Do you need pro-level gear to be a good photographer?

Look behind the scenes of that Nike ad you love, or the cover of that porno you just bought. You will find photographers using ridiculously expensive lighting equipment, ridiculously expensive modifiers and even more ridiculously expensive pro level DSLRs or medium format cameras. As a beginner photographer do you really need all that?

And the verdict is....na not really

I produced this photo a couple years ago at age 20 with:  The cheapest Nikon on the market, 3 $89 flashes with  shitty ebay triggers, and a reasonably priced softbox.

• Nikon D3000
• 3 Vivitar 285s
• Westcott Apollo 28" softbox. 

Using a 285 (about ¼ power) on either side slightly lower than the subject’s head height, I was able to create a decent amount of rim lighting. (helping to bring the subject out from the background) The key light was placed in the Westcott Apollo 28 raised above the subject’s head and aimed down at about a 50° -  60° angle.

The same set-up was used for this photo as well. In conclusion the point I am trying to bring across here is that as a beginner or a hobbyist, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a equipment. This same thought process applies to any aspect of photography. Whether your photographing fashion, food, sports it's not about what you have as much as how you use it.