Gear Guide | 3 Tips BEFORE You Buy Your First Camera (2025)
Which Camera Should You Buy? Ask These 3 Questions First.
I get this question constantly—through emails, DMs, and especially from friends and family who know I live and breathe photography:
“What camera should I buy?”
So, I wrote this post to save my sanity (and your time).
Because here’s the truth: There’s no universal answer.
There’s no magical sorting hat that drops a camera into your hands based on your personality. You have to make that decision—and ideally, make it an informed one.
But before we start comparing megapixels, brand names, or TikTok hype, I always ask the same three questions to anyone considering their first (or next) camera:
1. What Can YOU Afford?
Some cameras cost $200. Others run north of $40,000.
And that’s before you factor in lenses, batteries, memory cards, lighting, software, tripods, straps, cases, and all the little things no one warns you about.
In the wise words of Jay-Z:
“If you can’t buy it twice, you can’t afford it.”
Buy within your means. Prioritize what gets the job done, not what looks good on Instagram.
2. What Do YOU Actually Need?
Let’s be real: Specs don’t matter if you never use them.
You don’t need a Ferrari to run errands. Likewise, you probably don’t need 8K video to record your niece’s dance recital.
Here’s the rule of thumb:
If it doesn’t solve a problem you actually have, it’s probably just a shiny distraction.
Before you click “Buy Now,” ask yourself:
Is this a need or a want?
Need: "I shoot billboard campaigns."
Want: "I like the idea of having 50 megapixels."
Big difference. Big savings.
3. Buy for Your Level of Commitment
Photography is one of the most expensive hobbies. The deeper you go, the more it costs: lenses, tripods, memory cards, batteries, ND filters, storage drives, you name it.
I’ve shot for global brands and am still taking my iPhone on vacation. Why? Because I don’t always want to carry three lenses and a tripod just to photograph my breakfast.
Be honest: Are you a "take everything with me" kind of person or a "keep it simple" type? Your gear should match your lifestyle and your actual habits, not just your aspirations.
(The images on the right were taken with an iPhone 13 in May 2025.)
Bonus Tip: Touch Before You Buy
Before you click “Add to Cart,” head to a local camera store or rent the gear. Feel it in your hands. See how it shoots. Make sure it fits you.
And buy from a reputable source. You wouldn’t believe how many horror stories there are of people getting fakes from sketchy third-party sellers online.