Hobby=$$$

You know, people always talk about how good it is to have a creative "outlet", find a hobby, learn a new skill or activity...but the thing that we forget is that pretty generally, hobbies are expensive!! Sometimes it's just an upfront cost that lasts for a long time, but sometimes it's an ongoing cost that requires a whole new "line-item" in the budget. I'm naming my line-item "camera love".

I purchased my new camera about a month ago...if even that, and now I find myself spending hours online researching lenses, lighting equipment, etc. - all to get the perfect picture of a cupcake. I feel silly even saying that - because most people want to capture the perfect landscape, portrait or action shot...and I like taking pictures of food. To be honest, I'm even a little embarrassed about it, but I'm pretty sure the secret is out, so there's not point in trying to cover it up now. I love the lens that I purchased to begin with - it was reasonably priced and takes a great shot with a nice "bokeh" effect that I was hoping for. I was talking to a friend of mine that owns the same camera, and he mentioned a 35mm 1.4 lens that sounded even more magical...so I couldn't wait to go home and look for a deal on it. Yeaaaaaah....it retails for around $1300. Yep, that's right one-thousand three hundred dollars! I found it on sale for $986, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to freelance my butt off to ever justify spending that. But ohhh...it takes such beautiful pictures.

Someday...