Are you the maestro???

[klynam]

When you do a shoot, do you...

1. Decide on the BEST shots and take those to complete, final, retouched version for presentation to the client?

2. Indicate your personal picks, maybe retouch a few as "examples", but generally show the client most everything else (except the total duds)?

3. Strip out the duds, make no picks or post processing, and let the client select from everything?

[HeatherLou]

I do #1. During a 1 hour to 2 hour portrait shoot, I will generally shoot 7 different poses and wind up with 70-100 snaps. Out of that, I keep 15-20 shots, edit those fully and post for the customer to choose from.

[HotHolly]

I do #1 - not so much b/c Im the maestro, more b/c Im a control freak. lol. The client typically sees 10 finished images (usually with moderate to heavy PP depending on the subject matter). I often go back and "paint" hair or gowns by hand in PS to give them an extra kick, so doing that to each photo from an entire session isnt an option.

[Daniel Bates]

I'll usually cull out everything but the very best - it's a reflex learned from my months as a newspaper staffer. The only problem is that clients usually know I've shot more than that, and they want to see the "other pics". I don't have a very good way to parry that.

[Shelby Lane]

I started out in film, so I am still a careful shooter and I don't want to shoot more than one or two frames of each shot. So they see most of what I shoot, but that's because I'm not a snapper. I'll shoot a max of about 50 frames at a regular session, and they'll see about 40-45 because I cull anything with blinks or blur, etc. But if there's a chance that it's not going to be something I'm proud of, I try to not press the shutter in the first place. I do try some experiments but I can usually tell within a frame if it's going to work or not.

If you show something that's "decent" but not great -- sharpness issues, or you had to rescue it in photoshop -- how often is that the one that they pick and love? If it's a great expression but I'll have to rescue it, it goes immediately into the trash. That's also why I don't chimp with clients, LOL.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Shelby Lane

I started out in film, so I am still a careful shooter and I don't want to shoot more than one or two frames of each shot. So they see most of what I shoot, but that's because I'm not a snapper. I'll shoot a max of about 50 frames at a regular session, and they'll see about 40-45 because I cull anything with blinks or blur, etc. But if there's a chance that it's not going to be something I'm proud of, I try to not press the shutter in the first place. I do try some experiments but I can usually tell within a frame if it's going to work or not.

If you show something that's "decent" but not great -- sharpness issues, or you had to rescue it in photoshop -- how often is that the one that they pick and love? If it's a great expression but I'll have to rescue it, it goes immediately into the trash. That's also why I don't chimp with clients, LOL.

What She says ...

[Shelby Lane]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

What She says ...

I love it when a man says that...

[kdloftis]

#2 I've experimented and left all of the good and great images in the gallery before and it amazes me every time what images the client chooses as their favorites. Inevitably there's always one I would have cut because I just didn't love it. I leave them because they equal print sales.

[brad]

I sit down with the client and we pick together... so none of the above.

[JohnT]

I do not do extensive retouching to proofs; they get only basic processing. They are then presented to the client for them to choose their prints, after which I'll do final retouching and processing. It's just too much work to retouch and finalize a bunch of images only to have the client pick two or three favorites for their print order. This is the way a very successful photography studio down the highway from me handles theirs so it's good enough for me.

Time is money.

[klynam]

Wow - I have to admit I'm surprised. Looks like the Maestro's have it for the most part.

I I do it that way becuase I seem to have two really critical problems...

1. Hardware problems, specifically a focusing problem with my lenses/bodies.

2. I'm not good enough at directing my subjects (pose, expression, etc.) and timing the shots when they get it all right.

In general, I just end up shooting many (many!) more images than I feel like I "should" just to be sure I have a few that are really pleasing.

My last shot (this past weekend) was well over 100 images and I have 20 fully retouched versions to show the client.

Had I chosen option no.2, I would have had 30-40 for the client to pick from. All the rest were either completely useless, or there was something about them I didn't like and wouldn't take a chance on the client picking.

Thanks to everyone for playing along...

[Aric C. Hoek]

I never let my clients see anything but my best work. At the studio we do not let any image go out our door that isn't perfect in our eyes. this includes images going out the door in the clients mind as well.

[klynam]

Something bit me this past weekend. Talked to a client who remembered taking some "fun" shots and was really looking forward to seeing those shots in particular. But they weren't part of my finals.

Should I show them to her anyway even though I didn't select them for the "best of the best" ???

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by klynam

Something bit me this past weekend. Talked to a client who remembered taking some "fun" shots and was really looking forward to seeing those shots in particular. But they weren't part of my finals.

Should I show them to her anyway even though I didn't select them for the "best of the best" ???

Been there. I showed them anyway, and they ordered prints. Go figure. LOL

[ara.bentley]

I had a client (friend) request a copy of each of the photos of the day we had just as a fun memory thing along side her finished prints. I went ahead and gave her 4x6 prints of them all non-processed (mostly because she was a friend) but I am not sure I would do that again. I cringe thinking that she is showing them to someone (just out of fun) and that person, who could be a potential client is saying to herself - I have seen better than that! I would advise against it for clients... just for the fact that they could bring future clients...

edit: although everynow and then I will process a really goofy one if all the technical stuff lines up - even if they don't buy it people love to see them and laughing is always good for a client relationship.