You could start by looking back through Videomaker Magazine articles, many of which deal with your question; then take a Videomaker production seminar. Finally, spend your $7000.
But even before that, I’d give some thought to what I intended to shoot. The demands of wedding videography are quite different from those of shooting theatrical productions or producing training DVDs. Different camera requirements, different mics, different lighting.
So long before worrying about how to spend $7000, I’d give some very serious thought to a business plan and what kind of work I had a reasonable expectation of undertaking that would amortize this expenditure in three to four years.
Jack
