carolinastudios

<p>Thank you Seri, I agree for the most part. I cater very much to my clients needs as much as I can. And I don't think "checking my ego" has anything to do with it. I think that even though we are in a digital age as ARTISTS we should not have to completely give into the public just because that's what they think want. I don't belive picaso would have sold his incomplete pieces just because someone wanted them. I do not belive that I am not giving them their memories or moments. I give them a proof book and archival CD with web ready prints so they are getting everything just not EVERYTHING. And if you don't belive that your photo's are bigger than that then you aren't catering to the clients that I am. They very much know what shade of white they are looking at. </p>

<p>35mm 1/400 sec ISO 200 f/4 I just love they they seem to be in their own world with each other as they walk back down the isle :)</p><div></div>

<p>Tru David. And you can bet I will sell it for a price. I guess it's just hard because I got into this business because I am a photographer first and a business person second, that's why my husband is a business person first it helps with balance b/c I wouldn't make any money if I did it my way :) My art and the way it is presented to the world is one of the most important things to me and I believe selling the disk devalues what we do as artists. I know it's the way the world goes but I guess I've always gone against the grain.<br>

Thank you all. You all have wonderful opinions and it gives me something to think about :)</p>

<p>Oh, forgot to say. I started including a low res disk with collections b/c of facebook, myspace, etc. and it's been a huge hit. plus it gets my work out there without having to give them the negatives. Goes well for my reprint business :)</p>

<p>Thanks. I like all the responses. I know, Hate is strong :) but I know that even with education brides will still go and print where they want. My reputation is very important to me and I don't believe I have ever lost a client due to the fact that my disk is expensive. Some care some don't. I think if i lived in a market that had higher wedding collection prices then I might consider including the disk with the package. But i'm not going out for 6 hours for a wedding with the disk for $1000. <br>

I saw the Belly's to Babies tour with Sandy Puc a few months back and a single image of hers is $800 on disk and you can't print anything bigger than a 5x7 on it! I know that she has earned the right to do this because she is AWESOME but I see her point. The industry is going that way but it doesn't mean we have to go with the flow. I think I can have some sort of control. </p>

<p>I am curious to see what other pro photogs think about selling the digtal negatives after a wedding, i.e. selling the disk? I HATE selling the disk but I find that a lot of brides request it so my disk is VERY expensive. I just hate the thought of my work getting printed at a very low end printer.<br>

What do you think?<br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>Album DS is Album design software (<a href="http://www.albumds.com/">www.albumds.com</a> ) that works directly in Photoshop. I got it about a year ago so it's still fairly new. I recently got to beta test Album DS 6 (which is coming out soon!!). Like I said, it works directly in Photoshop and there are hundreds of layered templates that you can resize to fit whatever album you're doing. You just tell the program what your album dimensions are and double click on one of the 1000's of predesigned templates to choose from and it resizes the template to your specifications. The templates are layered PSD files so you can move and change just about anything about them. Then you load your photos in the program and the program will resize and place them where you want them. How easy is that!!! They even have beautiful clipart and textures. I use this program to design anything from albums to business cards. It is so useful. <br>

They won the Hot One Award in 2008 I believe. I just thought everyone should know to look out for this new Album DS 6 which should be coming out soon from what I’ve been told and you know what's an even better bonus is that their Customer Service is GREAT! I got a phone call from Bryan Linden in sales and marketing to walk me through the new program.<br>

Just go to <a href="http://www.albumds.com/">www.albumds.com</a> and check them out. It's a really cool program that is about to get better!<br>

I am not am employee of Album DS just a happy beta tester :) </p>

<p><a href="http://www.finaoonline.com">www.finaoonline.com</a> LOVE THEM!! They have some of the best customer service and GREAT choice of albums.</p>

<p>I agree with David. I'm an East Coaster and Parker Pfister is one of my all time favorite photographers. The Carolina's has some of the best weather, prettiest beaches and Georgous 200+ year old plantations which make shooting lots of fun.<br>

I do agree though that there are LOTS of really good west coast photographers. I liked her website as well. </p>

<p>Usually when I design my albums I try to tell the story so the album has flow. I usually start with a photo of the program or rings for wedding albums with their names and date, then the bride getting ready, ceremony, formals, portraits, and so on. <br>

What has helped with my album design is the program Album DS. I got it about a year ago and it is AWESOME! It's the only program that works within photoshop and there are hundreds of layered templates that you can resize to fit whatever album you're doing. Check them out at <a href="http://www.albumds.com">www.albumds.com</a></p>