Digital Negative Disks...

[toverman]

I agree with Conor's comments above.

There has to be balance; I wouldn't recommend giving anything away for nothing. But consider that once the shoot is done, the images are only worth what we can sell them for (besides portfolio/marketing value). There are other threads on this forum about the topic, but also google it ... whether to sell digital files is a hot topic industry-wide.

[HotHolly]

1. Do your DND's contain only the negatives for the 'good' shots, or most everything that you shot?
I NEVER ever let anyone see anything that hasnt been fully processed. ymmv if the studio usually proofs unedited images. We only proof a limited # of fully edited images.

2. Do you include anything else such as a slide show on your DND's? .PDF of your business card maybe?
If they bought the negs, there is a print release.

3. Whats the price of your DND's if they are sold alone? Any discounts if they are included in a package?
The negs are worth 2x the amount of my average session gross sale. Why? B/c once you sell them, you wont sell that person another image, period. Plus, as an artist, I loose all control over the images and it kills me to spend hours making them look perfect and then they print out crappy prints at WalGreens (or worse - mess around with the images). $3,000 is the price on the session's negs. We never offer a discount or package them (unless its a wedding). I offer the negs in my top tier of boudoir, but they cant print those at walmart, so its more for them to have the luxury of owning the negs.

[grp318]

I post all pictures taken on an online gallery (secured) for clients to proof there photographs. If you give a client DVD/CD with images you take the risk of them not paying for images. Wall Mart and other stores do there best in limiting people from printing your images but not always. Easy, Do give them access to them.

I will sell all proofs but at a much higher price and only after a package in purchased. I do offer a DVD with all images if a client buys my highest package. Then and only then I send them a copyright release giving them ownership.

[Jessica Merritt]

1. We only let clients see/purchase images that have been culled and edited. NO WAY will they see anything that's not perfect.

2. We include our license and instructions for care and usage of the DVD (recommendations for printing, etc.).

3. For wedding clients, we raised our base prices and just included the files, as just about everyone was pretty much demanding them anyway. Done, no extra charge. The DVD from engagement/bridal sessions and the wedding is delivered with their album. For portraits, they have to buy them for an additional fee.

[Outlaw]

Great question Chris! We've moved to a very digital-driven business model over the past two years and it's been great for business and profits.

1. We do in-studio viewings and clients may purchase hi-res, fully processed digital files on CD on a per-image basis (for wedding clients the files are included in the package). No discounts, although if someone asked, I wouldn't be opposed if the buy was larger than my average. I want that kind of client in my doors again and again. We don't show crap, and what we do show has been processed - if a client asks for something specific, a blemish removed that we missed or a shadow lightened to their preference, we make that change for the file we put on their CD.

2. Honestly right now we only include a print release. We are working toward including much more value-added stuff, like printing instructions, print / CD care instructions, marketing materials, and video content - maybe a commercial for our business, a thank-you video, video care instructions and file-friendly tips like where to buy prints and why, etc. Easter egg content like this could be fun and educational for clients.

3. Wedding clients get hi-res, fully processed files as a part of their package. Portraiture clients can get files for the same prices as prints; there are no discounts or added charges. Makes explaining and selling SO easy and fluid.

Since we moved to a digital-friendly model, we've multiplied both our number of clients and our average sales / profits per client. I don't believe it's the right model for every photographer, but I can't deny the way it has revolutionized my studio for the better.