In a world of automated customer service and waiting longer than you ever want to in order to talk to an actual person instead of trying to be understood by a machine, it’s so refreshing to call a company and actually talk to a person, and a nice one at that! {End rant of hate against automated customer service phone calls} I’m not one to call out specific companies or businesses for bad customer service and go on a social media rant against someone… there’s enough bad news and complaining out there without me joining the band wagon too! But I AM one to talk and post and repeat over and over how much I LOVE a good company or business when I find one! My whole business has grown off of word-of-mouth, so why not pass on the love?!

So this month’s “Featured on the First” is about a company that I’ve come to use and love during this past month: LensProToGo. These guys are awesome. Coming out of Hallmark, where I had the ability to rent a wide variety of lenses, lights, and other equipment on a daily basis right from the school, it was certainly a transition to only being able to use what I had in my camera bag. After reading blog post after raving review on all my favorite photographers’ blogs saying how much they love the Canon 50mm f/1.2, I decided I needed to see what the hype was all about. I loved their photos, they love this lens, so maybe this lens would jive with my style?! Well if you know this lens at all, you might know that this is no cheapie. The price tag makes you want to throw up a little, so it wouldn’t be a wise move to buy without test-driving it a little… which is where renting comes in! As a Hallmark grad, I thought I remembered that we got a lifetime discount from some rental house, but I couldn’t remember which one. After a little researching, I found out it was LensProToGo and called them up, not knowing who I would get or if they would have any clue what I was talking about when I said I was a Hallmark grad looking for a discount. I spoke to this awesome guy named Rob and he not only took care of my discount, but helped me place the order AND was very friendly & helpful.

Later that week, my lens arrived via UPS and I got to shoot all weekend with it for my double wedding weekend earlier in September. That following Monday, I just put the lens back in its case, put the case in the same box it came in, took it to UPS and off it went back to them. Easy peasy. That was the day I realized that the worst part about renting was having to return it. I fell in love with the 50mm f/1.2 over that weekend…. more about that in a future blog post! Other than being sad about giving back the lens, I was so happy with my whole experience with LensProToGo. Right in the thick of wedding season, I did not have time to mess around with complicated anything, and this was so quick & easy. They’re so friendly (meet them here!), their website is easy to use, and I will continue renting from them for life! Renting is an awesome way to test out lenses that you’re thinking about buying or the affordable way to make a dream shoot come to life with lights, lenses & bodies you couldn’t afford to buy and don’t necessarily need in your bag all the time.

If you’re looking to rent, look no further. Give them a call, seriously, they’re awesome.

That’s all for this month’s rendition of “Featured on the First” — any suggestions for November?