p.4 #2 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
So this is the GMC Yukon Denali XL. It's a honking big car. It's a great way to cart people around especially the B&G, it's got a DVD system so you can continue to market them while they are riding, it's got a stupid large cargo hold so all of your lighting gear, photo gear, video gear, and backups can travel with you. The trunk opens via remote for easy handling of gear, it's got four wheel drive (and seats 35), and it's got navigation so you know where you're going. If you need more cargo room, you just remove the 3rd row of seats and you can probably fit an entire production studio in there. Like their commercials say: It's Professional Grade (for professional photographers =p).
p.4 #3 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
1995 Toyota Tercel here. I can wring out up to 50 mpg highway in the summer, and I'm at around 192k miles and counting. Also easy to work on; just changed the oil tonight. Hoping to drive it to 300k.
p.4 #4 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
form wrote:
I am curious how many of you own your vehicles and don't have to make payments?...not an insult, but I am curious since a big chunk of this world is a credit and mortgage and lease system now for everyone who doesn't make close to $1m+ annually.
I'll never buy a car I can't pay for in cash. My Tercel cost less than my used D700. There's a lot of social pressure to keep up appearances, but if you can ignore it, you can save a lot of money.
p.4 #5 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
We have a Jeep Wrangler & a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 4wd which is necessary often if you want to shoot weddings in IA between Nov-April, back is all carpet so NOTHING to scratch (even with light-stand bags I scratched my previous H3 to death in the back with our gear!) Dec mpg, fun to drive, affordable and always fun to take the tops off! (That's what she said.)
For us they have been just awesome for photography, couldn't say enough nice things about our Jeeps. [:
p.4 #7 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
Guess I'm the only one here that drives a Lincoln, which, when pulling up to weddings at country clubs and such, fits in a little better. It's an Aviator (the smaller version of a Navigator, same body as a Ford Explorer).. crappy mileage (16 mpg) but mega comfy. Loads of space in the back.
FWIW, I was able to fit my entire wedding kit in the trunk of a Mustang, so space is not that big of a deal WRT cars.
p.4 #8 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
I'm with the no-debt crew... my last couple cars were bought with cash, and that's how it will be from now on.
I drove a Jetta for a few years and loved it; never had any problems carrying gear.
I sold that when I left my day job for photography so we could pay off my wife's Santa Fe.
I bought a '97 Civic for cheap and I'll drive that for the foreseeable future... paint, wheels, and slight drop coming soon.
I sold that when I left my day job for photography so we could pay off my wife's Santa Fe.
I bought a '97 Civic for cheap and I'll drive that for the foreseeable future... paint, wheels, and slight drop coming soon.
I sold that when I left my day job for photography so we could pay off my wife's Santa Fe.
I bought a '97 Civic for cheap and I'll drive that for the foreseeable future... paint, wheels, and slight drop coming soon.
p.4 #12 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
tobicus wrote:
I'll never buy a car I can't pay for in cash. My Tercel cost less than my used D700. There's a lot of social pressure to keep up appearances, but if you can ignore it, you can save a lot of money.
My second car is a 91 tercel. It was gifted to me by my parents, and my grandmother was the original owner. I just rolled the ODO 100,000 KM. haha. Runs like a top, will seen another 200,000km easy. I think my 3 year old son might get it in 13 years.
p.4 #13 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
I've never photographed my car full of equipment but it holds a good amount. I mean, any car with fold down rear seats should work just fine. Photo equipment tends to be lengthy, backgrounds, tripods, lightstands. It's not really awkward shaped and most stuff fits in bags the size of carry on luggage or a gym bag.
p.4 #17 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
I'm leasing a VW Tiguan. Holds all my stuff and is relatively fun to drive. You can get them loaded up with enough options and 19" wheels to trick you in to thinking its a nicer car than it is. (Until you get into your client's BMW X5 and you're like...... Oh)
But, the Tig is well built and you can get it with Awd if you need it. There is talk of the diesel version coming to the states which could be interesting. For now it's just the 2.0T gasser which you can chip if you're so inclined.
p.4 #18 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
Inku Yo wrote:
I had a 99.5 Jetta VR6. Neuspeed exhaust, sport springs... loved it. Unitl I bought an A4 1.8TQS and chipped it.
Yeah, I was running about 16 lbs of boost and had the FMIC / 3" exhaust... I would definitely move out. I recall keeping up with a CLS63 AMG on the interstate.
I sure as crap miss the power having moved down to a stock Civic
p.4 #20 · OT (kind of): What car for a wedding photog???
spink wrote:
My second car is a 91 tercel. It was gifted to me by my parents, and my grandmother was the original owner. I just rolled the ODO 100,000 KM. haha. Runs like a top, will seen another 200,000km easy. I think my 3 year old son might get it in 13 years.
Definitely doable. I expect to hit 200,000 miles by this time next year, and the highest Tercel I've read of online had 422,000 miles and was still going.
