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Book and Coffee by Rick Audet

You’d think with camera equipment being so expensive that they’d give us a break on photography books. Well, no such luck. You can expect to spend the same on a photography book that you would on specialized computer books. Thankfully they don’t go out of date as fast, but it’s still a lot of dough.

So for all of you out there who are poor like me, here are a few places to find cheap photography books:

The Library

Obviously, right? I’m not so sure people remember the library is there. I’ve taken out some fantastic photography books and they always seem to be checked in. It’s also a great way to get a preview of that $70 book on lighting to see if it’s worth it. While you’re at it, scour the library book sales. It’ll pay off quicker than you’d think.

Independent Used Bookstores

As with any other kind of book, you’ll find some real gems hiding on a dusty back shelf at your local booksmith’s. The books are sometimes a little out of date, but it makes little difference. My copy of ‘The Joy of Photography‘ is still relevant today, despite being published a couple decades ago.

Amazon Deals

Watch for deals on photography books from Amazon, you’d be surprised what turns up. It takes some digging, but there are deals to be had. I regularly see photography books discounted in the 30-40% off range, but for anything higher than that, you’ll have to spend some time poking around.

Garage Sales & Flea Markets

They’re not as reliable as some of the other options I’ve listed here, but you never know. The people running garage sales are also often quite nice about letting you take photos of anything that looks interesting. It becomes part book-shopping, part photowalking. I’ve also heard tales of shockingly cheap camera equipment to be found, but I’ve yet to see any jaw-dropping deals with my own eyes.

Bookstore Discount Section

I find this isn’t the best source for books about photography, but it’s definitely the best source for photo books. I’d say I owe about half of my collection of coffee table books to the discount section at my local Chapters. I’d almost classify this one as a better source for inspiration than anything else.

Persistence and a little luck will go a long way with all of these options. You’ll be able to develop a good book collection at a fraction of the price, just by putting in a little effort. After all, we’ve got to balance out all the photography blogs we read with ancient literature somehow.