(upbeat music)
- Hey, everyone, it's me, Hallease,
endeavoring to persevere as always.
If you're new here, I make videos
about my chaotic good life.
So subscribe, follow, social media.
So on and so forth.
Happy Monday, everyone, it's Monday Motivation time.
If you're new here, these are exclusive videos
that are usually just available to Patreon producers only.
So if you're interested in seeing me
on a more regular schedule, Patreon.com/Hallease.
In these videos, I answer people's questions,
I also go over themes and things that I'm working on
with the production company and being a business owner,
as well as a full-time creative.
And also, personally, what I'm going through.
So yeah, again, these are like weekly ways
to check in with me because I am not consistent
on my YouTube, Instagram, in general.
So with this Monday Motivation, I wanted to talk
about the concept of feeling like you need a piece of gear
or just a specific thing that you just feel
like you need in order to be able to just start
or get to the next level and do the thing.
And I want to kind of say that that might not be the case.
You probably don't need it,
but there is a way to figure out if you do.
Recently, for example, Tamron
came out with a new lens, and it's gonna come.
They announced it earlier this year,
but it's gonna come out, I believe, this month.
And it is their 17 to 28 millimeter f2.8,
and it'll work with the Sony full-frame camera,
which, for those of y'all who don't know,
I shoot Sony, Sony a7 III is what you are looking
at me on right now.
So I'm really excited.
I'm really excited about this lens
because I also, I already own Sony's 28 to 75 millimeter,
and I love it.
This lens is so great.
And it just,
it's a bomb lens, y'all, it's a good lens.
And so, when they announced this newer lens,
I was really excited,
but I quickly paused, I paused (laughs) internally,
and I thought okay, Hallease.
Why are you excited, are you just excited 'cause it's shiny?
Or are you excited because it is actually going
to enable you?
Currently, what you're looking at me on right now
is my 16 millimeter Pancake.
There's nothing too amazing about it.
It's just a basic 16 millimeter.
When I'm vlogging, I have to use this,
so that way, I can stay close enough to the camera
to ensure that the audio on my
VideoMic Pro+ is picking me up pretty well.
Because I like to run and gun when I'm doing these types
of videos, I don't wanna set up a whole situation.
Now, whenever I'm ready to shoot some kind of B-roll
for a vlog though,
I have to switch back to this.
I'm excited about this lens because it's essentially
combining the two for me.
I'll be able to vlog very easily,
and then, have a little bit of play in getting B-roll.
So now, with my vlogging set-up,
I'm a lot more streamlined.
I have one lens, one camera, one mic, I'm good.
So it feels very worth it.
The other thing about this lens too
is how often I'm going to use it, right?
So that's something that I really try to really hone in on
when I'm purchasing gear.
So with this lens, I'll only use this thing
literally every time I vlog (laughs).
Like every time I shoot anything for my YouTube channel,
I'll probably be using that lens.
And for me, that's really big.
I'm not the type of person who wants to carry around
a big DSLR and have a whole bunch of lenses
because for me, creatively, that feels very constricting.
I feel very weighed down by my gear.
I'm always trying to figure out the best way
to compact all of my gear into one situation
as much as I possibly can.
Comparatively, last year, I purchased the Ronin.
The DJI Ronin,
which I believe it was around $1200, $1500, right?
And don't get me wrong, I've actually used it
for a lot of my client work.
And it works really well.
However, I don't use it that often.
So what I really learned from the Ronin, purchasing that,
and also, my drone and also I won a Mavic Pro,
I don't fly my drone that often, right?
It's something that I only use every now and then
when the moment presents itself in a safe environment.
So considering how much money I spent on it
versus the use I'm getting out of it.
It's debatable, I feel.
And so, that's something to think about
when you're trying to consider what to purchase.
Think about how often are you really going to use this.
How much is this truly enabling you?
Now, I understand that there are pieces of gear
that literally open you up to new clients.
Going from a point-and-shoot to an a7 III,
it's gonna open you up to new clients (laughs).
'Cause it's such a drastic jump,
but I would hesitate on certain pieces of gear
that will they actually open you up to new clients,
or are you just excited about them?
Finally, the other thing I'm really excited about
for this lens is the price point.
So comparatively, Sony has their equivalent to this lens,
which is the 16 to 35 millimeter f2.8.
That lens costs $2100.
It's very expensive, I would say.
For where I'm at in my production company,
in my business, $2100 is a lot of money to think about
investing all into just a lens,
especially one that, yeah, I'll get a lot of use out of it,
but the thing that you're constantly balancing
as a business owner is
is this the best use of $2100?
Not do I have the $2100,
but is this the best use of $2100?
So for me, when I think about $2100,
I immediately think, man, that could really go far
in regards to making sure that all of my backups are good.
I'm not losing any client footage.
Really upgrading my post-production process.
Maybe investing in a computer
that can really handle 4K or really handle whatever type
of new footage that I'm having to work with a lot.
For example, for the show, Say It Loud,
it's technically shot in 4K.
When I think about $2100, I think, man,
is that the best use of $2100, I don't know.
Whereas with the Tamron lens, it comes in right now
at a smooth 900, and for me, that,
there's like a precipice, if you will.
And for me, that's like,
yeah, 900, that is a good use.
That's a great use
of $900 for me and my business and where it's at right now.
So these are the type of things that I have to think about
when I see new gear.
And don't get me wrong.
If y'all follow me on Instagram,
then you know I'm a gear head.
I'm super into everything that's comin' out.
I follow all of these companies on social media
so I can know when things are happening and what not.
But at the end of the day, I always make sure
to ask myself these questions.
Is this truly enabling me, and is this really the best use
of funds to again propel my business forward?
Or propel
my
endeavors forward?
Like on this YouTube channel.
So I hope that helps.
Again, it's like a little random,
but I am really excited about this lens
because it checks a lot of boxes.
It's a good use of business funds,
and it will enable me to, again, feel it
to just feel to engaged enough to just grab my camera and go
and that makes me really excited.
Hopefully, this translates to maybe something
that you're working through in your personal journey,
whether it be on the business side
or side hustle things you're working on
or just creatively, if there's some kind of piece
of equipment or gear that you're thinking about.
Throw it through this loop and see if it still checks out.
See if you really need it, or if you're just making excuses
for yourself and you just need to do it.
Again, these are my Monday Motivations,
and they're exclusive to Patron producers
so if you're interested, Patreon.com/Hallease.
We've got some new members.
Hello, hello, hello, thank you for joining.
I'm excited to get to know you.
Patreon producers, if you have any questions,
please leave them down below
so that way, I can answer them
in next week's Monday Motivations.
I hope y'all have a great week, as always.
If you're new here,
subscribe, follow, social media, all the things
or whatever, and producers, I'll see you next week.
Everyone else, I'll see you when I see you.