This post is sponsored but all thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Aspen Cierra Photography and her journey to becoming a great photographer.
This year has been all about investing in myself. Specifically career wise. Being a photographer that shoots on a regular basis, I rely on my equipment to get the job done. Over the earlier months of 2017, I realized that I was starting to outgrow my equipment. My lovely Sigma F/4 24-105mm ART just wasn’t cutting it for me in low light or natural light situations. Around the summertime, I was looking to upgrade and started shopping around but wasn’t particularly happy with the prices I was seeing. It would definitely take more than a few client jobs to get the quality lens that I wanted to replace it with. I started shopping around used photography places online and considered trading in my lens but was iffy about sending my equipment to a newer start up that didn’t have any klout. Also, many of them just didn’t have the lenses that I was interested in. That’s when I found UsedPhotoPro.
I was first introduced to UsedPhotoPro during a camera expo at the Atlanta School of Photography during the summer. They are a local, family owned business in Indianapolis with over 55 years in the photo industry. They were there buying used camera equipment and paying with cash or a check up front. When I caught wind of the event, I knew it was perfect timing. I was already in the market for a new lens, something prime and with a wider aperture, and wanted to sell or trade in my old lens. I brought my Sigma F/4 24-105mm ART lens to be appraised and was given market value on the spot for my mint condition lens. It was quick, easy, and painless.
Later that week, I went to the UsedPhotoPro website to order my lens and had quite a few options. Because each lens that they buy is unique, all the product images reflect each individual product. I could pick lenses with different grades from fair to mint condition and tell in the photographs; no stock photos. I first bought a Sigma F/1.4 85mm lens because I was shooting a lot of product photography and wanted to get close up detail shots, as well as great beauty shots for the bloggers I was shooting at the time. After a few days, I quickly realized that after selling my only lens that a 50mm would be more useful at the moment and to get the 85mm to add on later. I emailed UsedPhotoPro back to return the lens, shipped it back and had my refund within a few days of it arriving at their warehouse.
After one of the easiest returns I’ve probably ever experienced with shopping online, I promptly ordered my current lens, the Sigma F/1.4 50mm ART. If you’ve read my blog before, you guys know I love the Sigma ART series, so it was a perfect match.
Overall, buying used was the smartest decision I’ve done when it comes to my photography business. You can find great equipment, like the Sigma lens I sold to them, for way less than buying new. Whether you’re tired of basic stock photos for your blog posts, want original images for social media, product photos for your online store or need to upgrade your personal kit, now is the time to invest in quality camera equipment for your business.
P.S. I have a special promotion for all my readers for 5% off of your first purchase with UsedPhotoPro if you use the code ASPEN at checkout. Don’t be afraid to use it!