Photographer Help... Questions & Packages

I have two appointments this week with photographers, and I have no idea where to start with asking questions... Does anyone have any ideas on important questions to ask? Also, what can I expect to receive in a photo/video package? (e.g., number of pics in albums, e-pics, proofs, save the dates?)

I am looking at Duet and Patken this week - if anyone has any info on quotes they've received, could you please FM me!

Thanks so much!

We met with Duet...we liked their work, however we didn't like that everything was Ala Cart. Every extra little thing we wanted they charged extra for and we felt it wasn't as personable as an experience as when we met with Thomas Paul.

We got to meet with Thomas himself, whereas at Duet, we didn't meet any of the photographers, just a salesman. So we didn't get to see their personalities. Tom had us laughing, took his time showed us lots of books and videos. The prices were almost the same but the experience was much different. Sorry I don't have any info on Patken. HTH

a few things to ask:
do you get all proofs and rights to the proofs so you can reprint them?
do all images come on a cd?
how many hours of service are included?
are thank you cards included?
engagement shoot included?
no tax if pay cash?

also ask if the person you are meeting with is the actual photographer you will have on your wedding day...to me it was important to click with the photographer since they will be with you the ENTIRE day!

you also need to know what you need/want
- how many photographers
- how many parent/grandparent albums?

thats all i can think of now....
hth
good luck!

The great thing with Patken is they will put a package price together for you based on everything you want.

We wanted photo/video, our albums/2 parent albums, and our raw video footage.

They put a whole package together for us with additional items added to it.

This is also important that you have the rights to your photo's ...and with who im using we took out some stuff out of the package and did our own thing that was better for us...see if you can do that and if paying by money will not have taxs....and some places include the engagement photo's with a package and some you have to pay extra..Good luck!!!!