My name is Steve. I’m a tool junkie. I’m in love with a light stand. How did it happen? It called to me. The moment I saw it in a Matthews catalog, it called to me.

To survive in this business climate, to improve our art, to differentiate our work — whatever our goal, we must continue to learn and grow as photographers. Fortunately, there has never been a greater variety of learning tools available.

Webster’s: Busman’s Holiday — a holiday spent following or observing the practice of one’s usual occupation. A couple of weeks ago, my good friend Hanson Fong, fresh off an appearance at the Houston stop on the Beauty and Beast tour, took a day off and hung out with me. So, how...