Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for a better way to present photos to the bride and groom.. instead of just putting them on a disk and then them e-mailing me the list of filenames that they want. I've tried the online gallery thing but it's getting complicated because I'm having them sort through close to 2,600 photos! I'm looking for a program/software where you can click and drag the photos you want into a drop box of some sort... Does that exist?? How do you all allow your clients to choose from their wedding photos?

I don't have a particular program to recommend...but you might start by grouping the photos into separate galleries -- getting ready, ceremony, formals, reception, etc. I've found this helps the clients narrow their focus to the parts of the day and then it doesn't seem so daunting as them looking at 47 pages of 36 thumbnails per page...

Lightroom. You can make 'collections' in your library.

And not that you asked but that's way too many pictures to deliver. No one, and I mean no one, can look through that many pictures without going batty. Most photographers I know deliver somewhere between 400 and 1200. I shoot for the middle ground, around 700. That doesn't mean I don't take 2600 (well, OK, I'm usually at around 2k for a full day), but I choose the 600-800 images that best tell the story and then break them up into 4 or 5 galleries (getting ready, ceremony, portraits, reception) so that no one section is more than around 200 images.

Hope that helps,

~Bill

Are you editing out the duplicates, ones that don't come out, out of focus, etc? I would do that if you are not. I cannot imagine having that many pictures and there are no duplicates or near duplicate, or even stuff that is not acceptable.

To burn a reduced dpi copy onto a dvd/cd is not the answer...I hope they are a reduced dpi copy...Putting the pictures into categories and posting in an online gallery is quicker and allows EVERYONE to see the pictures. You are limiting the people that may want to buy photos...THEY CAN'T.

I would never give a client a copy of the files to begin with. That is so amateurish.

Look at this company: http://www.emotionmedia.com/index.html

You can do a proof DVD and it is secure. They cannot copy the files and print them. Each disc can hold up to 1500 images. You could have it built into your pricing if you did not want to go to the effort of displaying on the internet for everyone to see and order prints. I just can't imagine you would really NOT want to do that.

Hi Daniel, I do group them but *sigh* still, it's overwhelming yes... And Bill, I completely agree that is an incredible amount of pics, lol. I only edit about 500. (This partucular couple wanted all their images on disks--It was a 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. wedding, hence the 2600 photos).


Thanks for the info Darrell. I have always done online galleries but I was looking for something to where each photo has a box they can check if they wanted that particular photo, know what I mean? Just something besides them writing down the photo and e-mailing it to me..This couple dished out the extra bucks to have all their images on disks. (The groom's a photographer).

edit to say: Yes, they are reduced DPI

with all due repect, you need to determine your policies.

people tell me that, too - i want all the images. well, no. i don't work that way. you do not want underexposed, overexposed, blurry, 20 of the same thing, peoples backs and weird faces and embarassing images.

"what you can expect is complete coverage with as many photos as it takes to document and present your wedding day and personal style. usually, this ends up being around 400-500 images."

of course if someone wants to PAY for all that extra work, time and resources, there could be a negotiation.

Hi Robin, No of course not.. Thanks for pointing that out. This is the first time that someone has asked for their images on a disk so I am so glad for OSP right now I appreciate all the advice concerning this. I did only edit 543 images to be exact ( ) from this particular wedding... so I guess that's what I'll put on the disk..
..but I still don't know quite how to make the presentation easier (when choosing photos) whether it's 5 photos or 500 photos.

smugmug works really well for online galleries because they can mark their favorites as they go.

I use instaproofs -- they are awesome and it's free to sign up (they charge a fee on your sales only). Your client can mark their favorite photos with one click as they browse. You can see the thumbnails they have chosen as favorites and you can also generate a list of file names. The client will be able to see a folder of their favorites in their gallery when they log in with their email address! They can add to the folder or take photos out then let you know when they've narrowed it down. This has been very, very helpful to me in regards to album design.

As far as I understand, Smugmug does not show you who marked what photo as a favorite...it could be marked as a favorite by anyone who visits the gallery.

Good luck!

I use dig-labs, not free, but I have been happy with print quality and customer service. It definitely makes it easier for your client to.
Good luck!