Less Is More When It Comes to Photo Gear. Here’s Why

Words and Images by Austin Mann  |  November 2024

My first digital camera was Canon’s D30 paired with a 28-105mm lens. I paid $16 on eBay for a Nikon-to-Canon adapter to mount my dad’s old Nikon 16mm fisheye to my Canon.

These two lenses weren’t the sharpest, fastest, or best in any regard, but they forced me to move my feet and see the world differently. They made me work for every shot, a limitation that turned out to be a gift I didn’t recognize at the time.

Break the Cycle

Like many of you, I spent hours daydreaming on B&H Photo’s website, wishing for better cameras, more lenses, batteries, and tripods—everything. But back then, I didn’t have the money, so I learned to work with what I had.

As photographers and filmmakers, we’ve all been there. After a while, we shoot a few client jobs, save up, and finally justify buying that new piece of gear. It feels like a huge investment, but it’s necessary for your business. You place the order, track the FedEx truck, and open the package full of excitement for new possibilities.

And then the cycle repeats—over and over. You buy another lens, another camera, a new piece of tech.

After a few years, you’re surrounded by all the gear you ever dreamed of. You have an assistant, a bigger truck to carry it all, and every tool for every possible shot.

But somewhere along the way, you cross a threshold—you’ve got all the gear you could want, but you’re heavy, bogged down, and your creativity has likely begun to dull.

The Power of Simplicity

This is where we must pause and remember what made our work compelling in the first place. It wasn’t the gear; it was the creativity, passion, and vision. It was the power of simplicity.

As our businesses evolve, simplicity naturally fades, but we must fight to implement it by design.

One of my favorite quotes comes from world-renowned sushi chef Jiro Ono: “Ultimate simplicity leads to purity.” This rings true in all areas of our lives, but especially in creative work as photographers and filmmakers. The more we simplify our process, the more we free ourselves to focus on the craft.

We must find ways to design simplicity into our workflow. For me, unless I’m headed to the polar regions, I never check bags. Everything I need—clothes, gear, computer—fits in my carry-on.

Even when I bring my 400mm f/2.8 lens on safari, I manage to carry it on. It forces me to be selective, and that intentionality keeps my work sharp.

Clear Your Bag

Before each job, I also clear out my bag completely, even if I know most of it is going back in. There’s something about the act of choosing what’s necessary that keeps me intentional, knowing that everything I have with me is essential. It keeps my mind clear.

I recently returned from a shoot promoting tourism in northern Kenya. My friend Taylor McKay and I shot everything—both stills and motion—on an iPhone 16 Pro.

It was a refreshing reminder of how freeing it can be to work with something so simple. No border customs hassles, no heavy glass, no worrying about lens changes in a dust storm. The iPhone allowed us to focus purely on capturing what was in front of us, with very little gear to hassle us.

Avoid the Trap

When we start believing more gear equals better work, we fall into a trap. Gadget and gizmo makers push us to think buying more is the answer, but the reality is, it usually isn’t.

When I find myself eyeing new gear, I’ve become cautious and ask myself, “Why?” In fact, flipping the question and asking, “What can I remove instead of add?” can often be more fruitful. Sure, it doesn’t make you a buyer for that gadget company, but that’s not the goal. Your goal is to create your best work.

Sometimes there’s pressure to show up with tons of gear for the client’s perception. But I’ve found it’s better to have an honest conversation about what the project truly needs. Maybe it’s a complex kit, or maybe it’s incredibly light, but the important thing is that it’s intentional and uses the right tools for the job.

That said, there’s always a minimum viable setup. You can’t show up to a multi-person interview with just an iPhone and no external lighting or audio gear. But you don’t necessarily need a full gaff, grip, and sound crew either. There’s a balance.

Do What You Can With What You Have

One of the most powerful mindsets we can hold as creative pros is “do what you can with what you have.” It’s a mentality that often fades as our access to resources grows, but it’s where true creativity thrives—especially when working as a traveling photographer in new and unknown environments.

I challenge you to go out with a single lens, an old camera, or a stripped-down kit. See what you can create with less. You might just discover your best work yet.

Austin Mann writes the “Tech Tools & Beyond” column for Wild Eye magazine. See more of his work at austinmann.com.