Digital Negatives - What do you do?

[HotHolly]

OK - this is to get a poll on the topic (as opposed to beat each other senseless). I know that lots of people are highly opinionated on this topic.

I'm wondering more about industry trends over all. And there are lots of people that are quiet in here - so I thought a poll might be helpful to keep the question on target.

1. Do you sell digital negatives?
   
2. If so, are they for the purpose of archiving (aka safe keeping), printing, or something else?
   
3. Are they an add-on sale or primary product?
   
4. Have you ever felt like granting access to the digital negatives has come back to bit you on the butt?

I'm wondering primarly about the wedding industry and portraits. Other areas can chime in too...

[JohnT]

If by "digital negatives" you mean raw files, no. However, there are instances when I will sell high-res JPEGs generated from those raw files. It just depends on the client and the circumstance. In other words, a case-by-case basis. I don't sell prints at a profit yet.

[HotHolly]

I mean RAW files, JPGs, TIFFs or any kind of high-res digital file...

And if you pick "YES for other..." or "No for other reasons" - please explain... (example: no for other: ran out of disks)

[bondarnes]

I have been visiting with a very successful high school senior photographer who starts out with a healthy creation fee. At the order time there is a significant image enhancement charge for each image selected. Then after she asks will that be cash, check or charge she asks would you like your images on paper or on CD? An interesting concept. She has already been well compensated for her work in the creation fee and image enhancement fee so the image medium becomes a matter of preference. That's basically the way commercial photographers charge.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I have in the past of I have stopped now after some images were changed by a subject and posted on their website. If you want your own strange style, they were way strange, then shoot the originals yourself or tell me what look you want don't go changing the pics all up and then telling people that it was my work. (Musicians can be strange creatures).

[*Mike*]

Okay, I'm really curious as to what, "No, but for other reasons" means??? I really can't think of anything other than it undermining sales and it being incredibly disturbing for us control freaks.

Is there another good reason that justifies my hating to ever sell the files? I like when other people have good reasons for what I do... it makes me look less nuts.

[LoungeLizard]

I didn't vote, but I sell them as an add-on or include them in my top of the line package.

[LoungeLizard]

Hey, Mike, anyone ever tell you that you look like Billy Joel? LOL

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

Hey, Mike, anyone ever tell you that you look like Billy Joel? LOL

LOL!!!!