$3000 budget....what should I get?? Help!

I have a budget of $3000 to spend on photography right now. I currently own a 7d, 70/200 f4L, Tokina 11-16 f2.8, Nifty Fifty, 430exII, two OEM batteries, small photography backpack, 8Gig CF card....

A few things I've been looking at purchasing are 5dmkIII, PCB Lighting Kit (for weddings), Lenses, more memory (cf card), battery's, Filters, wireless triggers so on and so on...sort of an Ala Carte type thing (I really want that 5dIII though).

As far as what I'll be photographing.......I shoot everything!!! People, landscapes, Nightscapes, kids, engagements, weddings, sports, animals and also s bit of creative/artsy stuff..

I'm not looking to get rid of anything I currently own, I'm trying to add to it, SO....I'm looking for feedback / advise on the most effective way to use the 3 Grand! Should I spread it around...or just splurge on the 5d3. Please help!

P.S. I do want to start picking up more paid gigs such as e-session and weddings..

17-55 2.8 and lighting

Paid work means you need a 2nd body of some sort.

If it were me I'd get a 2nd hand 5D II and a good mid range zoom and a backup flash.

Better ask yourself what do you NEED instead what do you WANT.

a good tripod would be nice for your gear list, a 100mm 2.8 macro would be good for those wedding closeups and it'll also work well for portraits. 15-85 or the 85 1.8 would be a nice addition too.

tak0eye wrote in post #14904264
P.S. I do want to start picking up more paid gigs such as e-session and weddings..

In that case I think a 5D2 and a 24-105mm f4 IS and a 32GB CF card would be significantly more useful than a 5D3, based on what you already have / do not have.

SOK wrote in post #14904288
Paid work means you need a 2nd body of some sort.

If it were me I'd get a 2nd hand 5D II and a good mid range zoom and a backup flash.

Solid advice. If you really want a 5d3, save up some more money.

tak0eye wrote in post #14904264
I have a budget of $3000 to spend

A few things I've been looking at purchasing are 5dmkII

P.S. I do want to start picking up more paid gigs such as e-session and weddings..

Well if you have $3000 to spend, the 5D3 is not in your price range.

Oh, and buying more equipment isn't really the best way to go about getting more weddings. If you buy lots of gear you put yourself in a hole. Your results and skills are what's most important in shooting things such as weddings. Let the jobs you get pay for more equipment, not buy a bunch of gear with the hopes of getting more work.