what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

I have my first meeting with a photographer this afternoon, and I just want to make sure I cover all of my bases. I don't really know much about photography, or how the packages and such should work or... well... much of anything in this area. What do I need to know? Also, what kinds of answers am I looking for?

thanks so much ladies!

Re: what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

Things to make sure you have in your contract:

1) Who your photographer will be

2) whether they will bring an assistant
how many photographers will be there

3) How many hours they will be with you

4) What time they will come to you

5) How MANY proofs they guarentee(it should read something like a MINIMUM of XXX
amount of proofs). Be wary if they won't guarantee a specific number - everyone
we saw said minimum of X amount but you could get as many as Y amount. Just make
sure you have a minimum in there. You would hate to go in thinking you are
getting 500 proofs then to only get 300.

6) Whether you get your proofs to keep - do they come in an album or box.

7) Your payment schedule

8) how much money is due at each payment

9) whether they will travel with you IF you leave the temple for photos for any
reason

10) Many companies give a free engagement shoot -if they do:
a) when it has to be done by

b) WHO will shoot them

c) WHERE you can take them (some places will let you go to a park others make
you take them in their studio (this is a great opportunity IF it is with your
photographer to get to know them as a practice shoot and get comfortable with
poses and being in front of the camera

11) HOW you can pay for your photographs. (some places will NOT let you pay
anything other than deposit on the credit card - some places it is ALL check or
cash no credit cards at all). Many wedding vendors only take cash or check. -
try to avoid those as you will have no recourse other than court if something
happens rather than dispute with credit card company.

12) If you get your negatives (if using film) will you get your negatives.
A) if no - are they available for purchase - if so at what point

13) if digital - do you get a cd of all your photos in addition to your proofs.

14) What kind of album will you get? (slip in or what type)

15) How many photos will you get in the album -
a) is it number of photos or pages of photos
b) how many per page do you get - (some places say 50 pages but it is ONLY one
PER page)
c) what size can you get in the album

16) What lose photos are included (make sure you include enough for family,
friends, or yourself - so think about what you might want for your home etc
before you sign your contract - photos after the wedding go up steeply in price
and it is NOT the price that they were when you booked but the price they are
when you want to order them)

17) What kind of photography - will is be film or digital

18) If you are doing this - How many thanks yous are included or you are paying
for
a) what TYPE of thank you that you will receive (slip in, photo printed on card

19) Percentage of black and white - etc - like 20% black and white 80% color -
or 50-50% whatever you both are looking for.

20) IF there are touch ups included make sure that is in your contract - many
places won't throw this in as it is your problem to pay unless the photographer
screwed up the photo and something needs to be removed.

21) Some contracts will specify that you have to feed them and how many you have
to feed - some don't - but you should feed them anyway - even if it is not the
hall food but sandwiches etc since they are with you all day long.

22) what will they be wearing

23) are there watermarks on the photos? (the answer you want is 'no')

Re: what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

- Do you shoot in digital or film? Why?

- What is your ratio of black and white to color shots? Do we get to determine how many of each that you take? If we get our proofs and see a color photo we'd want in black and white, can you do that?

- How do you feel about posed shots? How long do they usually take you?

- Do you have packages? What are the prices of each? What's included in each package? Are they negotiable? (For example, if an engagement shoot is included and you don't want one, can you trade it for an extra 100 proofs?) If there's no packages, ask about price for the various things you want - the amount of hours they'll be there, the proof pictures, etc.

- Can we keep the negatives or a CD of digital images? Is this an extra cost?

- How many shots do you take during an average wedding?

- Do you bring an assistant? Does the assistant shoot pictures?

- How many hours are you there? Does it cost extra for more hours?

- How many 4x6 (if that's their size) proofs do you provide? Do you send these in an album? How long after the wedding will we get these?

- Do you do albums? If so, what are your rates? (There's usually a variety of rates depending on the amount of pages in the book, size of pictures you choose for the book - 5x7 or 8x10 usually - and style of album, whether it's leather or whatever.)

- Do my family and friends need to go through you for reprints? If so, what are the prices per picture? Will the pictures be posted online for them to view? Is posting them online an extra cost?

- Transportation - how are you getting to the wedding? Do we need to provide transportation between house/ceremony/reception? Does it cost extra if you have to rent a car?

- Can I talk to a previous client of yours?

- How long have you been shooting weddings?

- What's your payment schedule? What amount of deposit do I need to leave? When exactly do you start holding my date?

Re: what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

This is a great help
Thank you for posting this question

Re: what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

it is really important to make sure that the person you are meeting with is going to be your photographer for that day. I read it in a magazine and a friend of mine booked a photographer and the photographer who did her wedding was not the same person that she originally booked with. Needless to say she did not have a good experience with her pictures. Just a heads up ladies

Re: what questions should I ask photographers when I meet with them?

Also in terms of the negatives make sure that the negatives are real regular size pictures. Companies try to give you the swoop by giving you the negative thumbnails ( like smaller than wallet size photos) where you cant really see much.