Hi
I consider myself very honoured to have been asked to photograph the wedding of my close friends in Italy next year. I said I'd do it as a gift, so there's no payment coming my way - just a great opportunity (as I see it)
I've done a couple of weddings before but I'm by no means a pro. Back in 2011, I had one of my two Nikon F5's stolen (thankfully not the one i paid £200 to have serviced by Nikon!) and all my lenses (20mm wide, 50mm, 80-200mm 2.8 and 60mm Macro - gutted.com) and my SB800 flash.
I used the "opportunity" to migrate to Hasselblad. I now have a 501CM, 80mm, 120mm and 150mm lenses, a Metz 45CL4 flash, Sekonic light meter and a range of Lee ND grad filters. No spare film casettes. In addition I have my other F5 and the standard f1.8 50mm lens.
THe reason for my post is this: my friends know and I have made it quite clear that I am limited in that my Blad shoots 12 shots, then a new film is needed. My Nikon doesn't have a good range of lenses. Like many 30 somethings, Im mortgaged to the hilt, have debts, and two young kids under the age of 7. Money is not something I have much of and the costs of the film and development and scanning will be a few hundred in itself.
So I guess I'm in search of some very affordable suggestions.
I thought about perhaps buying one or two Nikon F100's so that I have both spare bodies and the ability to shoot 3 films concurrantly, to be reloaded in those rare moments of quiet. But even F100's are about £100 give or take, and besides, there's the small issue of lenses!!! Of which I have only one.
The cost of my former lenses seem more expensive now than I got them for 8-10 years ago. 80-200mm for no less than £400 on average.
So then I thought about getting more film backs for the Hasselblad instead, so that I can load those up. But again, £100-£150 each seems standard.
So my Blad has a good range of lenses, but I have only one of them, and only one film back.
My Nikon has a good range of shots, but it only has one lens! And I also only have one of those.
And one flash between them all (though I can pick up another one of those for about £50).
Any advice? Notes of re-assurance? I know some of you will say "just don't do it" or "if you don't have the kit, you shouldn't do it" and so on. But I'm very aware that 20 years ago wedding photographers shot weddings with one Hasselblad and a few film backs. I got married in 2002 and the photographer used a Blad. I didn't see him change anything but the backs and the lenses.