What to ask at first meeting with photographer?

I am so excited that on wednesday FH and I are going to meet with Velvet Studios. If we like them, we plan to book them for photo and video. I am shy, and have no idea what i am supposed to ask, what comes in a basic package, what should i try to fenagle??? Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

---

Posted by cherish83

I am so excited that on wednesday FH and I are going to meet with Velvet Studios. If we like them, we plan to book them for photo and video. I am shy, and have no idea what i am supposed to ask, what comes in a basic package, what should i try to fenagle??? Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

---

This is going to be LONG - but here are the questions we asked every photographer we met with when we first sat down with them:

How many photos will you take?
At home?
At Church?
At setting?
At hall?

How many proofs?
How many hours is your service?
How many photographers?/Assistants?
Are you the photographer?/Who are the photographers? - can we see their work?
How do you typically dress for a wedding?
What type of equipment will you use?
Do you bring backup equipment?
Do you visit the ceremony/reception sites prior to the wedding?
Do you have liability insurance?

What percentage of your photographs are color and/or black & white?
Do you use sepia tone? Is there extra cost?
How many images per album?
Does the album cost outside the package or is it inclusive?
What is included in your packages?
Are parent albums available?
Photojournalistic style?
Portrait style?
Editorial style?
Do you use diffused lighting & soft focus?

Will you give us the proofs & negatives?
CD with file images for DIGITAL cameras?
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Do you use proofs?
When will I get my proofs?
When will I get my album?
What packages do you offer?
What is the cost for a parent album?
How many wallet images will you give us? (not TY cards)
How many 8x10 images will you give us?
What type of albums do you provide?
What are the different photos available in a package?
Can we build our own package?
What is the cost for reprints?

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?
(u want the answer to be no)

---

Posted by LuvMyAlfonse

wow! this is so helpful!! Thank you so much!!!

---

Glad I could help!

Thanks girls!!!

---

Posted by cherish83

Bump... I'm meeting this afternoon, and need advice about what to ask if I want them for both.

---

let me know how it goes i'm meeting them next tues!!!