Photography Consultation

Following! I need this info, too!

I just went through my first couple consultations. There are tons of questions online if you Google them also you'll get good responses here. Below are some things I took away from advice I gathered:

Do they have a method for back up?

Do you get rights to the images?

How much for second photographer?

Turn around time?

Do you get to meet your actual photographer and pick them?

What is their style?

What is the payment schedule? (Don't write a check before you've been given a contract!)

Any travel fees?

How will photographer and assistants be dressed?

What time will you arrive and leave?

Additional charge for added hours?

Look at reviews on WW, the Knot, etc.

Ask to see portfolio

Ask for references

First off welcome and congrats! This article was helpful for me when I started looking.

https://www.theknot.com/content/questions-to-ask-wedding-photographer

IMO some of the most important things to ask are what exactly is included in their package, and if they have a contingency if they are unable to make the wedding because of an emergency.

Do you have a venue or anything else selected yet?

@Spaghetti said it PERFECTLY.

GOOGLE this and you will get tons of lists/questions. Print it out, bring it with you and start asking!

Thank you everyone! Those are some great questions and I will definitely ask them during my consultations!

@mrsmack: Thank you! We do have a venue! We just booked it on Sunday. I like to plan things far in advance so I started the planning the week after the engagement!

Ask to look at their portfolio.

- Rights to images (for your own printing)

- Any prints included in the package (book, canvas, 8 x10, etc.)

- Number of hours they cover, and for additional hours how much do they charge

- Their style of shooting

- If there is a second photographer

- Turn around time on getting images back

- How many images

- I asked what kind of camera do they use, why do they like shooting weddings (my personal curiousness)

- I also looked at their photos besides weddings including engagement, family, etc. just to make sure it was the type of editing and style I preferred

Ask to see the complete set of photos from one or two weddings. That way, they can't just cherry-pick the best photos from lots of different weddings to show you.

Are you doing a first-look or waiting until the ceremony? One photographer I told them we were waiting until the ceremony and she said... "ahh... most photographers back out when they hear that." it made me really uncomfortbale. Also, ask how long it takes them to edit and deliver the albums of photos to you.. ask if they share sneak peaks or will just send you a couple right after the wedding.. waiting afterwards can make you soo impatient so you want someone who can do it in a time frame acceptable to you. 30-90 days is typically what i heard from photographers.