My approach to photography is straight forward - and in my business, getting a great shot is as much about putting people at ease and understanding them, as it is about the technical side of photography.
The last thing I want to be doing is worrying about my kit, or fussing around in front of a client - that's why I have a B+W UV Filter on the front of every one of my lenses.
A key part of my job is capturing the perfect shot - sometimes with only a second's notice. I only use a couple of lenses on a regular shoot - but I often have to take kit in and out of the bag quickly, or even put it down on the ground.
Filters are not exactly the sexiest accessory, but they definitely make life easier and ensure valuable lenses are protected. However there's no point in putting cheap glass in front of a quality lens. That would be like putting cheap glasses on a super-model!
I'm told that B+W filters are made from perfect Schott glass - and each one is hand checked before it leaves the factory. The filter rings are made from solid brass too, so you don't have to worry about cross-threading, or filters getting stuck on lenses as they do with some cheaper brands. You just put the B+W on and can forget about it! Because of the quality of the glass you don't take anything away from the performance of the lens - so you can still achieve perfect sharpness, or creative effects.
One of the things I have noticed is that having a filter which is coated, really does help to keep shots clear of dust and dirt - saving time editing afterwards. The Multi Resistant Coating on B+W filters is amazing - just watch how it deals with moisture such as raindrops.
I use the filters really just for protection - the clear glass, UV or Skylight filters don't have any noticeable effect on day to day portrait work (unless you are on a high altitude shoot!) so I can shoot with confidence. And if I forget to put my lens cap on now and again, or make a quick change of kit - then I know my expensive lenses are well protected from scratches, dirt and grime!
