Professional photographers often talk about a regular, back-handed compliment given to them. It’s given to them by well-meaning admirers of one of their photographs or their work.
“You must have a really nice camera.”
Good, or professional, equipment does make ones work/art more convenient or even easier to create but, the camera is just a tool – like a brush to a painter, a pan to a chef, or a guitar to a guitarist.
After a fine meal would you compliment the chef by stating, “you must have some really nice cookware”? Granted, they may have but a professional chef could make magic with a tin can if need be.
My point is, don’t focus on the equipment, rather, focus on the artist behind the equipment.
Again, there’s no disputing that good equipment does make a difference. As photographers, knowing what our cameras are capable of and how to use them is invaluable. This is one of the key items I teach in my classes (photography lessons).
As you can see in the photo above, which I think is fairly nice photo, it was taken with a phone. It’s not what I shoot with in professional settings but, the best camera you can have is the one that you have with you at that very moment. The focus is on the capture, not the equipment.
My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic 110, with flash cubes. It took terrible pictures, quality wise, but it trained my eye. I had to have a good eye in order to make a terrible camera take good pictures.
Next time you see a nice photo, compliment the photographer not the camera.