ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

I have chosen my photographer but, I decided to start this one for those have not picked their photographer yet. Often we are recommending vendors that work for us but may not work for someone else.

How many years experience do they have?

What type of equipment do they use? Will they have back up equipment in the event one breaks? or if it stolen.( my photographer's equipment was stolen at one of his weddings)

**Some places do not guarantee your photographer so you don't know who you are going to get.***If you like a photographer have them put it in writing

When reviewing photos ask which photographer did what. B/c sometimes you are looking at work from one photographer but they book you with another.

Are engagement photos include? Not all places are included also, some places used one photographer for the ephotos and another for the wedding. It is important that the ephotos are done by the photographer that is on your contract. So, you can feel more comfortable with your photographer at the wedding.

how many weddings do they book a weekend? You want to select a place that will not book all there photographers on the same day. B/c if an emergancy occurs with your photograoher you want to make sure someone can fill his shoes.

Some places will not book a photographer on back to back days. this is good bc they are well rested the day of your wedding. Two days of 10-11 hour days carrying equipment is hardwork and you want to make sure your guy is rested and excited about creating beautiful pictures for your wedding.


ok I will leave room for other girls to post their questions that they asked their photographer cause I could go on.....

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

good choice of photographer!!! me too!!

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

How long do albums take?

How long does it take to get the proofs?

How long does it take to set up the album?

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

I love this thread. Especially since we haven't chosen ours yet. Thanks ladies.

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

Will YOU be the one to shoot my wedding? If not, who is? Or, who is assiting you?

Will the proofs be mine to keep?

Will they be stamped 'PROOF?' (this is big--ours are not. A few I have posted are because they are from a Website with it's own set of rules/rights.) Now, I have 600+ 3x5s that are all mine, ready to frame or use!

Will you be staying until the end?
Believe it or not, I met with a few photogs who said they 'usually' stay till the end. For all that cash, you'd better be one of the last to leave, pal!

Can you show me your work? Especially B&W. My gown had tiny sparkly beads on it. I was worried they would come out like black dots in B&W photography b/c the woman at my gown shop told me to be aware of this. Well, I have no black dots but am glad I asked.

We had a great photographer!!!! And I asked him all this.

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

for the album
what type of cover is included - leather with names, cut outs, embossed, vynal?

how many pages? how many pictures per page?

are the pages flushed or matted

is it traditional or magazine style

if i want a double bage spread in the center of the album how much is that

is photo retouching of stray hairs included

what type of medium are you using (digital or film) and what type of printing do you do (digital or film).

Do i get to keep all of my proofs

how long will you keep the rights to my negatives

can i get my negatives after that time and how much will that cost

qhat size is my album 10x10, 8x10?

what size are the parent albums?

how many pages are each album

if i go over the page limit or picture limit how much is each additional photo
is there another charge for matting them (can be about 4-5 dollars per page not incuding the price of the photo)

Are special touches (montage/sayings) extra and how much

how much is due at signing, the week of the wedding and when I pick up my proofs or when I do my album. Make sure to have some owed so there is an incentive to get you the proofs and do your book.

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

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?

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

this is so helpful as I am hoping to book photo/video by years end....thanks ladies!

Re: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS WHEN SHOPPING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

Let me add that you should also check references....

Check out LI Weddings for advice

If you are searching for a photojournalist compare work with other photojournalist even those you can't afford b/c some places will try to pass themselves off as photojournalist and charge you more when they aren't.

also, some places will discount reprints if you have an idea of what you want in advance. So, if you can take advantage of that discount

What is your cancellation policy? ( you never know)

What is the cost per additional hour of shooting at the wedding?