It can get very expensive, so it's important to ask them what they cover i.e. is it X hours, is it up to the reception, halfway thru the reception or the whole thing. You'll also need to tell them how much time you have to take the photos (between the ceremony & reception) – find out how many locations they're willing to go to – some will charge extra for more than 2 or 3 locations. Also what do you get in return – how big is the album, how many prints do you get. Ask if you get the hi-res copies of your photos and when. I'm not sure about in the US, but here in Sydney, Australia, it's pretty standard to get your photos after 1-2 years. Also find out whether or not they'll do a pre-wedding shoot of the two of you.

We've gone against getting a videographer and instead getting a couple of friends to do it. Think about it, if you hire a professional, you'll just get what you experienced on the day… whereas with your friends, you'll get to see how they enjoyed your day and what they thought of your wedding. Plus your friends are more likely to know who the important ppl are to "interview" them. But it's really up to you what you want out of it.

I'm not a bride (I'm a photographer). It may seem at first that low balling is a good idea. And indeed you will get some wedding contracts. But low price does nothing (in the long run) other than start a price war, and that leads to everybody's demise.

If you studied (a little bit) about business, competing on price is the worst thing a business can do. Essentially you do work for no profit. The smartest thing you can do, to compete in service (something that cost you nothing/close to nothing – but worth a lot to the bride). That way you can still charge what you normally charge for a wedding, have a profit, and yet compete. You win, the bride wins.

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Many new photographer assumes that if they just take great pictures some how the business will prosper. And when they don't they do the only thing (lower prices). And things spiral down the drain. Read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Focus-Profit-Tom-Zimberoff/dp/1581150598

It will save you lots of trouble. Also consider Gary Fong's video on wedding ( on how to make a profit on wedding):

http://store.garyfonginc.com/dvdgr2.html

He explains why shooting weddings and giving away the CD / DVD is just spinning your wheels. Essentially they (a) see all the unedited images and think you suck (b) you can't truly show your style in unedited selection (c) brides lose steam quickly after the wedding and never actually makes an album (d) their friends (of marriage age) never see your artistry and never become your clients. (e) etc., etc., etc.,

Gary Fong shows how to PARLAY one wedding into many more new clients. He explains how it is BETTER to do few high priced wedding over many low priced wedding (for the photographer and the brides).

Gary Fong would LOVE you to use his service all the time. But you can follow most of his advice using alternate services, etc.

Good luck…

P.S. Yes asking the brides (market research) is a good thing. But sometimes giving people exactly what they want is also a bad thing. It is true in street drug business. And it is true in wedding photography business. You as the professional must know how to steer them to a deal that everybody wins.

Love you softbox for your speedlight. Is there also something like that for the Nikon’s speedlight SB900 that you know?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers, andré from Holland

Engagement session
two hours any location
11×14 print customer framed our choice
cd of all shots taken

Wedding day
two photographers for 8 hours unlimited pictures and locations (min of 1500 shot taken)
CD of all shot's taken
200 (5×7) prints of my choice
4 (8×10) prints of my choice
Our album 80 pictures of our choice

I also own all the rights to our photos so I can print them out as I please!