My Next step.... (looking for suggestions/guidance)

There are so many lenses and cameras i'd love to get .. im trying to figure out what makes sense for me , considering my plans~

I have made money through photography ,a communion and a birthday ,what i charged was very minimal as i saw the opportunity to learn more valuable than the money .. i fully explained that i was not a professional photographer ..things went fine, people were happy with results ,, but these were low budget events,,. i made some mistakes , nothing catostrofic , i learned .. i'd like to do it again in the near future as well as portraits ,, i've been asked but i've stalled ,, i havent done anything to look for more opportunities

becasue i'm Doing my best to learn more so that i can have the confidence i'd like so that things will turn out the way i want them to , dealing with people , posing , lighting etc..,

the 5d3 and 24-70 are the main camera with an on camera flash (430ex)
and then i bring along the t4i and put the 50mm on it
i also have 2 other yongnuo speedlights as well as yongnuo triggers/recievers couple of umbrellas and stands
my other 2 lenses 10-18 and 55-250 i've never used , and dont thing i would ,, maybe the 10-18 for a large group shot..

i was thinking to get a 16-35 f4.. for the 5d3 and then use the 24-70 on the t4i.. this way i get more range between the two
but i'm wondering if perhaps i should get a stronger second camera.. such as the 7d2 or 6d.. or is a 70-200 f4 is the better option?

considering what it have ..
how would you feel more comfortable covering a small event? adding which of the above?
i dont plan on doing anything huge anytime soon no matter how much was offered as i'm just not prepared
eventually i will get it all ,, 16-35 , 70-200 7d2. bunch of primes etc..i'm mean really i'v love to go get a 35m 1.4ii,, but as my next move to get closer to being well covered , i'm not sure what makes more logical sense

or is there something else that you think is even more important?

suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Heya,

So your 5D3 + 24-70 covers almost everything for groups & events assuming you can be near the event & group. You don't need to take an ultrawide lens. The 24mm end is wide. If you're in super small venues, then maybe you could use one of your ultrawides, but the problem with being up close and using ultrawide on a group means distortion on corners, etc, which can make legs/arms look funky. But that's if you're very close and shooting ultrawide. I wouldn't even take the 55-250, it's just too long on APS-C (think about it, how many folk show up to a birthday party shoot with a full frame + 100-400 zoom? That's nearly what the APS-C + 55-250 basically is).

Keep it simple. Less is more. With a 5D3 + 24-70 and T4i + 10-18 (IS is very helpful here), you've got the party covered. Single & couple portraits are covered by the 24-70 at the long end. Do groups with the 24-70 with as much distance as you can. If you have no choice but to be super close and do large groups, that's where the T4i +10-18 comes in. And, it serves as your backup in case something goes wrong. You can always put your 24-70 on the T4i and finish the shoot.

Lighting makes the difference. Anyone can show up with a fast aperture lens. What will separate you from a "I bought a camera and now I'm a photographer" type will be composition and controlling light. The images don't have to be the sharpest or most technical. If they tell the story, have compositions that are pleasing and not just "snapshot-esque" and you use and control light with purpose, you'll churn out very good work regardless of gear.

I would not bother buying a 16-35, 70-200, 7D2, etc, just yet. As you mentioned, you're learning. Use what you have. Do more shoots. You learn from doing, not from buying.

The last thing you want to do at an event is tell them to "hold on" while you swap your 24-70 to a 35L to a 70-200 to a 16-35... etc. You already have two bodies that work, so you can have your two main options ready to go. Do the shoots, make some cash, use that cash to purchase more gear. Instead of buying gear thinking you'll do more shoots.

You have good gear now. I would add lighting to your habits. This will make a bigger difference. You have a 430EX, that works well on-camera for bouncing & ETTL, so that is good to go. You have two other Yongnuo's, those are great to setup in rooms on stands and light up the whole room. Or you can setup a spot with the umbrella for "couples" and the like. But I wouldn't stress that as much, instead, I would just focus on using the Yongnuo's manually on stands, off camera, bouncing in the room to mix ambient and flash, to get an overall nicer lighting in the rooms you will shoot in. And the 430EX again serves as the bounce source for spontaneous stuff where you cannot setup for it.

That Rokinon can serve as your ultrawide for dark close tight quarters.

The changes I would make, as you move forward:

1 - Eventually sell the T4i + EF-S glass to replace with matching gear to your primary stuff.
2 - Replace that (above) with another 5D series with similar controls to your 5D3 (ie, 5D, or 5D2, or 5D3, etc). The point is to have seamless use as you move from one camera to another.
3 - Add a 70-200 F2.8 flavor. You will have two similar cameras, with 24-70 & 70-200 coverage, both at F2.8.
4 - A light meter can be handy to quickly setup lights without lots of chimping, they're cheap and very useful as you get more into lighting.

End result being:

5D3 + 24-70 F2.8
5DX + 70-200 F2.8
Rokinon 14mm F2.8
430EX
Yongnuo Flash x 2
Stands x 2
Batteries for everything x 4
SD/CF cards
And shooting more often than buying.

Very best,

My comments address you cameras, not your glass. I hope you find them valid.

Maybe I am a bit simple-minded, but for me the combination of a 5D3 and T4i would eventually cause problems. The controls are HUGELY dis-similar.

I used to do some 'press-type' sports shooting, where I had as much access to the sidelines as the coach. As long as I stayed off the playing surface, and out of the way, I was good. I started this with a 60D. One camera, no problems. I added a 5D and wide angle-zoom for closer shots. All hell broke loose on my first football game. I was constantly moving back and forth from 5D to 60D, and getting lost in the controls. Sold the 5Dc, bought a 6D. The end result is that moving between two bodies in the heat of the moment is a lot easier when they have similar controls.

I think that when the doo-doo hits the fan, using a 5D3 and T4i will trip you up. The faster you need to move, the more confusing it will get. If I were in your shoes, I'd spend money on a 7D2.

The only glass comments I can offer is leave the EFS stuff at home. That just complicates lens changes when you are on the run. A 16-35 on full frame will do anything you can do with a 10-18 on apsc.

I do this kind of stuff because I know I don't think well under pressure. For me it is just easier to take the 6D/17-40 for close work, and the 70D/70-200 for field work. The 24-105 is in the bag if I need it, on either body. Similar controls, and lenses that fit either body. Just a few less things for me to worry about when (not if) the doo-doo starts flying.

After reading Malveaux's post, I like his answer better than mine. He addresses your situation. I addressed mine. Not nearly as valid. But something to consider, at least.

Bassat.. the 5d3 is what i use mostly ,, sometimes when i use the t4i , there is a moment of hesitation when i need to adjust something as i need to quickly recall which button i need ,, so that is a valid point,, thanks

Malveaux.. lots of great suggestions ,thanks for taking the time out for such detailed input