1. Published prices and what is included
Look for a price list you can read without calling. Then check what the price includes. Ask whether edited images and a print release are part of it, and whether travel, tax and extra locations are extra. A price that looks low can add up after each add-on.
GKPhoto publishes every package on the price list. Headshots start at $250, family at $225, graduation at $200, sports at $225 and events at $500, before tax.
2. Permit knowledge for your place
Many parks and venues have rules for paid sessions. A photographer who works in your town should know them. Ask what the permit rule is for your spot and who pays any fee. The Wake County permits guide lists the rules I have read for each place, with the date I read them.
3. Delivery time in writing
Ask how long the gallery takes and get the number in writing. GKPhoto portraits arrive in 48 hours. Events, weddings and large jobs take 2 to 3 weeks. Rush 24-hour delivery adds $100. A short promise matters less than a promise the photographer can keep.
4. Reviews you can verify
Look for reviews on a public profile, with names and dates. Check that the rating and the count match what the photographer says. GKPhoto lists its Google reviews on the reviews page with the source and the date they were read. Treat any quoted review with no source as a claim, not proof.
5. A style you like, in full galleries
A highlight reel shows the best frames. Ask for a full gallery from a real session, and look at ordinary frames too. Check that the photographer's work in your kind of session, such as a headshot, a family or a sports game, looks like what you want. The portfolio shows full galleries by type.
6. Contract basics
Read the retainer, the reschedule rule, the cancellation rule and the tax line. GKPhoto's terms are short. The retainer is 25 percent and reserves the date. A reschedule is free with 48 or more hours of notice, and one is included. Weather reschedules are always free. If you cancel, the retainer is not refunded, and a no-show forfeits it. NC sales tax is added automatically.
7. An easy first reply
Send a message and notice how it goes. A clear reply with the price, the open dates and the next step is a good sign. I reply within one business day. The experience page walks through the steps from the first message to the gallery.
8. How GKPhoto answers each point
- Prices: listed on one page.
- Inclusions: edited digitals and a print release come with every session.
- Permits: checked for your place before you book.
- Delivery: 48 hours for portraits, 2 to 3 weeks for events and large jobs.
- Reviews: listed with their source.
- Terms: retainer, reschedule, cancellation and tax in plain words.
Not sure which session fits? The session quiz gives a package, a price and travel for your town. The Wake County page shows the travel tiers by town.