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When searching for a new composite company, one of the most difficult and most important tasks is reviewing the contract. If you sign a contract, it is binding (and costly to break) not only for you, but your entire chapter. To avoid surprises, you should at least ask these three questions before signing a composite contract.

Who is authorized to sign? If your organization is licensed, recent rules have come down from the National headquarters backed by Greek Licensing (www.greeklicensing.com) that state only a President or Advisor may sign agreements. Having a single point of contact avoids multiple overlapping contracts from different vendors.

How long is the term of the contract? Although no contract should exceed two years, ultimately, the choice is up to you. Take advantage of discounts when you sign for multiple years, but watch out for deep discounts as an incentive to sign that will cause a huge increase the second year. Remember, it is a contract after all; negotiate with the company to make sure your chapter needs are met.

Are there additional fees? Always ask for an itemized price quote. Make sure that everything is outlined on the quote including tax, licensing, framing, shipping, photography cancellation fees, attire fees, last year photos, rush delivery, preferred scheduling, and even insurance. Although some of these are optional, the last thing you want is to be blindsided with a huge invoice after photography. Lastly, know the difference between a deposit and a final invoice amount, and if it is not clear in the contract, ask for it in writing.

Tip: Get it in writing! Anything you discuss with the company regarding term, discounts, or promos should be outlined clearly in the contract. If it isn't,  feel free to modify the contract with your expected terms. Do not sign until you are satisfied with the final agreement and terms.

Respect goes both ways! Any company you work with for composites should want your business and work with you to gain you as a customer. Harassing emails or pushy service should not be tolerated and are a direct reflection of how that company will treat you after you sign the contract. If you don’t have a good feeling during the negotiations, walk away.

Spring is quickly approaching and along with it are mid-terms, spring break, and Greek Week. Spring holds a lot of excitement, along with activities, and if you are still looking to be photographed for your composite, now is the perfect time to schedule.

Although it may seem early in the semester, this is the prime time to schedule your composite photography session, since dates are still open and flexible. You can lock in your preferred date, which ensures your photography session doesn't have to compete with any of your exciting activities, such as spring break, or add stress to any already stressful week, such as mid-terms or finals.

Here are a few tips for scheduling your photography session:

To help you choose a date, have your academic, chapter, and Greek Life calendars handy. This way, you can find an open date, when the majority of your house’s members are available for the session.

Remember, depending on the size of your chapter, you may have to block off 1-3 days for a photography session.

Write down about three preferred dates, and run them by your chapter before scheduling with your composite company.

Ask about their make-up session policy and if there is a cost associated with it. Our photographers usually are on a campus for an extended time period, which means if one of your members misses your session, they can make-up their photo session at another house on campus for free.