Search in your own words. Describe what you need or ask a wedding planning question.
Any suggestions on what to ask photographers when you meet? I'm just starting to think about this and compose a list so I dont go in there looking like an idiot.
Posted by barbtony
Are you ready for this????
Are you a full-time photographer?
How long have you been a wedding photographer?
What is your philosophy about shooting weddings?
What kind of equipment/film do you use?
Is there backup equipment?
Who will shoot?
Photojournalist photographer?
What if s/he is sick?
What time do you arrive to setup your equipment?
How many hours they will be with you?
# of weddings/day:
What are your criteria for choosing what you would photograph at my wedding?
Why did you choose wedding photography as a career?
Are you open to a list of must-take photos (pictures you definitely want shot)?
Proofs:
How MANY proofs do you guarantee(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.
Whether you get your proofs to keep - do they come in an album or box?
Do I get a high res dvd/cd of all my photos which are printable in addition to your proofs?
Are there water marks on the pictures?
Will I need a letter from you authorizing me to make prints?
Engagement Shoot:
a) WHEN it has to be done by
b) WHO will shoot them
c) WHERE you can take them
Album:
What kind of album do I get? (slip in or what type)
How many photos will I 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
Will I be able to see a preliminary layout?
Who will print the album?
Photos:
Percentage of black and white?
Do you use black and white film when photographing in black and white?
Percentage Photoshopped?
Do I get to pick which ones to Photoshop?
Touch ups - Are they included? Make sure that is in your contract!!!
Cost to print extra photos?
Video:
What format is video shot in? ****hd******
Who is doing video?
Video (DVD) and raw footage
Montage???
Miscellaneous:
Attire?
For purposes of doing pictures, we will see each other before the ceremony. How would you capture that first meeting on film?
What are your policies regarding delivery times?
What are the refunds/cancellation terms?
Do you have insurance?
How do you keep yourself organized? [Note: Ask this question and then keep quiet - - you'll want to hear a rock solid, confident answer here. Photographers are artists, and artists are often disorganized. To shoot a wedding properly, you absolutely, positively must be organized.
Pricing:
Payment schedule:
Is gratuity included in the price?
Are there any additional charges not mentioned? (i.e. travel)
Thank yous? Amount
What TYPE of thank you that you will receive (slip in, photo printed on card)?
Whatever he didn't cover I asked him. And, if you are familiar with professional photography, you will know what kind of equipment he uses. I have a friend who does this and I checked with her. She also gave me a whole bunch of those questions to ask - from one photographer to another so to speak.
Posted by barbtony
Whatever he didn't cover I asked him. And, if you are familiar with professional photography, you will know what kind of equipment he uses. I have a friend who does this and I checked with her. She also gave me a whole bunch of those questions to ask - from one photographer to another so to speak.
Posted by Espo22
Posted by barbtony
Are you ready for this????
Are you a full-time photographer?
How long have you been a wedding photographer?
What is your philosophy about shooting weddings?
What kind of equipment/film do you use?
Is there backup equipment?
Who will shoot?
Photojournalist photographer?
What if s/he is sick?
What time do you arrive to setup your equipment?
How many hours they will be with you?
# of weddings/day:
What are your criteria for choosing what you would photograph at my wedding?
Why did you choose wedding photography as a career?
Are you open to a list of must-take photos (pictures you definitely want shot)?
Proofs:
How MANY proofs do you guarantee(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.
Whether you get your proofs to keep - do they come in an album or box?
Do I get a high res dvd/cd of all my photos which are printable in addition to your proofs?
Are there water marks on the pictures?
Will I need a letter from you authorizing me to make prints?
Engagement Shoot:
a) WHEN it has to be done by
b) WHO will shoot them
c) WHERE you can take them
Album:
What kind of album do I get? (slip in or what type)
How many photos will I 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
Will I be able to see a preliminary layout?
Who will print the album?
Photos:
Percentage of black and white?
Do you use black and white film when photographing in black and white?
Percentage Photoshopped?
Do I get to pick which ones to Photoshop?
Touch ups - Are they included? Make sure that is in your contract!!!
Cost to print extra photos?
Video:
What format is video shot in? ****hd******
Who is doing video?
Video (DVD) and raw footage
Montage???
Miscellaneous:
Attire?
For purposes of doing pictures, we will see each other before the ceremony. How would you capture that first meeting on film?
What are your policies regarding delivery times?
What are the refunds/cancellation terms?
Do you have insurance?
How do you keep yourself organized? [Note: Ask this question and then keep quiet - - you'll want to hear a rock solid, confident answer here. Photographers are artists, and artists are often disorganized. To shoot a wedding properly, you absolutely, positively must be organized.
Pricing:
Payment schedule:
Is gratuity included in the price?
Are there any additional charges not mentioned? (i.e. travel)
Thank yous? Amount
What TYPE of thank you that you will receive (slip in, photo printed on card)?
did you really ask your photographer ALL these questions?
Posted by amandah75
Posted by Espo22
Posted by barbtony
Are you ready for this????
Are you a full-time photographer?
How long have you been a wedding photographer?
What is your philosophy about shooting weddings?
What kind of equipment/film do you use?
Is there backup equipment?
Who will shoot?
Photojournalist photographer?
What if s/he is sick?
What time do you arrive to setup your equipment?
How many hours they will be with you?
# of weddings/day:
What are your criteria for choosing what you would photograph at my wedding?
Why did you choose wedding photography as a career?
Are you open to a list of must-take photos (pictures you definitely want shot)?
Proofs:
How MANY proofs do you guarantee(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.
Whether you get your proofs to keep - do they come in an album or box?
Do I get a high res dvd/cd of all my photos which are printable in addition to your proofs?
Are there water marks on the pictures?
Will I need a letter from you authorizing me to make prints?
Engagement Shoot:
a) WHEN it has to be done by
b) WHO will shoot them
c) WHERE you can take them
Album:
What kind of album do I get? (slip in or what type)
How many photos will I 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
Will I be able to see a preliminary layout?
Who will print the album?
Photos:
Percentage of black and white?
Do you use black and white film when photographing in black and white?
Percentage Photoshopped?
Do I get to pick which ones to Photoshop?
Touch ups - Are they included? Make sure that is in your contract!!!
Cost to print extra photos?
Video:
What format is video shot in? ****hd******
Who is doing video?
Video (DVD) and raw footage
Montage???
Miscellaneous:
Attire?
For purposes of doing pictures, we will see each other before the ceremony. How would you capture that first meeting on film?
What are your policies regarding delivery times?
What are the refunds/cancellation terms?
Do you have insurance?
How do you keep yourself organized? [Note: Ask this question and then keep quiet - - you'll want to hear a rock solid, confident answer here. Photographers are artists, and artists are often disorganized. To shoot a wedding properly, you absolutely, positively must be organized.
Pricing:
Payment schedule:
Is gratuity included in the price?
Are there any additional charges not mentioned? (i.e. travel)
Thank yous? Amount
What TYPE of thank you that you will receive (slip in, photo printed on card)?
did you really ask your photographer ALL these questions?
I did. I was not messing around with my photographer. Pics are the most important thing to me and I wanted to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. If your photographer isn't willing to answer all your questions, I wouldn't deal with them. I've contacted my photog multiple times with questions and she always emails be back within 24 hours.
You can never ask too many questions is my motto.
Here is a sheet of ?s
Posted by RitasEngaged
Here is a sheet of ?s
Posted by RitasEngaged
Posted by RitasEngaged
Here is a sheet of ?s
Posted by barbtony
You can never ask too many questions is my motto.
Posted by Espo22
i would ask the things you are most concerned about and feel are more important.
Ive seen the list before to ask photographer questions and here is what i think. If i ask the photographer what camera he uses, will i even know what that means, the answer is no. He could've made something up and i would've just been like oooh ok.
Ask if e-pics are included in the package, most photographers include this for free
most important is to ask if you get the rights to your pics. Many do give you the rights, but there are quite a few companies that keep the rights for a year and some try to keep it forever. This way you can do whatever you want with your pics, but if they have the rights you cant go print your pics or do anything.
Ask how long they will be with you the day of, although im sure they will tell you and it will be written down for you to look at. Many photographers do 10 hours but remember they come to you morning of, so this might mean that they might not be there until the end, so ask if you need them for 1 or 2 more hours if its extra for overtime and how much.
Ask about a 2nd photographer and how much extra that is
how many proofs they guarantee.
look at their album choices and cost of albums of course.
For me the work was the most important thing. the style of the pics. So when i went in, i was very interested in the album styles. E-pic session. And how many pics are guaranteed. Also wanted to make sure it was a HIGH res disk we got with the pics, but i also got each proof printed for me and put in a box
i am sure youve seen their work before so you know the style of the pics whether its traditional, photojournalistic or a mix.
Posted by traci506
Posted by Espo22
i would ask the things you are most concerned about and feel are more important.
Ive seen the list before to ask photographer questions and here is what i think. If i ask the photographer what camera he uses, will i even know what that means, the answer is no. He could've made something up and i would've just been like oooh ok.
Ask if e-pics are included in the package, most photographers include this for free
most important is to ask if you get the rights to your pics. Many do give you the rights, but there are quite a few companies that keep the rights for a year and some try to keep it forever. This way you can do whatever you want with your pics, but if they have the rights you cant go print your pics or do anything.
Ask how long they will be with you the day of, although im sure they will tell you and it will be written down for you to look at. Many photographers do 10 hours but remember they come to you morning of, so this might mean that they might not be there until the end, so ask if you need them for 1 or 2 more hours if its extra for overtime and how much.
Ask about a 2nd photographer and how much extra that is
how many proofs they guarantee.
look at their album choices and cost of albums of course.
For me the work was the most important thing. the style of the pics. So when i went in, i was very interested in the album styles. E-pic session. And how many pics are guaranteed. Also wanted to make sure it was a HIGH res disk we got with the pics, but i also got each proof printed for me and put in a box
i am sure youve seen their work before so you know the style of the pics whether its traditional, photojournalistic or a mix.
Thanks. I have an appointment with Imagine next week. I loved your photos!
