Contacting the photographer

Find out availability and an idea of cost

Although you can sometimes walk in off the street to meet with a wedding photographer in his or her studio, most people initiate contact over the telephone. Beginning with a phone call is generally best for both you and the photographer, since you can often get enough information in a few minutes to decide whether you wish to meet with the photographer or studio representative.

THE FIRST THING TO FIND OUT IS AVAILABILITY

The most important item to determine over the phone is the photographer’s or studio’s availability on your wedding date.

If the photographer is already booked for your wedding day, don't forget to ask for a referral to another photographer. If the photographer is available, go to the next step - find out roughly how much the photographer will charge.

GET A BALLPARK IDEA OF PRICE

Once past the hurdle of availability, you will want to have basic pricing information.

Because the photographer does not yet know what photography services you will require, you should expect to receive only a rough idea of pricing, sufficient to let you know whether your budget can handle it. If the studio or photographer is reluctant to provide you with even a rough estimate, explain that you want to be sure you can afford their services before you take up their time in a meeting, and you don’t expect to receive a firm quote at this stage. They should be able to tell you their average price for a wedding, or their minimum price and what services they provide for it.

Many wedding photography manuals advise the studio to defer giving prices over the phone, and suggest that callers be told that their prices are reasonable for the coverage and options they offer, and to say that price is not the only consideration. The purpose is to arrange a meeting where price would be discussed once the photographer knows your precise wishes. So, you must stress that you will not hold them to their price, but that you need a rough ballpark idea before the meeting. You just wish to know if their average wedding that includes coverage of the ceremony, formals and reception costs $1,200, $2,500 or $6,500 to photograph, and if they are in the ballpark, you will arrange to meet.

Expect to be asked questions yourself. The information you provide will help the photographer or studio to hone in on a price range. The questions you can reasonably expect to be asked will relate to the location and time of day of the ceremony, and what you want covered, whether you would like pictures to begin with the bride’s preparations before the ceremony, and to include the ceremony itself, formally-posed pictures, candid shots, the reception, special activities, etc. (See Before contacting a photographer to prepare yourself.)

DON'T PUSH THE ISSUE OF PRICE OVER THE PHONE

In fairness to the photographer, he or she truly cannot give you a firm price without adequate information, except for studios that offer pre-determined wedding packages for specific prices.

Some studios have been conditioned over time to never provide telephone pricing. Their experience has been that price shoppers are often more trouble than they are worth, and the studio is better off to simply let them go. So, if the photographer you call is truly reluctant to provide a ballpark price, don't push the issue. Simply set up an appointment to meet and review the photographer's work. You will be under no commitment at this stage.

ARRANGE TO MEET WITH THE ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Assuming the photographer's price range falls within your budget or that you have agreed to a meeting without knowing the price range, set up an appointment to review his or her wedding photography portfolio.

If calling a studio with more than one photographer, ask the name of the specific photographer who will be assigned to your wedding. That is the one you should meet with.

Be sure to read our section on Viewing a photographer's pictures before you meet with the photographer.