Questions to Ask Your Photographer Before Signing the Contract
- Ask for references to confirm photographers' experience. If there is a specific look that you are seeking for your wedding photos, ask the photographers if they have examples. For instance, photojournalism is a popular style but not every photographer excels in capturing these types of images. Ask to see an entire album or a set of proofs instead of a portfolio.
- Packages can offer a dizzying array of options, and it's important to know what you will be receiving for the purchase price. If you know that you specifically want a disc of images and a selected image in several sizes, inquire about "a la carte" options that allow you to choose what you receive. Also inquire if black-and-white printing costs extra.
- Photographers may impose expenses for assistants, travel, and post-production work such as image retouching. Before signing a contract, ensure that the amount stipulated is in fact the price you will be paying and that you will not be presented a separate bill for items you were not aware that you were committing to pay for. Reading the fine print and asking questions can prevent miscommunication.
- Many photographers offer the option of providing proofs on a secure website for your review and selection. Establish a definitive time frame to see the proofs and if they will be online or in a proof book with printed images. Professional photographers will then retouch the selected images and print them to your specifications. Ask how long it will take between you selecting the proofs and receiving the prints.