When a business owner has a small marketing budget, he or she can't afford to spend the entire budget (and then some) on expensive cameras, lenses, lighting and other necessary tools for a photo shoot. Renting photography equipment can be a smart option for businesses trying to create a DIY marketing campaign that involves shooting photos for a print ad. It also can be a great option for businesses that want to take photos during business related events to be used in publications or in promotional materials.
However, although renting top of the line photography equipment can be much cheaper than buying it, equipment rentals are not always the best option. Having good equipment doesn't necessarily mean you'll get great photos and professional photographers spend many years learning the tricks of the trade. Business owners who do not understand composition, lighting and other elements of good photography and do not have an amateur or professional photographer on staff may want to consider another option - paying for a professional to come out and shoot photos.
How to Decide Which Photography Equipment to Rent
Renting too many pieces of equipment for a shoot wastes money. Not renting enough photography equipment for a shoot can lead to a lot of frustration. Before heading to the store to get equipment, the business owner and anyone else involved in the shoot should discuss the types of shots they will be taking, locations, time of day and other factors. This way, the business owner will be able to select the necessary gear or can explain the shoot details to the rental company so that the person putting the gear together can suggest the proper equipment.
Most photo shoots will require:
- A good digital SLR camera body and a backup body that can use the same lenses.
- Several lenses of varying focal lengths. (Make sure you know whether you will be photographing things that are close or things that are far away before renting. A 50 mm lens is typically a good choice for shooting a portrait.)
- Lighting (This is usually necessary for indoor photo shoots. Plan on renting at least one good light for indoor shoots and talk to the person assisting you at the rental store about whether you are planning to light a backdrop, provide flattering light for portraits, etc.)
- Reflectors to bounce light around. (If you are shooting indoors with a single light, plan on renting a reflector.)
- Backdrops (If the shoot location has an attractive feature, such as a stone wall, a city view, or a garden, a backdrop may not be necessary.)
- A memory card so the camera can save the photos from the shoot.
Where to Go When Renting Photography Equipment
Finding a place that rents photography equipment to customers is usually fairly simple. Many camera stores worldwide offer this service. At least a half dozen companies have taken this service a step further and offer customers the option of renting camera equipment online. Borrowlenses.com and Prophotorental.com are two stores that offer both online and in store equipment rental options.
Before You Walk Out the Door of the Photography Equipment Rental Office
One final thing to keep in mind is that replacing rented equipment that has been lost or damaged can prove to be quite costly. Before finalizing any rentals, every small business owner should be sure that he or she understands the store replacement policy. If the rental company doesn't offer insurance, the small business owner should consider placing a call to his or her insurance agent to see if the equipment can be insured against damage or loss through the business insurance policy.
For anyone who knows his or her way around a camera, photography equipment rentals can be a great option. Just remember that even the best equipment doesn't take spectacular photos if the person behind the lens doesn't understand photography basics.
Katelyn Thomas - If you can't find me in the spring, I'm out hiking through the wood with a few pounds of photography gear strapped to my back. In the ...
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