Originally posted by Sperdynamite Yeah, reinvesting I totally believe in. I believe I'm capable and have the ability to produce a high-end product. But there are cost associations with that. I put myself a little into debt getting everything I have now, which is a fairly complete kit. But then I think well...I could sure do some amazing things for clients on film, like some people are with a Contax 645. Or it would be great to have a laptop of dumping cards...or idk a better scanner for the film I currently do shoot. A friend of mine bought a 8K inkjet printer and started a fine art printing business. I haven't put myself THAT into debt, but I wonder if that's what it takes.
Unless you're absolutely commited to the idea of doing a slideshow of your photos at the reception, then I think you can do without a laptop for the wedding day. If storage space is an issue I'd recommend purchasing some extra sd cards, which are good to have as backups anyway and are relatively cheap these days. Of course that's just my opinion, based on the weddings I've photographed. In my experience time is always a factor so setting up a slideshow or taking time to download my images during the day just isn't practical.
If you feel shooting film offers you an advantage in your local area, then that's probably something worth exploring.
I'd agree with the suggestions of a backup digital body though, even if you just rent one. In my mind reliability is key, and that's where most of my money has been spent. It all adds up quickly, but a camera, memory card, or battery failure can be disastrous without backups! I just invested in a K-5 for the improved dynamic range and noise performance, which means I now have 3 bodies and needed a larger bag to house everything, so of course it can snowball rather easily.
So I'd say it does take require carrying a certain amount of debt off the start. Of course the key to success lies more in your skills, experience, and ability to deal with people, but being professional also means you need to be prepared for any issues throughout the day, and that requires a certain amount of gear.