What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?

WeLoveLilo05

I was wondering what are some of the questions I should ask photgrapher and DJS? I sent out an e-mail last night requesting info from a photographer, if i don't hear from her by Tuesday I'll give her call.

Since I have never done this before, what is usually common procedure in terms of payment for photographers and DJs? Do we put a certain amount down when we sign the contract?
I was looking into Stephanie Jones photography, anyone use her?
And Elite Entertianment and Unforgettable DJs.

O and did you have music playing during your cocktail hour? I kind of feel like the DJ will be running around doing a lot of setting up (ceremony to the room where cocktail hour will be to the room where reception will be).  Seems kind crazy.

Thanks!

tinydancer842

I put a deposit down for my photographer & DJ -- $500 for the photographer, then half the balance 6 months prior and the final balance 1 month prior. For the DJ I put $750 down & then paid the remaining balance 1 month prior. I had a keyboardist during the cocktail hour, but in all honesty it could have been cut out & no one would have noticed. I never used those vendors -- but I would be weary if the vendor take a long time to respond esp. if this is your first communication with them. My photographer & DJ responded to my initial e-mail within less than an hour. I used Paul Anthony Entertainment as my DJ & John Arcara as my photographer & both were great! 

GolfChick78

I'm using Robert Wayne Photography and we're planning on a band but haven't settled on one yet.  So I can't speak to the DJ end, but for photography, I paid a $400 deposit, nothing else is due until just before the wedding at which time the full balance of the shoot is due.  We don't pay for albums, etc., until after the weddfing.

You should ask to see samples of full weddings to see how they perform over the course of an enitre day.  You should make sure they're insured and that they're a real business (not just some guy who got a nice camera and now thinks he can shoot weddings).  THis has become harder to figure out as so many true professionals don't have studios anymore and work out of their home.  Ask them about what you can expect working with them; are they going to be very hands-on, unintrusive, etc.  Confirm that your disc of images is high resolution, no watermarks, and you have full rights to them.

And if she doesn't call you by Tuesday, reach out to someone else.

WeLoveLilo05

Do vendors really reply back to those "Contact Us" links on their websites in which you put your e-mail, phone # etc. in? Or is a phone call a better way to get in touch?

JessicaLB2

I would ask both of the them if the person you meet with is the same person you will have on the day of your wedding.  I've heard of some couples who meet with the owner or "face of the company" and think that they'll have that person on the day of the wedding but then on the day of, someone else is sent.  Along those same lines, find out what the policy is if the photog or DJ has an emergency the day of and can't be there.

JessicaLB2

Yes, they reply to those.

 Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:b4501c21-b471-4647-8fc8-71262b1d26df">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]Do vendors really reply back to those "Contact Us" links on their websites in which you put your e-mail, phone # etc. in? Or is a phone call a better way to get in touch?
Posted by WeLoveLilo05[/QUOTE]

tstrayer27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:b4501c21-b471-4647-8fc8-71262b1d26df">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]Do vendors really reply back to those "Contact Us" links on their websites in which you put your e-mail, phone # etc. in? Or is a phone call a better way to get in touch?
Posted by WeLoveLilo05[/QUOTE]
That is how I inquired with all of our vendors, especially photographers. I took looked at Stephanie Jones and she was already booked for our date. I don't remember exactly, but I think she took a few days to respond. Some are very fast like someone mentioned and I received responses within hours. Me personally, if they don't respond to an online inquiry then I like to shy away from them. Good luck!

tstrayer27

Regarding the DJ, so far we have also met with one, Jam Music and we would be getting a piano player for both the ceremony and cocktail hour and then a DJ/MC for the reception. We still want to meet a couple others. Elite Entertainment does not offer a piano player and wanted to play an ipod during our cocktail hour so I X'ed them off the list due to that.

gymchick05

Elite Entertainment and elite Sound Entertainment are two seperate companies. We are using Elite Sound and left a $500 deposit. We are having a live piano player from them for our cocktail hour along with a DJ/MC for the reception. Like others said, make sure you have written in your contract who your actual photog/DJ/MC etc will be and make sure you meet w/ and like that person before signing a contract.

For photography, find out how many photographers (1 or 2), full day coverage or specific number of hours, average number of photos they will take, do they carry backup cameras, etc, proofs, get all rights to your images on CD and make sure they are high res images not low res (I learned you can only print up to 5x7 with low res) For our photo contract, it was broken into thirds, one third deposit, one third I think the week of the wedding and the final payment when we get our album

If you want an album, look at examples, find out what is included in the contract, number of images/pages, what type of paper/cover, etc and what is an extra cost. Also see their style of photographer and if you go with photojournalism, make sure if you want some posed photos like with your family that they will do that
Good luck!

tstrayer27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:824b3bd0-1a20-4647-8fb1-e982d211f36b">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]Elite Entertainment and elite Sound Entertainment are two seperate companies. We are using Elite Sound and left a $500 deposit. We are having a live piano player from them for our cocktail hour along with a DJ/MC for the reception. Posted by gymchick05[/QUOTE]
Yes, I have inquired with both. I'm trying to set up an appointment with Elite Sound as they seem to have what we are looking for unlike Elite Entertainment. I'm going to send you a PM!

WeLoveLilo05

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:4b81c484-391c-4bce-86c8-9cfd270b6e86">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs? : Yes, I have inquired with both. I'm trying to set up an appointment with Elite Sound as they seem to have what we are looking for unlike Elite Entertainment. I'm going to send you a PM!
Posted by tstrayer27[/QUOTE]

Wow didn't know they were different, the one I was looking at was out of Eatontown, I am trying to find vendors in Monmouth/Ocean county.
Stephanie Jones Photography got back to me via e-mail, she is on vacation and will give me a call when she gets back on Tuesday :) Hopefully my date is open, I like what she pitched on wedding wire and her prices are right on her website and its pretty affordable, I really can't do $3000 for pics, many of the photogs are just that for the day, not including albums. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-yell.gif" border="0" alt="Yell" title="Yell" />

GolfChick78

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:b4501c21-b471-4647-8fc8-71262b1d26df">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]Do vendors really reply back to those "Contact Us" links on their websites in which you put your e-mail, phone # etc. in? Or is a phone call a better way to get in touch?
Posted by WeLoveLilo05[/QUOTE]

My photographer called me within an hour after filling out his on-line form.  So yes, they do and should.  Like I said, if she's not responsive and you don't hear quickly, it may be a sign to move on.

ellev

@gymchick - thanks for the helpful list of questions. We're meeting/choosing photographers this week and that's hugely informative. I'm making a spreadsheet...

LADY324

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_questions-should-ask-photographer-djs?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:486346d1-31e5-4522-8714-2374377f534ePost:7ad2270f-ed92-4f54-b93a-c46bbed6ccfd">Re: What questions should I ask photographer and DJs?</a>:
[QUOTE]I put a deposit down for my photographer & DJ -- $500 for the photographer, then half the balance 6 months prior and the final balance 1 month prior. For the DJ I put $750 down & then paid the remaining balance 1 month prior. I had a keyboardist during the cocktail hour, but in all honesty it could have been cut out & no one would have noticed. I never used those vendors -- but I would be weary if the vendor take a long time to respond esp. if this is your first communication with them. My photographer & DJ responded to my initial e-mail within less than an hour. I used Paul Anthony Entertainment as my DJ & John Arcara as my photographer & both were great! 
Posted by tinydancer842[/QUOTE]

Who did you use for your photographer I like your pic :)

muckboy1899

I was just looking around in the knot for DJ's and I stumbled upon this thread about Stephanie Jones Photography whom we are using this September for our wedding.

She got back to us within a few hours via phone and 2 weeks later when we met, was the most honest, and talented person we have ever met.  We met her at her home and were greeted warmly and with coffee! :-)  We sat in her home and looked at her albums.  We actually perferred this over another stuffy studio we went to prior.  We saw how she lived and who she was.  This tells alot about a person, a studio does not.

Her photography skills are incredible, she has great credentials and her prices are right.  SOLD!

We met with 4 photographers and Stephanie was the 5th and last.  We were already sold on another photographer, but man, we are so incredibly happy we went to see her.  She assured us with her work and how everything is backed up.  And she provides MORE than the others for less.

We are so thrilled we secured her and cant wait for the big day and the memories Stephanie will capture for us.