Why letting go of your old photo gear could be the most loving thing you do for yourself

As we slowly emerge from this suuuuper-long Covid hangover, we’re over here reevaluating everything we thought we knew about priorities and how to live fulfilling, creative lives as female artists. We realize that there’s no space in our lives for the things that have been unnecessarily weighing us down. That’s true in our creative lives and our passion for beautiful images as well.

We need to let go too of the self-imposed narratives holding us back, like that ever-present voice in your head questioning whether your work is good enough, if you’re even worthy of success and happiness. That’s huge. Now what if we told you that physically freeing yourself from photography gear you no longer use might be equally important in your process?

When we free ourselves from unused, guilt-inducing gear, we open ourselves to a world of possibilities and the reenergized drive to express our creativity without inhibition. You know the kind of gear we’re talking about: that first prime lens you bought and have since upgraded; the crop sensor camera you’ve been holding onto as a starter camera for your teenager; that camera stabilizer you bought for shooting video, which you never found the time to learn how to do.

What if we told you that the literal and figurative weight of this old gear is holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself? It’s true. It’s time to lighten your load and climb your mountain of creative potential. 

Enter MPB, a used gear buyer and retailer with a five-star reputation. This online service makes the selling process super simple, headache-free, and convenient. They’ll always give you a fair price, too. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind.

Let’s walk through the full process of choosing what gear to let go of, how to sell it, and what might happen when you do.

1. Start with an honest inventory of your photo gear.

It’s imperative to take an inventory of the photo gear you have, not only the most beloved items in your bag right now, but everything you’ve ever purchased, no matter how far it’s recessed in the labyrinth of your closet. No hiding anything. We see you!

Now, ask yourself the tough questions. Hold each item in your hands. When was the last time you used it? How are you feeling — excited or fraught? Your emotions are telling, so listen. And forgive us for going all Marie Kondo for a moment, but ask yourself if each piece of gear sparks joy or something darker. Surge of guilt? That says something. Surge of warmth? That says something completely different and equally telling. 

Next, categorize your gear: Bucket 1, gear no one could pry from your hands because you love it so much; Bucket 2, gear that’s fine but you don’t use often and could maybe part with; Bucket 3, gear that elicits guilt or regret; whyever did I buy it?

Ok, time to take action. First, sell everything in Bucket 3 immediately. The negative energy associated with that gear is not healthy and it’s time the gear goes to a new home. Bucket 1 is easy, keep and cherish those great items you love and use.

Now for the tricky part, Bucket 2. You’re going to have to grapple with a few decisions about these items, but it’s important to make that conscious decision to either keep it and use it or sell it and free up space for something new. That’s manageable (Really!).

Related: Why everything we thought we knew about buying and selling used photo gear is wrong.

2. Let go of the guilt. 

Let’s talk a bit more Bucket 3, the gear you feel shame over. Perhaps you spent a lot of hard-earned money on it; perhaps it was a gift from a loved one; perhaps you thought it was going to take your photography to the upper strata, but then it just didn’t.

Whenever I open my gear cabinet and see a few thousand dollars-worth of equipment I no longer use, guilt settles heavily on my shoulders. That definitely does not inspire my creativity.

It’s time to free yourselves from the burden of guilt and trade in that old photo gear that you had every intention of loving, but just didn’t. It might help to know that most photographers try new gear with great expectations, but it doesn’t always pan out that way.

Everything in Bucket 3 must go. Think of it as a gift to yourself. Joy in the extra space in your creative cupboard.

3. Let upcycling bring you joy and peace of mind.

To help make decisions about Bucket 2 — gear that you don’t hate or have bad feelings about, but you seldom use — consider the useful life of the product. Watching gear waste away on a shelf is depressing, especially knowing that its value is waning, that it likely will end up in an electronics recycling center overseas or a landfill nearby.

Electronic waste is the world’s fastest growing, often toxic, waste stream. A significant amount of electronics are shipped from the United States to countries that might lack the resources to handle the materials without causing global environmental and health concerns.

Instead of an e-waste processing facility or a landfill, consider letting that gear have a useful life by selling it to MPB who will, in turn, sell it to someone who needs it and will treasure it. Just think how that nifty fifty you learned photography with could end up in the hands of a high school student who longs to try her hand at photography. That’s amazing!

Ready to see how much your used gear is worth? Click for a (zero commitment) quote from MPB.

4. Need a little help making those final decisions?

In order to tackle Bucket 2, you’re going to have to get honest and make some tough calls that can be emotionally laden. Let’s talk back to some of those thoughts blocking your decisions:

“I might use this lens/camera/gear someday when I get time.” Really? How long has it been since you last used it? That long, eh? It’s probably because you know deep down it’s not you. It feels good to trust your instincts and to know it’s OK to it let go. 

“If I just used it more, I’d probably like it.” If you haven’t yet had a positive experience that item, it’s just not gonna happen. It’s OK to acknowledge that a lens or camera or whatever just isn’t suited to your style. Reframe your thinking about gratitude – you can be thankful that you learned something about yourself as an artist by learning what didn’t work for you. It gets you closer to knowing what does. 

“I should sell on Craigslist or eBay to get the most money.” Just no. Definitely skip the attempt to sell on Craigslist to some sketchy dude in an attempt to make an extra $50. It’s more hassle than you think it is. 

This decision-making process can be emotionally draining, so try not to overthink it. With a bit of a nudge to let go of gear that you rarely use and a few tough decisions about what gear to part with, we can safely say the hardest part is over!

5. Sell your used photo gear and move on!

So now it’s time to sell, and we are so happy to share that MPB makes it ridiculously easy and convenient. You don’t even have to leave the house!

First, you get a good-faith quote. Just fill out the form on MPB’s website and provide a few details about the gear you want to sell or trade, and you’ll get an instant quote via email. Zero commitment, and you can change your mind all the way up until you get paid. If you’re happy with your quote, MPB will provide you with a mailing label and free insured shipping. Pack the gear in a sturdy box and send it off.

Now the payoff. MPB receives your item, inspects it, and confirms or modifies your good-faith quote (usually it stays the same, but if the condition is different than you originally described, they may adjust up or down). If everything sounds good, you confirm the sale and MPB deposits the money in your bank account.

Told ya, it’s super easy! 

6. Enjoy the new possibilities you’ve opened up for yourself.

What happens when the old photo gear is gone? When it’s in the hands of someone who is going to treasure it, we free ourselves to be open to new possibilities. Now when we can’t stop thinking about upgrading a favorite camera body, trying a new lens we’ve been eyeing, or even switching systems altogether, we have the mental freedom (and extra funds, of course) to do so.

MPB has such a huge selection that it’s easy to trade up, too. How amazing is it to know you have a convenient option for trading dust-gathering used photo gear for a new lens that arrives a few days later! We’re feeling liberated. We can focus on using the gear we actually love. We make space in our lives for the new and the fresh.

Our creative lives take on a new, beautiful tenor where we have a fresh, clean slate to create.

Click to get started on freeing up creative mental space to make room for inspiration.

This is a sponsored post.

Feature photo by Amy Lockheart

More photo gear posts we think you’ll like:

How to choose the right lens for a styled photo session

Meg Loeks reveals the indispensable lenses that shaped her photography

What’s in her camera bag: Jennifer Carr shares her go-to kit, plus a few surprises

The best zoom lens for prime lens photographers, here you go