How many edited images to offer on a CD for bride and groom?

rosalia_verskova · December 13, 2010

I currently offer a CD of images of the wedding day for my clients. In 2010, I didn't give a set number of images in their contract that they would receive. I have had clients that wanted 1,000 images or more. However, as I get more business, I need to fine tune what I give to clients. Presenting my best work instead of 1000's of images even if some are not so great..just to please the client.

For my 2011 contract, I would like to set a number of edited images that they will receive with each package.

My questions are:

How many images do you typically burn on a CD for your clients?

Do you have online proofing so that your client can pick which 200 (or other number) they would like full edits to and then burned on a CD?

If you edit in Photoshop and Lightroom, do you edit every one of the 200 images for their CD or do you let them pick out let's say 40 of the best for special treatments in PS?

I am entering my 3rd year of shooting weddings and am really trying to streamline my business so that I can be behind the camera more. I have learned that my clients only print about 100-200 images anyways.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you!!

michaelchadwickphotography · December 13, 2010

There are MANY threads on this particular topic. A search of the previous posts will reveal a wealth of information.

kayumangi · December 13, 2010

You've learned that your clients print the images from the CD and yet you still want to offer an image disc? Isn't that like shooting your own foot? That's a lost profit generating op right there.

Second, if you charged extra to edit and color-correct all photos then you're contractually obligated to do so. Let me rephrase, when you quote a price on anything be it a wedding or a portrait session you must include not just shooting times but as well as editing times. So only you can answer what you should do with the images or not.

Third, Online Proofing is debatable some folks swear by it some people say it doesn't work. I'm on the latter camp. I prefer to proof with clients face-to-face if possible. Because the more emotionally involved they are the likelihood they will order what I present.

picturesque · December 13, 2010

As Michael says, there are plenty of previous threads on the topic, but if you are just gathering info re what others do...

1.) No. of images burned on CD--could be anywhere from 500-1000+, but I give my clients every image that isn't completely unusable. I shoot efficiently, have a low throw away rate, automatically fix closed eyes, etc., and only do basic processing on files, but for me, that means the files are completely printable 'as I give them'. These are high resolution, but for some clients, I also burn a medium resolution set, just for ease of handling.

2.) I don't have online proofing because I don't sell by the image. I also see no point in this because I give my clients almost everything I shoot, and leave it up to them to post what they like for their own audience. If ordering an album from me, most have no problems looking at the images on their computers. Most everyone is very computer literate.

3.) Editing. See #1. Basic edits, but for me, basic edits mean usable and printable files for the client without any extra work on their end. I don't do effects or actions unless a client asks me to. Then I will agree to do some at no charge, but I will put a limit on the number. Same with more complex retouching.

Thoughts... I think you need to figure out where your profit is going to come from. If you sell by the print, for instance, it is obvious that online proofing would help a great deal. If not, it hardly makes sense IMHO. Another example--if your style involves heavy effects and actions, then you need to figure out just how many you can do and still be making money for the time spent.

William Michael · December 14, 2010

For my 2011 contract, I would like to set a number of edited images that they will receive with each package. . . I am entering my 3rd year of shooting weddings and am really trying to streamline my business so that I can be behind the camera more. . . Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

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I think it would be foolish to set the number of edited images per package. I believe that would not necessarily streamline your business at all; and yet could get you into a bind fulfilling the contract.

***

Addressing your other fact finding questions: I never used on line proofing for Weddings; I still shoot Events and Functions and still do not use on line; I also shoot with a low throw away rate; I have covered several hundred Weddings and I have never provided 1000 (different) Photographs – I don’t think I have ever shot that many at one Wedding – either; an “average” Wedding would have (average) 80 to 200 images, chosen from about 300 to 400, though I have supplied as few as about 20 different Photographs for one Wedding which was a coverage of about 45 minutes, a Private Service and few Formals only; Wedding Clients only ever viewed the a Final Product, my customers now also the same – (except Commercial Clients).

***

I have had clients that wanted 1,000 images or more

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I know this has been thrashed about many times before, but, let’s say the average Wedding lasts 8 hours – and we cover the Bride’s Home; the Church; a few Formals; all of the Reception, until they leave. Let’s say the Bride lives 20 minutes from the Church and the Church is only another 20 minutes from the Reception. And let’s also assume that for another 20 minutes (in total) we put our camera down and we either go to the toilet, or grab a Protein Bar or sip from our water bottle or are doing some other function - like finding the Flower Girl or straightening the Page Boy’s bow-tie.

So that leaves a total of SEVEN hours with our eye glued to the viewfinder and the trigger finger poised ready. The customer wants 1000 images – sure no worries – in that seven hours we have of shooting, there is a total of 420 minutes or 25,200 seconds. To pull 1000 different images in that time: we need make one shot every 25 seconds. . .continuously, while they are munching on their Food and while they are saying their Prayers and during the Speeches . . . continuously, because if we fall behind that strike rate we will need to catch up and maybe shoot one every ten seconds . . . just to supply the 1000. . . I would not be rude to a prospect who “wanted 1,000 images or more” – but I might pull out a camera and begin shooting three a minute - for ten miuntes - just to give a practical example of what that would reap, continuously, for seven hours at THEIR Wedding.

IMO I think to streamline your business you need to address these points, of customer expectations, first.

WW

William Michael · December 14, 2010

. . . yeah I know - we could shoot at a rate of only one every 50 seconds and give them the same photo twice - like a B&W and Colour Version of each, for example . . .

neilambrose · December 14, 2010

I have had clients that wanted 1,000 images or more...

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Then you have an opportunity to explain and educate.

I tell clients if I'm having a good day they can expect 350. But if I'm having a great day I might be able to give them 200. And the only way I could give them 1000 would be if I kept my eyes closed.

mariosforsos · December 14, 2010

Nadine, as always, has given the best advice. William's comment on contract fulfillment of a certain number of images is VERY important too.

Personally, I give them as many images as I think are the best, and I make sure these cover EVERY aspect of the wedding. Sometimes, the bride's preparation is more photogenic, others it's the groom's preparation that's funnier, others it's the portraits and so on and so forth. The distribution and final number ALWAYS change. I've given as much as 600 and as low as 150 - it all depends. Of course, if the client WANTS to see more, then I give them those too, but this has only happened to me twice.

As for edits, I usually do the basic edits, like Nadine said, but then, I sometimes provide my views on certain images (i.e. B&W, or high process, or whatever). In those cases, I give the client both the original AND my version. I do NOT edit for weight, for facial features, for unwanted relatives, etc. These are all charged extra.

As for the online bit, I do post my images on protected galleries for my clients as I have found it actually works for most of them. They share the link with friends and family, post comments to each other (I always set up the galleries so that the comments go to the bride or groom) and can, if the couple want to, order images directly from the site. Of course, I don't sell prints separately (some of my packages include 100 13x18cm prints, others none, etc)

William Michael · December 14, 2010

". . . would be if I kept my eye closed" . . . :) [HUGE BELLY LAUGHING]

duncan_holmes2 · December 14, 2010

I also think that 1000 is way too much, sounds like they really wanted a video not a photographer. I can't even imagine the perils of editing that many images. Nor the constant blinking of the shutter which would probably leave me with a nervous twitch.

If I take 3 of the same shot it is to get one right (no blinks or funny expressions in formals) and that's the one the bride gets. There's no point passing them the chaff once I have the wheat sorted out.

For the spontaneous photos I can be a little less ruthless. If a sequence captures a particular moment or interesting event at the wedding I might forgive a wee focusing error.

The contract I have allows me to give them the proofs that I think are worth giving. On a very rare occasion I might fish out additional shots that didn't pass muster, if the bride and groom insist, but they're always sent separately with a caveat. The actual number of photos taken varies depending on the wedding but might be anywhere from 200-600. Proofs might range from 140-250.

There's inevitably a lot of duplication, even outside of formals as the more flamboyant wedding party members can draw the eye, so I think it is always best just to show the strongest.

The other reason for cutting it down is that I know the level of concentration and effort needed to whittle down photos, choose the right ones and present the proofs. If I am being paid as a photographer to present my work to the couple, why would I leave them with the job of rummaging through the reject pile to find the treasured pics.

Once they have proofs and if they decide to go ahead with albums or photobooks I also tend to give some guidance as to which pics from the proofs would be strongest in telling the story. Photographs are subjective, you as the photographer will see something as artistically or technically perfect, the bride will see the uncle she doesn't like peeping in the corner of the frame, so some flexibility here is good...I think.

Other photographers prefer to give the album as a fait accomplit and I can understand that completely.

Having said that, if your particular market is a pool of customers who all want 1000 photos, cos that's what everyone else is giving, then you'd need to price accordingly, with the consequent man hours for editing. I'd reckon on at least 35-40 hours editing, even with some batch edits to present colour and b&w proofs of 1000 images. So that would be no other weddings the following week/s and would be priced accordingly as the cost of 3-4 weddings at my normal output.

ted_suss · December 14, 2010

Rosalia,

Are you at every wedding for unlimited time or do you have various hours of coverage or a time limit? Perhaps offer a minimum # per hour? But keep that number low. Also, this could be a way to sell increased/longer coverage.....-TED :-)

markonestudios · December 15, 2010

I would not and do not price packages according to number of images. I find that a less than honest representation of my work and my style. I will typically end up with 250-300 images max. I do offer higher res images on my upper end packages.