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“I looked for experts in their field and offered to help out so I could learn. Nobody I approached said no. I’m not afraid to look a bit silly by asking questions, as it’s great to learn from the people who have been doing it for years,” he says. “I also spent hours online. I found a few people on YouTube whose personalities I liked – and learned from them. “A lot of it was how to shoot interesting videos of products. I like doing that, as you’ve got a lot of control in a studio. I would find a YouTuber that’s done a cool effect, learn how they did it, then use it myself. “I took on a marketing job for a cool, local barber with a quirky-looking shop. That led to one of their haircare product suppliers seeing the film... I now have a big contract with Morgan’s Pomade. It’s about getting your foot in the door, being a nice person, and that’s how you get referred.” But McGarry is always trying to better himself and work on bigger jobs and productions. This year, he branched out into motor sport and ended up part of a crew shooting motorcycle racing for Honda and drinks brand Red Bull. He also landed an opportunity with a production company that shoots shorts and pop videos. “I bought a used Sony A7 III, described as in excellent condition. When it arrived, I thought it was new!”
“I learned how to filmwith a drone and a local production company called and asked about that,” he explains. “I got on really well with them and now I’ve worked on two short films. One’s called The Road to Hell . The other one, Charlotte and the Therapist , just won a couple of awards, including best screenplay. Then I worked on two music videos alongside them. One has just won a prize at a Prague music festival.” As McGarry’s work has progressed, so has the need to upgrade his equipment. The Canon M50 soon went back to MPB for some Canon DSLR kit and lenses. This was eventually traded back in, as McGarry went for full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras and matching glass. “My first port of call for kit is MPB. I bought a lot of cameras and lenses from them– and they got a lot of my stuff back when I wanted to upgrade again,” says McGarry. “They’re good at pricing and give you a good deal to upgrade. And, of course, it saves the hassle of tyre-kickers if you try to sell things privately. “In fact, I think all my lenses have come fromMPB. And I’ve never had to send one back for any issues or not being as described. I bought a used Sony A7 III, which was described as in excellent condition. When it arrived, I actually thought it was new!” Recent purchases include the latest Sony A7S III, 85mm f/1.8 lens and 70-200mm zoom– all very much current kit and in as-new condition, but at a big saving. “MPB got me started. I bought my first camera from them. Then, when I upgraded my gear, I’ve gone there too. And if I’m trading stuff in with them, it’s always been a perfect transaction,” says McGarry. “There’s no need to look anywhere else.”
VOTE FOR MPB!
Thanks to so many filmmakers becoming switched on to the massive benefits of trusting all their equipment needs to MPB, the firm has been shortlisted in the Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year awards for Best Retailer of Used Equipment. MPB is staffed by real experts, who know buying used isn‘t just about saving money. There is a huge range of cameras and lenses to suit all budgets, access to some of the very latest products that are often hard to source, as well as previous-generation models, easy part-exchange or cash for old kit, a guarantee of quality and lots more.
SONY SWITCH When McGarry went from Canon DSLRs to Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras and lenses, he knew it made sense to buy used kit from a dealer he trusted
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