be irrelevant.

If you have someone giving you gear for free though it's usually done I would think. Otherwise it's purely up to your own choice. What are you comfortable with doing?

[Gashog]

How bad do you want to make money?
He who brags most gets paid best.
The guys who are able to talk themselves up and get people to believe they're awesome and get $175 for an 8X10 for something I wouldn't even show....They're the guys with egos big enough to do that.
You have to talk your gear up too. Most people believe that expensive equipment takes better pictures.
Tell everyone that your camera is only available by approval of the Awesome Photographers Guild and your lens was a custom one off!

[SlickYamaha]

He who brags most gets paid best.

Its not so much about bragging, more about the "biggest camera=best photos" phenomenon. (per the customers atleast) From what I have seen and read, most customers who see alot of geeky specs, and big impressive cameras are more inclined to be impressed and then hire.

[Gashog]

It helps if you can make yourself seem really smart too.
Just don't get caught bullshitting everyone!

An occasional ego trip of mine is, when someone presents you with a potential job, your initials are J.C. and you walk on water.
Then, you show up to do the job and all of a sudden, it's "Oh...Man! this is a tough one! I don't know....I'll do what I can."
That way, when it's finished, you performed a miracle.

[Kerrowdown]

For some unknown reason I do it here on this forum.

Else where I don't, it's all about the images you capture, not the equipment used.

IMHO my best advice would be, to act and be as professional as possible in all aspects of your photography. For me that's what kept me in work, where others have failed.

[mickeyobe]

Go ahead.
Give thieves a detailed inventory of all your equipment.
That way they can make an intelligent decision whether or not it is worthwhile paying you a visit.

Mickey

[SlickYamaha]

Go ahead.
Give thieves a detailed inventory of all your equipment.
That way they can make an intelligent decision whether or not it is worthwhile paying you a visit.

Mickey

Lol. Well if the thief knows anything about photography he knows a kx and k20 are not the most expensive pieces of equipment out there. But the average joe doesn't

[TaoMaas]

Unless you're listing your gear to show that you have some sort of competitive edge over your rivals, such as having access to medium format, large format, or underwater gear, I don't think anyone cares. Those who would understand the differences between gear also probably know that it doesn't really matter whether you're shooting Canon vs Nikon vs Pentax vs Sony, etc...

[Gashog]

Unless you're listing your gear to show that you have some sort of competitive edge over your rivals, such as having access to medium format, large format, or underwater gear, I don't think anyone cares. Those who would understand the differences between gear also probably know that it doesn't really matter whether you're shooting Canon vs Nikon vs Pentax vs Sony, etc...

The point is to impress the laymen. Make yourself sound like a bigger deal then you are.
For the record, I don't do this. I'm actually a very modest person. I have a dry sense of humor that's all. Probably why I have like 4 careers going right now.

[Ash]

Indeed there's a lack of option in the poll - doesn't matter.
It has little meaning other than to publicly make available what gear is used. Bragging rights or not, it's pretty trifling.

[I shoot people]

It's fine but doing so will make newbies think they need expensive equipment and that really sucks.

[TaoMaas]

The point is to impress the laymen. Make yourself sound like a bigger deal then you are.

I understand. But the laymen don't know Canon vs Nikon vs Pentax. Nor do they know FF vs APS-C or an f2.8 lens vs an f4. They assume you have a camera or else you wouldn't be advertising yourself as a photographer. The nuances are totally lost on them. Those who DO know, understand where it makes a difference and where it does not.

[Lowell Goudge]

I understand. But the laymen don't know Canon vs Nikon vs Pentax. .

I disagree

Regardless of product performance and place in market, I am willing to bet everybody knows who canon sony nikon and olympus are, In fact all of these companies have regular television and newspaper adverts where as pentax DO NOT.

While pentax is a fine company and makes an excellent product, outside (ad I am willing to bet inside also) pentax does not have any brand recognition at all.

[Mike Cash]

I would expect anyone possessed of the knowledge to read a list of my gear and have it mean anything to them would also have the gear and the skills to shoot their pictures themselves and not need me to do it for them. So the people who "get it" wouldn't need me and it wouldn't mean jack squat to the others....so what would even be the point of listing it?

I don't mind anyone knowing what I have/use, but I am about as far from being a pro as you can get. If I were going to set up a site hoping to attract paying customers I don't believe I'd bother listing gear. And if I saw such a list on some ostensible professional's site I wouldn't necessarily think it tacky, but I would wonder just who he is trying to convince of what....and probably conclude that he is trying to convince himself he has some business being in business...."My photos must be worth charging for. Just look at all the neato camera gear I have!"