What happens to your "stuff" when you're gone?

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hlockwood

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My wife and I are currently upgrading our very old Wills with the aid of an attorney who specializes in estate planning. It's a daunting and unpleasant task even when done with the aid of a professional.

The part that brings me to this forum is what to do with all my photo equipment, perhaps ~$20K worth. There is no one in my extended family that would be interested in this stuff, except to sell it off.

The attorney suggested I consider donating the equipment to a worthy group, one that would actually use the equipment. The suggestion appeals to me.

So, I'm looking here for suggestions on how I might put this idea into action.

Any thoughts?

HFL
 
I donated a few cameras and lenses that I no longer was using to my local public high school. The head of the Art department was delighted to get them. Apparently they still use film cameras to teach photography. I also donated some photo equipment to my local Salvation Army store.
 
What's wrong with your family selling it off? Perhaps they will need the cash when you are gone? Also, depending on when you pass away, the relevance of the equipment might not be the same. I would start selling before you pass and help your family out.
 
No one in the family is interested in my equipment, but they know that a few bodies and lenses are valuable and to make inquiries about their worth before simply giving it all to Goodwill or whomever.
I've also got photobuds who would help my wife dispose of it.
As for me, I'm certain she'll have me cremated and then sprinkle my ashes in the cat's litter box.
 
Find a less "well endowed" photographer who you would like to encourage. Someone whose creativity you like. Someone who will use your equipment the way you imagine you would like it to be used.

Alternately, find someone in your family who you can invest into now. Maybe there's someone who would love photography, but just doesn't know it yet.

I'm 40, and I've suddenly become obsessed. I'm pretty much only shooting with my Dad's Nikon FE. I enjoy the camera very much, particularly because it's his.
 
Ming The Merciless said:
I donated a few cameras and lenses that I no longer was using to my local public high school. The head of the Art department was delighted to get them. Apparently they still use film cameras to teach photography. I also donated some photo equipment to my local Salvation Army store.
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I like that. My wife can't stand my photo gear, and isn't enthusiastic about my hobby. But I have already told my son-in-law that in the event of my demise, he should take what he wants, offer what's left to anyone else in the family, and sell the rest for my wife.
 
One thing to consider is film programs are being shut down in many schools. My friend taught high school photography until he retired last year. At that point the principal was ordering him to shut down the wet darkroom, and concentrate solely on digital and photoshop. So if you bequeath it to a film school, it may all end up in the garbage (he took everything home with him though).

People also think "museums" but there are few that want normal photo stuff. If it's uncommon or antique, consider the Eastman museum or similar.

My personal plan is to leave it to my wife and kids. I have a good spreadsheet, printed, in my safe that gives the estimated value, notes, purchase price on everything. All they'd have to do is put the good stuff on ebay, and chunk the little things. They'd probably be pleased when they had 10 or 20 grand in a few months of work. But if your kids are busy, have good jobs, etc., I can understand not burdening them with having to sell it all. To me, we all antique and like this stuff.
 
Arrange with a member of this forum to sell the equipment here. It will circulate back into use. But, check with relatives or friends as there might be someone interested.
 
Christie's. The good stuff goes for what it goes for as individual pieces or outfits (Gandolfi, Alpa, Leica...); the other stuff goes in batches (mixed lots). Images go in a tin trunk in the roof, in the hope that someone will find them in 100 years.

Edit: Sorry, I've just realized that this doesn't answer the OP's question at all, which was about donating to a good cause. This doesn't affect the answer, though: better that a 'worthy cause' gets the money and that people who actually want and will use the equipment get it, rather than the 'worthy organization' being saddled with a huge, disparate amount of often rather specialized and idiosyncratic equipment.

Cheers,

R.
 
jsrockit said:
What's wrong with your family selling it off? Perhaps they will need the cash when you are gone? Also, depending on when you pass away, the relevance of the equipment might not be the same. I would start selling before you pass and help your family out.
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This.

I sold off anything I didn't use and that wasn't just photo gear but on all fronts.

If nobody's interested in dads/uncles old stuff, they can dispose of it by sale or auction. I'm not going to force myself on them from over the gave!
 
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