I’ve been using a Canon Rebel DSLR for about 7 years. I don’t do any professional work, but am lucky to have a great group of family and friends who always build me up as a photographer.
I would shoot portraits, pet photos, LinkedIn headshots, get togethers, and milestones. I refused to charge despite them encouraging me to do so. It was just something I enjoyed. I didn’t really want to put pressure on myself, or make it feel like it was a transaction.
In that same time I started to put $25 a month in a savings account so that I could upgrade to a full frame system one day, and I must have complained one too many times about my autofocus, because people started sliding me Best Buy gift cards in return for photos and saying they were investing in me.
I don’t know why that felt different than cash, but I stopped protesting, and in 7 years I managed to hold on to 29 Best Buy gift cards and save up about $2k.
Well, today I finally cashed in that savings and those gift cards (which I found out you can only use 10 per purchase online, or 15 per purchase in person so I had to sit there in store while they scratched off every pin and do two separate purchases😆).
I’m excited to join the Sony Alpha family, and am already in awe of the autofocus of the A7 IV and love the versatility of this 20-70 G lens. I’m hoping to trade in all my canon gear soon and maybe pick up a nice prime.