How do you show your proffs for your Portrait type work? If you print Proofs, where do you have them printed? I guess the cost of having proofs printed comes out of session fee? How many proofs do you show on adverage? Do you purchase proof books? What size do you order for your proofs?

I give the proofs on a DVD (a manual slideshow using iDVD on the mac) so that they can view them on their TV (and take them to show all of their family and friends). I have found that this works well because they have photos to view and order from, but they still have to order prints to hang on the wall.
Usually, I would trim the photos down to about 40 photos, but it really depends on the sitting.

Do you require on the spot ordering as well when you first show your slideshow? The reason I ask that as I read somewhere that first inpressions make for higher sales? Is that true? From what I have read, after the first impact the sales might drop. Do you allow them to order then, and then place another order after showing it to friends and family?

I do like the idea of the slideshow as it seems like cheaper way to go, then having each proof printed.

I don't have a studio to sit down and do a proofing session (which I would do if I had one), but I make a slideshow for them to view, plus they can send the link to friends and family. Works well for me.

Thanks for your help.

We use our dining room to proof portrait sessions. We show them on a monitor. We go through them, mark their favorites. Then narrow it down more if they want. We talk about what they are planning to do with them. Make suggestions for sizes, toning, mounting, framing, etc. We take the order at that time. If they want to preview them in black and white or sepia or some other way, we are able to show them right there. We use iView Media Pro to preview the images. We can show them crops and black and white within this program. Adam will sometimes pull up Photoshop to show them other stuff. For us, in person proofing has increased our sales and made our customers much happier. They like being guided through their options and having suggestions made. We are very low pressure sales people.

I use Lightroom for all my portrait and wedding work & utilise the slideshow facility on that for proofing portraits/weddings etc. It's so easy to do and costs nothing! Plus there are many different templates to choose from, including just having slideshow or also thumbnails. Then I just email the link to the client and hey presto, they can view them in the comfort of their own home. They then just tell me the ones they'd like and send me payment.

Some photographers may not like this method as they're not actually there doing the hardsell to the client, but my clients are generally very busy people and don't have time to come in for viewing sessions. Also, I find they tend to order way more prints this way as I tell them the slideshow will disappear within a couple of months, and they can't bear to not see those images again.

See an example at my website: www.jodiechapman.com/slideshow/tomthalia

My studio is in a basement area with a sofa, recliner and TV directly next to the studio. After I shoot a few frames of a couple different poses, I take the camera off of the tripod and plug it into the 26-inch TV to review what was just shot. I can zoom in/out and go through the images quickly. We pick the best, make different pose suggestions, then go back to the studio to reshoot with those suggestions in mind. This is done a couple times with the best photos selected. If they want to order at that point they can, but I always upload the selected images on my Zenfolio gallery so they can review the photos with family and friends. It is at this point I put up grayscale, cropped and touched up images for their review. They make a final selection and order. I am thinking about going the DVD+web gallery route for my non-studio shoots, such a weddings and other events.
Chris

So you show your clients ALL of your pictures good, bad and ugly...? Yikes. lol.

I explain to the client what I can and cannot correct and leave open the possibility of reshooting a pose. This is a very quick, straightforward process. Most of my clients like the openness and informality, and I get the results they are most pleased with.

I don't normally do on the spot ordering, I know that it is supposed to give better sales. I find that most families have trouble finding a time to meet with me and view the shots, this way they can look at them at their leisure. They can order at any time and I do get some who order photos for relatives at a later date.

I do an online gallery/slideshow that they can give the link to family and friends and I also give a low res watermarked proof cd.

The number of pictures will vary greatly depending on the session, but for seniors it's 12,24,36 printed in a 5x7 (actual print is 4x6) in a book. This # of prints isn't huge BUT we retouch every single image thats in the book! I hope that helps.