Personally, I'd rather do my research, ask around, and then take a chance, than be a fly on the wall by downloading her clips. It feels like I'm cheating both her and myself out of that exciting and anxious first encounter.

Counterintuitively, I usually buy clips to confirm that I *don't* want to meet a certain domme in person (although I may enjoy the clip itself). If there's someone I'm pretty intent on meeting, I'll typically just do it, and actively avoid setting any expectations or ruin the surprise. More than once, in fact, I've asked to start my first encounters blindfolded, and let her decide when to reveal herself. It's very dramatic!