So, outsourcing the post-processing is a must. Three reasons:

1. It's taking time away from the things I need to really do for my clients.
2. I'm not the best at it....my clients will get infinitely better quality and consistency this way.
3. I don't even like color-correcting...I just want to shoot and talk to clients!


I'm evaluating a couple of companies right now (i'll let you know who once I've picked), and I just about have it down. Now I'm trying to fit it into my workflow.

Here's how it's going to go:

Shoot, download cards.
Sift down the images to 1100-1200 (i usually enjoy the initial sort)
Put the remaining images on a drive & send it off!
- They will sift down to 700-800
- Basic editing
- Couple hours of b/w convertions, other actions, and retouching select ones.
Get the images back!
Upload to online host!
Send images to my album designer!
Send CD to client.


What I can't seem to figure out....is the slideshow!! Normally I do a quick edit on 40+ images and get the slideshow out in a few days. Later when I do full editing, I just keep the slideshow versions...even if they aren't consistent with the rest of the series. (ie, white balance is a shade different).

I absolutely do not want to put my edits in with the editing company's edits, because I really want to start focusing on having great consistency of quality. (Before, all the individual images looked good, but as a group they weren't consistent.)

I also don't want to have to wait two weeks to put up a slideshow! But if it takes 3 days to ship there, 7 days to edit, 3 days to ship back, and a day for me to make a slideshow....that's two weeks before anyone sees anything. it's not terrible, but it's not what I want to do.

I have a couple options:
1. Pick a few images (5-10), do very minimal editing, and throw up a true "sneak peak" (not slideshow) with a note that they aren't finished editing. Then do a full slideshow and post after the edited images are back.

2. Do editing for the slideshow, and send the slideshow images to the editor and have them try to mimic whatever effect I did.

3. Don't do any slideshows until I get the images back, and just start telling my clients they need to wait till then.

So far I'm leaning towards option one -
a) I get two blog posts out of it.
b) I can show the difference between minorly edited images, and the professionally edited ones.
c) Better consistency.
d) Faster.


So, did anyone get through the entire post? Does that make sense? Is anyone having the same dilema? What are your thoughts?

What if you would pull your images for your slideshow, but also leave them in for the editor. Then, when you burn the CD for the client, give them both versions to choose from, your edit and the editors edit. Tell them that with the special images, they have two different choices....

I'm with ya on this one 100% jillian. I think what I've decided to do (I just started using shootdot edit) is this:

saturday:shoot like a manic at the wedding
sunday: (at home) sort through and eliminate, put up to 700 on the portable, and pick my 40 or so favorite. Edit those up (simple easy stuff) and put them on a slideshow and ready to blog
Monday morning: mail out drive, post up slideshow and blog- mention that I just grabbed these and haven;'t done much to them yet
10 days later: replace my simple stuff with sde's fun stuff in the event, publish to my storefront.

I will say that from the couple of events I have done with them so far, there are always a couple that I really like my plan for. (ie, I really like this one image and wanted to cross proc/ or juice it up in a certain way) And even though I like what SDE does, I like my version more and stick it in anyway. I think that I don't want to give up doing the artsy thing on a few, but I totally get what you mean about consistancy. But I think a few gems in a bucket full of diamonds stand out, but they are still pretty and very appreciated.
sorta lame annalogy, but you know what I mean. I'm ok with a little bit of me coming out here and there. I doubt my client will notice.

And if they order a line-up of images for the album, and mine is the only different one, then I will just tell them I reccommend maing it match, and I still have the matching image from SDE.

Let me know what you decide.... it's something I've been thinking about a bunch too!

Mmm... outsourcing editing (I type that as I'm crunching away at images - taking a break).

Jillian, you're going to LOOOOVE outsourcing your raw edits!! If you love your career now, just wait until you're free to focus in what you're called to do!
Here's what I do...
*Shoot on Saturday
*Day off on Sunday
*Monday:
**Choose 800-900 Raw Images
**Edit 80-100 of my favorites for blog and slideshow.
I usually only use about 40-50 for the wedding slideshow, but the remainder images are used labeled on Pictage as a FAVORITES folder...this is the folder I tell my clients to begin their selection for their album choices.
I send all the raw images and the favorites folder to my raw processor. When she's finished, she uploads my favorites folder as well as the other five categories to Pictage.
So, really, I shoot, choose my favorites, and then I'm done with a wedding. I LOVE IT!!! I hope I made sense!

Thanks Kari, Erin, & Jasmine!! All awesome suggestions! I think i'm going to have to just talk to whatever company I choose and see what they think, maybe give it a couple different tries to see what works. I'm so glad you guys had other suggestions for me!!

Jasmine, I can't wait to outsource! I think i'm more excited for my clients than for me though. Ya, know? Cause I love them, and they deserve the BEST, and this will get them the best! My vision and style, carried out by someone with the skill to acheive it flawlessly...how awesome is that?

Part of what i'm hearing from you ladies is that I should stop being so afraid that my edits will look bad compared to the editor's. And I guess if I'm freed up to really only work on the ones I love the most, I can spend the kind of time I want on those few and make them great. And that will be fun!

Shannon, I think it's time to join our bandwagon....

That's exactally what I am thinking. And no, you should not be afraid that yours will look bad in comparison! You're way too good to worry about that! I think I will actually enjoiy editing only 40 or 50 of my favorites and really playing with those much more than stressing over an entire wedding.



I agree! I've done a couple events, but we were already so bogged down, it hasn't happened in the order I've described yet, but even the thought of it is so nice!!!


Now if I can just get through Christmas.....

I can play clarinet (kinda).

Sounds great, but I wouldn't know where to start looking for an editor. How do you find enough outsourcing people to choose from? Um, YellowPages?

i have found several companies to look at:

shootdotedit.com
mylavalu.com
getcolorati.com
retouch1.com

I know that bellissimadesignsolutions.com (robin's company!) does editing, but I don't know if they are accepting any non-album clients right now.

and there's another option in the works from an OSP team, but I don't know if they are launched yet, so I can't say anything.


my wishlist for a company was:
1. No waiting list, not difficult to get in touch with
2. Less than 10 day turn around (7 days preferred)
3. Custom correction to suit style
4. Retouching & b/w processing available
5. Focus on quality and consistency (have I said those words enough in this thread yet?)
6. Really good at what they do....not just button pushing.

price should probably be on my list...but eh.

I'll be doing trial runs with companies in the next 3-6 weeks, we'll see how it goes. I'm excited. Anxious and nervous, but excited.

Dangit... you're really good with follow-through. Now that you've given me a list, I have to research them

Thanks for the details and look forward to hearing how it goes for you!

wow... leave it to jillian to be thurough and precise and for me to be like, gee that sounds great, I'll take 10... without even thinking....

there has been a bit of a process, but after having a wonderful discussion with some of the shootdotedit guys after getting back my first events (i sent them all in at the same time), I am excited to see our progess and communication to see if we can all be on the same page together. I was prepared for it to be a bit of a process, so that I am ok with, so we shall see. I really really really want it to work, and I know it can be perfcect if I just take the time to let go and be patient and clear.

Letting go is hard.....!

letting go IS hard!! that's why my list is so detailed. haha!

Wow Jillian thats super exciting. I have never thought of outsourcing for editing. Thats one thing I love Love LOVE to do and the slideshow is even more fun for me. Jillian I am excited for you. Let us know how it goes for you when you get to that point.

Stewart C.

yeah, but what about quality & consistency???????














I know, I'm a dork.
If I did weddings, I'd play flute on your bandwagon. I only shoot for 2 hours at a time MAX (usually more like 45-60 minutes). So editing that # of picutres doesn't kill me. yet.

oh that? whatever... who cares.

I feel sort of funny making my first post after two years of being a member. I feel even more funny doing near shameless self promotion as my first post. We are a post production outsourcing company based in Portland, Oregon. We've done a lot of post production exclusively for one specific studio in Portland (www.hollandstudios.com), and have decided to expand out.

In everyone's perfect world, what would be your top 5 aspects you would be most concerned about when outsourcing your post production?

Jillian: I believe our business model fits all 6 points on your wishlist and encourage you to check out what we do, and how we can fit into your first steps to outsource and shoot more.

We look forward to posting more and contributing more to OSP.

Laurin
Revolution Imaging & Design, LLC
www.revolutionimagingdesign.com

Hi Jillian,



I'm confused, I guess. For me, the first cut is what takes the longest. After that, I run through in Lightroom and in the "library" grid view, I quickly tweek exposure, etc. If you're doing the first cut, what's left that's taking enough time that it's worth sending it off?

-TM

hey, good question!

the first cut is pretty easy for me. i use lightroom's P(for pick) and X(for exclude) to run through and knock out the 1/3 or 1/2 of the images that are just obviously not right. (test shots, errors, bad facial expressions, etc) takes like 30 minutes, and i have fun doing it.

even if i sent all the images to the editors, I'd be running through the images like this anyway, cause I'm much too curious about what they look like. i love that first look through the images. and i go pretty fast. if i'm not sure, i just (p)ick it, and move on.

what takes me a lot of time is cutting out the next set of images that are either super similar to other images, or just slightly off. and then the final cut where you have to actually cut out some good images, so that there aren't too many. *that* is what takes me forever.

then all that tweaking takes me a 2nd "forever"...

different people have different skills and road-blocks...that's why it's terribly terribly important to not just copy someone else's solution. you absolutely have to make your own solution that makes sense for you and how you work.



Thanks Laurin! Good to see another company out there!

Jillian...I love your reasoning for this. I've been contemplating the same issues. I don't mind editing, but I always try new things so I waste too much time editiing. And, I'm with you that my clients deserve the 'best' & consistency so maybe I should follow your lead. Thanks for all the links now I can research companies.


I believe Flosites also does editing. I haven't researched them much so don't know if its only for albums, but I know they have done some killer blogs (for a lot of OSPers).
Flosites

I have a lot of the same issues s Jillian. I love the initial sort, but I struggle with the initial edits. I go through them, and then decide to re-edit, and then again, until I'm finally happy.

So, I'm also looking to outsource to get through that initial edit and just have the proofs ready to go.

Ksenia

Hey there folks I already sent a message to Jillian as well as Shannon. Our company is just in the process of setting up this service we will have guaranteed time frames as well as affordable flat rate pricing based on the number of images that need to be processed from the given event. We will also provide clients with upload services, so say for example you use pickpic we will do all the uploading for you to save you more time. As for slideshow and blog images, basically the day the photos arrive to our office, you will be able to download 50 fully edited images that same day for blogging and slideshow love.

We would work with each client to create presets that work with their original editing style so the style your clients know you for will be consistent.

We will also be providing archiving services so you can shoot, and forget the rest =)

Just some food for thought =)

Hi Jillian, OK, I get it. I guess I do all three of your steps in one pass. Since you're using lightroom, what do you get back from them? Is it a bunch of XMP files that you import to "mark up" you lightroom catalog, or do you export a lightroom catalog to them and re-import when it comes back, or....? -TMOK, so here's another question:Like what? I would have thought you would say "to free up time for marketing" or some such. -TM

the *hope* is that i really wouldn't need lightroom for much any more. i hear there are other really fast programs for raw selection that i could try, or i could continue to import them to raw just for the initial selection.

but i'd get back final jpegs. all set and ready to go, unless i want to pull a few into photoshop for playing around.

Hmm, that's interesting. Are they doing anything beyond messing with them in Lightroom? If not, I would think getting back the XMP would be nice. That way they would be intergrated into your image library, and you could mess with them a bit more if your wished. For example, if you wanted to try a lightroom "action".

Then again, I guess the whole point of letting go is letting go, right?

-TM

yes & yes:

they won't be using lightroom (i think), the company i'm looking at uses adobe raw...doesn't make me any difference. and yes, then they are taking select ones to photoshop for extra processing. (b/w, facial retouch, exit sign removal, color pop)

and yes, the point of letting go is totally letting go. to expensive to put *both* my time AND money into it, lol.

If I may jump in here for a post. In my case, I will be working with SDE in 2008, already registered with them, if I send them a portable HD, I get back everything, the RAW files with their edits as well as JPEGs of the final edits. If I upload to their FTP or send them a DVD, I only get back the JPEGs. So I am gearing up to buy 2-3 WD Passport drives to send them my events.

A little more info for those of you interested - KAMPedit info pack

***just a quick edit, the site isn't live yet, but just thought I'd post the info site should be online in the next week or two.

thanks for the information jacob! i'm glad to see so many companies are now joining in, the more options the better! (no more waiting lists either!)

ps - i noticed your prices were in canadian dollars...any good conversion calculators out there?

XE.com is cool. The dollar is pretty much at par right now... Oh I lied the US dollar is worth $1.02 Canadian so ultimately you'd get a discount

Yes, we are!!

When we started out, editing was limited to design clients in order to better manage our production and avoid the dreaded waiting list. Since then, we have expanded to offering a full line of personalized editing/processing services just as we do with the designs.

Best wishes, Jillian!

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!! that's great to hear!

i do this. i pull out the 15/20 for the blog post do whatever i want to them. post.
i pull out slideshow, do whatever i want to them, funky, trendy, etc. post. send things off, get it back, etc.
when they get their pictage link there is a category called Rachel's favorites. all of these images are in there.

i've already managed their expectations that every picture is on pictage looking fabulous crisp and clean, but not retouched. in my fav folder are duplicates! that's wehre all the funky stuff goes. i tell them those do not go in the album, but are best as single prints. 90% of what is ordered off of pictage is from this folder.

Jacob is THE stud! (i want to be in his siggy)



Bruce, it sounds like things are going well in PA. It's great to hear about another editing option.


Rachel, that is a great idea!!

Haha done!

I guess I'm of the school that doesn't agree with outsourcing editing. At all. In the world of digital photography, editing has become as much of an essential element to the art as the composition, lighting, etc. How you edit, often, if not always has a direct effect on your style. I can't see how anyone would trust someone else with the outcome of the art you produce. This is like an artist doing a few strokes on a painting and having another artist finish it. How does the artist know if his vision will be fulfilled? I dislike mass editing as much as the next guy/girl but it's something I feel is important to the final vision of my work.

I can understand if you have a trust and relationship built up with an intern or someone that's work with you, but just shipping images out to be mass edited doesn't quite add up. Yes, I understand about outsourcing, but I really feel there are certain things that shouldn't be outsourced.

If you don't have enough time to edit the images you take, I strongly feel you should be shooting less. Raise your prices! Shoot less! You should have enough time to devote to giving your clients the best product YOU can do. If you don't have that time, something is wrong.

just my honest opinion.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not posting what I am because we are just starting to do this for other people, but I have to agree and disagree with you in the same respect. There are many kick bum photographers out there, that don't necessarily have the level of photoshop skills to properly process images. So what's worse an awesome photographer that can't process and thus having images that lack that final spit and polish, or someone that has great pictures, doesn't out source and spends hours upon hours fighting with photoshop and not getting what then initially saw when the clicked the shutter?

So much of the digital photography comes after the photo is taken with digital processing, the awesome sharpness, color, contrast, and if getting someone else to help you with processing means your images are taken to that next level, what's the issue with that?

If a photographer is a "good" photographer, doing basic editing in PS isn't a big deal and anyone who is a digital photographer should know how to do this.

If someone has to rely on someone else to "fix" their otherwise lacking photos, then quite frankly they have no business being a photographer, or at least not getting paid to be one.

If someone didn't have the PS skills but was truly serious about being a photographer, I think it would be better money spent to take a PS class and get the proper training.

Hey Jonathan!

I love your painting analogy- it makes a great point!

I think that there are two kinds of photographers:

1) Ones that will outsource
2) Ones that won't



Seriously, though I've worked with hundreds of photographers and I've seen a lot of different scenarios, so I think there's some clarification due.

Some outsource only a portion of their workflow and keep certain parts. Others wash their hands completely. Shoot, send, receive and post online!

As for trusting someone else with your style:

I've been blessed to help many well-known photographers either a) develop or b) maintain a very distinct style. I've seen it work very successfully.

Let's say you're pushing the trends in our industry, really doing something sizzling hot. Sadly, it's not hard for someone who's got the Photoshop chops to duplicate the same look. The rest is just dialogue and training in the same way you would train an intern or someone to work in your studio on how you go about making decisions.

It's one thing to ship your images off to India and another to establish a relationship with a post production service. I think that you'll find with any good post service, this is the core idea- that you're not giving up your style, you're hiring a remote production artist. Only in this case, it's not a high-schooler who's leaving in a few months... forcing you to re-train someone all over again. (consistency?)

I realize that shooting digital means so much more for your artistic vision. The sky is the limit- absolutely.

And obviously I LOVE editing- it's my career! But in the end, this is a relatively new responsibility for the photographer. When I was shooting film, no wedding photographer actually hand developed and printed their color proofs. It went to a professional lab, where every image was professionally analyzed and color corrected.

There are great photographers who are great artists. There are also great photographers who admit they aren't experts in color, retouching or design. This is why people are looking for help!

-Leon

Putting “Art” aside, isn’t this really a basic business decision? It is not unusual for a business to outsource, especially if it allows the business to be more profitable. If the numbers make sense and tell a good story—this seems like simple, basic common sense.

Bryce

yes, but there are some things that just shouldn't be outsourced. You can't outsource EVERY aspect of your business and this is one of those things that you should be in full control over.

Again, if you don't have time for editing, something is wrong. I think there are far to many photographers trying to shoot WAY more weddings then they should, especially if they don't have time to edit. Like I said before, if you're training someone in house to edit, that's one thing, but outsourcing is completely different. I really think it's a cop-out.

I'd have to dissagree. and it's not because I've decided to outsource, because honestly I really really debated over even starting that proces, and it's still something I go back and forth about and have issues with.

until only recently- development was not a skill professional photographers dealt with. When you shot film, all the film was sent to the lab. A lab tech developed the film. They kept the machines temperature calibrated and the chemicals in check. Then those images were printed. Again, lab technicians analized the exposure and printed the proofs. The proofs were then sent back to the photographer and given to the client. The client then ordered an image and the neg was then sent back to the lab, a professional printer hand printed the image, dodged, burned and cropped, and sent the final print back to the photographer.

The way I see it we have stepped backward. Photographers now feel like, and are expected to have the time and skills of several professionals. I believe that I have come to realize that even though I CAN do it... I don't have to. There are resouces for a reason. I believe that my shooting, my professionalism during an event/shoot and my business skills are what my customers are looking for. Also forming a relationship with a "lab" and processor are key to holding onto my vision.


My clients will be happier because I am more available to them the quality is consistant... and I don't have to do everything..



I just have to keep reminding myself

said it much better than I could.


I totally understand Jonathan's point of view, as artist it is great to be well rounded and to understand how we got our piece of art to where it is as a finished product. But wouldn't it be cheating if then we just sent it to a professional printing lab?? Is it necessary for us to know all aspect of the printing part of it?

I am so on board for outsourcing my work but there are so many conditions involved before I just "hand over" my work. I haven't outsourced yet, but am on the quest to find somebody that does have my best interest in mind and then at that point as we have worked together there is a mutual connection in how we do business. So whether it be an "intern" or a professional company, I would want direct communication on who was doing my edits and build a repor and trust with them. My photos will still have my quality stamp of approval- and of course I would also be showing my versions as well.

I love the idea that outsourcing can free up some of my time so I can invest more into learning many more techniques with the actual camera, I would hope to have more time to sharpen my post technique because I can focus on those shots that I love from the shoots, I can take on more clients to gain much more experience, perk up my business side--- and HANG OUT WITH MY FAMILY! Something that I feel I am having a hard time balancing as is!


okay.... off my soapbox.

i haven't had time to read everyone's posts, but i thought I'd quickly share my thoughts.

i'd been thinking of outsourcing for months. i felt guilty. i felt like they wouldn't really be *my* photos. they'd be someone else's work of art. i didn't want to do it, but practically, i knew i wouldn't continue to LOVE the photography part, if I had to continue to do all the editing.

then a very very very wise man asked me why i thought they'd no longer be *my* photos. was I not the person who held the camera? who chose the moment? who composed, and chose the settings, and envisioned the outcome?

i'm not losing my vision or my art. i will be working closely with a company who cares to edit them to my style. and i won't let them go without carefully making sure my vision was taken forth. and truly truly, camera skills and digital editing skills are very different, and i'm not terribly gifted in the latter. i NEED someone with skill to carry out my vision. i almost feel like I've never seen it realized before, and i'm about to see it for the first time.


after all, would U2 be the same band if Bono played all the instruments?

Very well put. I agree wholeheartedly and am looking forward to working with my editing company come January. While I'm not wanting to flame the debate, I have to say that a workflow process is a workflow process regardless of whether I hire (and work closely with) an associate who sits in my office or whether I hire (and work closely with) an editor at a company a few cities away. Either way, I'm paying for help, I'm still hands-on, it is still my vision and still my photos. I second Jillian's thought in that I think I'm the most excited about seeing my visions come to life with the help of a professional editor. I'm also excited to free up time to concentrate on other aspects of my business that will provide a better experience for my clients that are now fallling short b/c I'm tied to my computer. I'm behind in client work that I can now concentrate on and frankly, I'm tired of working until the wee hours and still not having time to play with my children. For the first time ever, I'm going to sound like DJ and say that I'm looking forward to the "Freedom". hahaa.

By the way Jillian - in this whole outsourcing debate - I'm not sure if I missed your solution (or suggestions) on how to incorporate your slideshow production in all of this. Ideas?

First off... can we please define "editing" and "processing" so I know what people are really talking about? To me, "editing" is just picking which images are keepers and which are going in the trash. "Processing" is bringing images up to their optimum color/exposure/density.

When I shot film... I didn't "process" my proofs, the lab did, and THEN I "edited" based on that processing. When I first switched to digital, I felt like I needed to process my own images because I COULD, because it gave me more artistic control and flexibility. Well, after a few years of doing that, and having weddings backed up as a result of having to wait on me for basic processing, I realized that it was hurting not only my service to my clients, but also my artistry. I no longer had time to work on my craft and to seek out personally fulfilling and inspiring artistic projects because I was spending so much time just doing the things that the lab once did for me with film... and I was paying myself way too much to do a job that someone else could do EQUALLY WELL for a whole lot less!! (The key is that they are doing equally or better than you could do yourself) If anything it has given me more control over the final outcome because now I can really focus on my absolute FAVORITE images and use those as a playground for my inspired expression of the wedding day, while still giving the client all of the images that they want to hold on to for the rest of their lives, even if they aren't the purest expression of my "art".

Life has to be a balance. If being an artist to you means spending every waking minute on each of your images and you're happy with that... live and let live. However, my definition of being an artist is finding new things to inspire me, more creative ways of seeing the world, and in order to do that, I need to have the freedom to explore other things while someone else puts together the pieces of what I've already done.


Now... Jillian...
I'm not sure if you recently read my blog about what I'm outsourcing, so here it is just so I'm not repeating any of that here...
http://anneruthmann.blogspot.com/2007/12/w...do-all-day.html

I've been using a RAW developer to help me recover from a super sucky backed up wedding season full of disasters. I was stupid and waited way too long before seeking help. I can't tell you how much my life has changed since I started sending out my processing. The stress... is only half... and it has allowed me to focus on the things that REALLY matter to me AND to my clients- making us both happier.

Right now I upload my artistic edits to pictage right away when the slideshow is prepared so that Pictage can get started on the album draft design from my favorite images, processed with my personal artistic vision. I can then release that design to the client to look at while the rest of the images are processing, and they can order Thank You cards right away if need be as well. In a perfect artists world, I could care less if they see anything else... those first 150 are what I feel tells the best story in the most complete and artistic way and creates the best impression of my work. But in a world where we need to satisfy our clients to make them happy, I want to make sure that I'm giving them everything that they want as well so that they are not only happy with my art, but with my ability to meet their needs.

Because of the backlog I've had.. I also had to turn over my editing recently. I have to admit that my RAW developer and I have a very different interpretation of what should be kept and tossed. I had found that some of my favorite images were being tossed because to other people they would only be "blah", but to me, they had meaning and significance to the story. It's not their fault, they weren't there, so they just choose what looks best. So... I trained someone locally to do my editing until I get caught up... and she respects my vision and quirkiness much more-so than LavaLu- but there are still times when we have minor differences. In a perfect world, I will do the initial edit- because it is where I feel I can exercise the most control over the final outcome- the processing/developing tweaks are so minor that only me, with my OCD for perfect color and exposure balancing actually cares, even though the client would be happy with the straight out of camera images.

In the options you suggested way back in the beginning, I suggest you go for option #2. When you're able to give the company you're using a predetermined vision of your artistic preferences, they are much more likely to be able to recreate them for you with consistency toward your preferences. The client will wait very patiently based on the expectations you give them for the rest of the images. If it will be two weeks, tell them it will take four, and they'll be surprised when everything is online in two... and you'll have extra time to correct things if something goes wrong and creates a delay.

OK... so I didn't intend to write a book... but I feel very passionately about this right now since I'm caught up in the middle of everything that relates to this. I hope you're able to read it all and find some of it useful to you.

wow, thanks anne, i really appreciate your perspective! even if you didn't intend to write a book, i definitely enjoyed reading it all!

Hello and hopefully I can add to the discussion regarding post production processing.

I didn’t want to throw this out here yet, but my researcher came up with these posts recently and as a wedding photographer too AND a member of OSP (for 1 year), I felt I was REALLY getting tired of being in front of the computer and needed to find an “outsource”. I have not even had the time to look at THESE posts! I needed to get away from the computer and I realized this back in August 2007 when a friend sent me an email from Shootdotedit.com. Huh, great idea. Problem was; they were not accepting any new clients until 12/07. So I’m thinking, “This is a great idea and there is a need.” Unfortunately we also had a lot of wedding photographers down in South Florida and not working too much. With a lot of time on their hands and post production being an asset, I decided to start ShootForward.com, a post production company in September. I’ve been staying in the shadows, but I hope to put a lot of people to work. You see? It will all be done by people who have at least 2-5 years experience. How awesome! We are on the East Coast and currently making sure the pricing and offerings are in line with what pros want or are seeing when we release our company. We want you to know that we know what you want-because we are pros. We have our business plan ready, are an LLC, have a toll free # and small flash intro web site. We literally are trying to do all the right things so that there are no problems. If any other companies feel they cannot handle the overflow, please send them our way. We will reciprocate with any new businesses too especially if you get clients near us and vice versa. As in any networking ventures, like photography, we will always recommend. We have editors ready to go-our web site is the only thing holding us up.

Thanks for “taking a peak!”

Kim Fontaine

Hello, Kim, and welcome to OSP. You should introduce yourself to this fine community!

I'm curious to know if you are related to another Fontaine from Florida who is doing "research" for a project at the University of Florida? Just thought it interesting that the email I received asks lots of questions about my post-production company, questions I consider very private information. The same last names in the same State aroused my curiosity.

Enjoy OSP!

Bruce,

I received the same email regarding my post-production company in the Northwest. Most likely the same questions copied and pasted into the same email. While I don't mind helping an upcoming business, this fishing expedition now seems to be done in bad taste.

On another note, I wonder what the possibility of forming an association of sorts, specifically for us post-production specialists, to help keep us to high standards and build mutual business relationships. NAPP is great, but very broad. Thoughts?

Laurin, that is a fascinating idea!! If you don't mind, I'm going to PM you with some info.

Regarding the email, I don't think we should readily assume anything suspicious. It certainly aroused my curiosity, since I received my email the same day as the post here, and the similarities are, you know, interesting.