The dentists should go back to college, learn to forget all they know, and then become photographers. That way, they would never commit night-night, because it seems that the majority of today's new snappers don't run up debt: they own nothing and rent everything.
Rob C
Ummm, there is no broad stroke that covers everyone. Most of the photographers I know own most of their own kit, even the younger photographers that moved from assistants on up.
They have Nikons, Canons, a few have hasselblads, they all have some lighting, in the U.S. usually profoto, usually battery powered profoto also.
Sure they don't have big bens, or a lot of huge specialty equipment like hmis, but those are difficult to travel with and are usually reserved for paying projects and they rent.
Of course there are some that still show up and rent everything, but nearly all of them have at least cameras, tripods and some lighting.
IMO
BC