file retention - how long?

[ndsimm]

not to hi-jack my own thread, but I thought of another question:
When I shot film, I would keep negatives for 1-2 years and then offer them at a discount to the couple just to get rid of them. Those that didn't want them knew I would be keeping them past the third year and after that, they were destroyed. Now that I am shooting digital, I was thinking about how long should I keep these digital images. I have RAW files on DVD, and another copy on Hard Drive, but I don't want to have to keep buying hard drives for storage, no matter how cheap they are.

So how long to you keep client images and why?

[HotHolly]

Um, we do something kind of odd. Weddings we typically keep around a min of 1 year. Family sessions we keep for 6 months after the account has become dormant (the last order on it was placed). Then before the files are erased we send out a letter that says they may purchase the negs at a reduced price, but they have to do so within X days b/c after that time the files will be erased. So far I have only had one account become dormant and let the time to purchase laspe. They usually order prints or the negs at that point and the 6 month window starts over again, or they have the negs and I erase whatever I don't want around anymore. Told you it was weird. lol

[adirty1]

One year. Then I send out a letter just like Holly. I still have binders of negs and no way to contact the clients that's why I only wait a year. I have some friends around Austin that wait 8 months for portraits and weddings and send out the letter. They have started selling individual files with a better success then selling the bundle. And include a print with each file. I am probably going to use this method since most people dont want all the negs of the wedding or the sitting. And it's a way to get trash the dvd back ups.