How far will an Auckland business actually travel?
Most work a patch rather than the region. Plenty of North Shore businesses will not cross the bridge for a two-hour job, and nobody in Pukekohe is driving to Warkworth for one. NovaPay asks businesses near you first, and any travel or call-out fee is stated in the quote rather than found on the invoice.
Can I get someone the same week in Auckland?
Usually, for the smaller jobs. How urgent it is goes out with the request, so a business with nothing free that week can say so instead of leaving you waiting on a callback.
How many photos do I get, and when?
Ask both, because they are the two most common surprises. A quote should say roughly how many edited images and how long after the day, which for weddings is often several weeks.
Do I own the photos?
Usually you get a licence to use and print them while the photographer keeps copyright. If you need them for advertising or commercial use, say so up front since that is a different licence.
Are the raw files included?
Rarely, and most photographers will explain why: the edit is the work. If unedited files matter to you, ask before booking rather than after.
What if it rains?
Ask what the wet weather plan is and whether a deposit moves to another date. For an outdoor event in New Zealand this is a practical question, not a pessimistic one.